"have to" as a phrasal verb relating to necessity.

Question

I am in a class where there is a difference of opinion between people in the class and the instructor. The two sentences that follow are sparking the debate.

1. You have been on missions where you have had to jump out of a helicopter into icy water to perform the rescue.

In the above sentence, the instructor has said that "have had" is the main verb and "to jump out of" is a phrasal verb. We think that "have had to jump" is the verb (phrase) with "had to" indicating urgency or necessity. This would leave "out of a helicopter" as an adverbial phrase. Who is right?

2. You have had to develop the agility and athletic ability to perform your duties.

In the above sentence, the instructor has said that "have had" is the main verb and "to develop the agility ..." an infinive phrase. We think that "have had to develop" is the verb (phrase) with "have had" once again taking the role of a phrasal verb indicating necessity. Who is right?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

"have" or "have to" is not a phrasal verb, though it does indicate necessity or obligation.
An infinitive may complement a main verb, but in the traditional sort of analysis your class seems to be learning, the infinitive is never considered a part of the main verb (phrase). "have had" is the main verb phrase in both sentences.

In both sentences the main verb phrase is followed by an infinitive (here underlined): "have had to jump ...", "have had to develop ...". This is typical of the verb "have" used as an expression of necessity or obligation. It is always followed by an infinitive. This usage of "have (to)" is called semi-modal. (A true modal omits the "to" of the infinitive, as in "you can jump", not "you can to jump".)

I would not consider "to jump out of" a phrasal verb, because the meaning is literal. You jump. But where? Out of the helicopter. If "jump out of" is a phrasal verb here, then I imagine "jump into" should also be considered a phasal verb. ("jump ... into icy water"). Neither analysis appeals to me.

Typically phrasal verbs have an idiomatic (i.e., non-literal) meaning, as in "put (something) off" (postpone). Grammarians argue over whether an idiomatic meaning is absolutely necessary to the determination that an expression is a phrasal verb, however, so perhaps this may be regarded as a borderline case.

CJ

Ant_222 · Answer

«You have been on missions where you have had to jump out of a helicopter into icy water to perform the rescue.»

Is this sentence ok¿
Shouldn't the second «have had» be changed to «had»?

Marius Hancu · Answer

Ant_222«You have been on missions where you have had to jump out of a helicopter into icy water to perform the rescue.»

Is this sentence ok¿
Shouldn't the second «have had» be changed to «had»?

This is optional, but only when:
---
Tense simplification in subordinate phrases

Simple past forms are used quite often in the subordinate clauses instead of the present perfect and the past perfect tenses, if the meaning is clear.

It's been a good time while it('s) lasted.

Swan, Practical English Usage, p. 585
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Thus in the above ('s) is optional. Have had is best in your quotation, but perhaps too cumbersome for some.

Newbie7 · Answer

Thanks for your help.

Is there ever an instance where a "to infinitive" functions as part of a verb phrase?

Milky · Answer

CalifJimI would not consider "to jump out of" a phrasal verb, because the meaning is literal. You jump. But where? Out of the helicopter. If "jump out of" is a phrasal verb here, then I imagine "jump into" should also be considered a phasal verb. ("jump ... into icy water"). Neither analysis appeals to me.

CJ

You're right, it's a three-part prepositional verb.

CalifJim · Answer

Is there ever an instance where a "to infinitive" functions as part of a verb phrase?

No, not in traditional sentence analysis.

I can't answer for other systems of analysis such as transformational or generative grammars, which may define the concept of "verb phrase" differently within those systems. These are relatively more advanced and complex systems of analysis and in such systems you may find that the definitions of some terms are different from what you might expect from traditional analysis.

I suspect that unless you are studying English within the framework of one of these more complex grammatical systems the answer to your question is a simple "No."

CJ

Newbie7 · Answer

Thanks again for all the help.

I guess what was particularly confusing was that adding "to" after "have" completely changes its meaning from possession to necessity. Does this occur with any other verbs other than phrasal verbs?

CalifJim · Answer

Does this occur with any other verbs other than phrasal verbs?

Yes. The most "famous" example where to added to a verb can change its meaning is go.
Note how the meaning changes from motion to futurity by adding the infinitival to. Nevertheless, neither form of go illustrated below is a phrasal verb.

I go across a bridge on my way to school. (go followed by a prepositional phrase)
I'm going to need more paper to finish this task. (going to need would not be considered a verb phrase; the verb phrase is (a)m going, and it's followed by an infinitive.)

There is, of course, the go of motion with a non-infinitival to: I'm going to a concert tonight.

get and get to have the same property. They mean quite different things.
I got a letter from my sister.
I got to shake hands with the president of our corporation when he was in town.

Note that there are extremely, extremely few phrasal verbs with to.

to come to: After being knocked out, he didn't come to for several minutes.
to bring to: The hypnotist brought the subject to.

to come to; to amount to: What did the bill come to? / ... amount to?

The most common adverbial particles added to a verb to create a phrasal verb are on, off, in, out, up, down, away, and back. The least used are for, from, into, at, by, of, to, upon, with, and without. Intermediate in frequency might be about, across, over, under, through, together, and apart.

CJ

"have to" as a phrasal verb relating to necessity.

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