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Lariel Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

What difference between 'didn't have to' & 'doesn't have to'

Could you explain it to me?
  

Top answer

Hello, Lariel—and welcome to English Forums. Next time, please put all relevant text into the message box also, not just in the subject line. Didn't have to : a past condition.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, Lariel—and welcome to English Forums.
  • Next time, please put all relevant text into the message box also, not just in the subject line.
  • Didn't have to : a past condition.
  • Doesn't have to : a present condition.
  • I didn't have to pay a lot of tuition for university 40 years ago, but my son does have to pay a lot now.
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4 Answers
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Hello, Lariel—and welcome to English Forums. Next time, please put all relevant text into the message box also, not just in the subject line.

Didn't have to: a past condition.
Doesn't have to: a present condition.

I didn't have to pay a lot of tuition for university 40 years ago, but my son does have to pay a lot now.
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Thank you very much! What about didn't have to go & doesn't have to have gone?
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The second one is not possible: it creates a temporal anomaly.
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"Didn't have to" is the past tense of "Doesn't have to" Emotion: smile
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