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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Structure of english

"Yesterday there was something that i must do."

is this grammatically correct? or ungrammatical?
  

Top answer

Was is past tense while must + present infinitive (do) can usually only refer to the present time or the future. The sentence is incorrect. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • Was is past tense while must + present infinitive (do) can usually only refer to the present time or the future.
  • The sentence is incorrect.
  • CB
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7 Answers
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Was is past tense while must + present infinitive (do) can usually only refer to the present time or the future. The sentence is incorrect.

CB
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Hi Cool Breeze,

Could it be, ' Yesterday there was something I should do'.

TS
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Thinking SpainCould it be, ' Yesterday there was something I should do'.
No, try this: Yesterday I had to do something.

CB
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Hi Cool Breeze,

You are right the past of 'must' is 'had to', isn't it?

TS
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There was something I should have done yesterday. (that means, I didn't get around to do it)
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Thinking SpainYou are right the past of 'must' is 'had to', isn't it?
Had is actually the past tense of have, but it is used because must has no past tense. The only case in which one can think of must as being a past tense is in a subordinate that clause like this: I knew that he must be rich. In some other la
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Cool BreezeHad is actually the past tense of have, but it is used because must has no past tense.
I know this one Cool Breeze. I'm happy for that. Thank you for your detailed answer.

Cool BreezeThe only case in which one can think of must as being a past tense is in a subordinate that clause like this: I knew that he must be
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