there had to be

Question

Following is from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”. The situation is that Harry Potter failed in the Quidditch game for the first time.Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly. ‘C’mon, Harry, you’ve never missed the Snitch before.’‘There had to be one time you didn’t get it.’ said George.***** “There had to be” ..... Is it simple past tense as an indicative or is it a present tense as a subjunctive?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

May we have a few more choices?

CalifJim · Answer

pructus“There had to be” .. Is it simple past tense as an indicative or is it a present tense as a subjunctive?

My subjunctive scouts have returned empty-handed.

Consider that a true subjunctive in a main clause is not found in English, certainly not the past subjunctive. It's the simple past indicative tense.
CJ

Pructus · Answer

Thanks...

I see....

Then, understanding it as a past tense subjunctive referring to the present, like, "You could be right.", meaning "There should be one time that you do not get it." is impossible?

Watching dramas or movies in English, when a friend tries to give a high-price gift, then her friend says, “I couldn’t take” or “I couldn’t”.

Also, “Could you be more queer?” is meaning that the listener is(not was) very queer….

Here, in these two cases, “could” definitely is referring to the present situation, so it is understood as a subjunctive, not simple indicative.

Therefore, I assumed this paragraph from Harry Potter could also be a subjunctive……

CalifJim · Answer

pructusa past tense subjunctive referring to the present, like, "You could be right."

This is a modal construction (could), not a subjunctive.
Here's a subjunctive (underlined): It is important that you be right.

I'm not sure what you're asking, I guess.
CJ

CalifJim · Answer

‘There had to be one time you didn’t get it.’ = It was inevitable that you would not get it on some occasion.
CJ

Pructus · Answer

Thanks.....

If someone says that modals can also be understood as a kind of subjunctive, what would you say?

there had to be

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