you've never had...

Question

It's correct to say "you've never had belonged to me" or the "had" isn't necessary after "belonged"?

Clive · Accepted Answer

'Had' is wrong.

Anonymous · Answer

So what can I say instead? "You've never had to belong me"? "You've never had me to belong"? Or something like "I've never had to own you at all"/ or simply " I've never had you at all"? Any of these are correct? At least their meanings are the same?

Clive · Answer

What you are trying to say is very unclear to me.

If you wish to, let's consider a concrete example.

Tom loves Mary. Mary doesn't love Tom, and she never has.
What do you want Tom to say to Mary?

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Sorry about that. Well, your example could fit.

Assuming it, what Tom want to say to Mary is that she never has loved him,
even though she said so or that he was pretty sure of that, even if she didn't expressed it clearly during their relationship. But now, she is (in love). Or she wants, saying that she belongs to him. But she never has.

So it could be something like "You've never had to belong me. But now you have to."

I thought that sentences using "have never had" were about having or being about to have some "experience" that one never had, even if it was possible all the time. Like, for instance, two people that work at the same building and never met each other. I agree that I'm being a little bit "balky" trying to use that expression to say that. Is there any usage of this expression without an article after it (excluding using it at the end of a sentence)? Hope my quote became more clear now.
.

Clive · Answer

Sorry about that. Well, your example could fit.

Assuming it, what Tom want to say to Mary is that she never has loved him,
even though she said so or that he was pretty sure of that, even if she didn't expressed it clearly during their relationship. But now, she is (in love). Or she wants, saying that she belongs to him. But she never has.

Tom would naturally say
eg
You have never loved me.
You have never belonged to me. Present Perfect, using 'have' as an auxiliary verb + main verb 'belong'.

But now you have to. This uses the main form 'have to' to indicate necessity, ie But now you must love me.ow

I think you are perhaps getting the 'have' of necessity confused with the auxiliary 'have' of Present Perfect.

Have you studied Present Perfect yet?
Can you create and understand a sentence like these?

eg They work in the same building. They have never met.
.
Clive

you've never had...

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions