Talk:have to

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Latest comment: 7 months ago by 90.186.170.69 in topic vs must vs have got to
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because have to que sisnifica

"Because have to" is ungrammatical. One might hear "because I have to" as answer to a question:

"Why are you going home? The party is just getting started." "Because I have to."

It could mean "because I must", "because I should", "because I am forced to", "because it is my duty" DCDuring TALK 21:03, 7 October 2008 (UTC)Reply

Just a passing thought, but does this merit its own entry? I'd want to say that "have" in this sense still functions as an auxiliary verb while "to" functions as a particle preceding an implied verb. 76.30.244.221 01:04, 7 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

Right. Some contributors like this kind of entry as a target for translation from their language. Other problematic entries of this specific sort are in Category:English non-constituents. DCDuring TALK 02:04, 7 June 2010 (UTC)Reply

vs must vs have got to[edit]

If someone is required to do something regularly, for example as a job or duty, don't use ‘must’, She has to do all the cooking and cleaning. If someone is required to do something on a particular occasion, they have got to do it or, in formal English and American English, that they have to do it, I've got to go and see the headmaster. https://www.wordreference.com/EnglishUsage/have%20to --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:40, 30 August 2021 (UTC)Reply

Yet, does the distinction have (got) to, for a particular occasion, also work in the negative, meaning lack of obligation, as in We can go to Paris this weekend because I don’t have to work.  ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 05:54, 8 April 2022 (UTC)Reply
The sentence is fine. As to the distinction between "have to" and "have got to" (which I find a bit hairsplitting) it wouldn't work in the negative. You wouldn't say "I haven't got to". With "must" the negative means an interdiction rather than lack of obligation. 90.186.170.69 08:39, 27 September 2023 (UTC)Reply

The past of have to implies that the obligation was fulfilled[edit]

The past of should (not), ought (not) to and need not imply that an obligation in the past was not fulfilled. However, the past of have to implies that the obligation was fulfilled

   I had to see the doctor yesterday (and did so the obligation was fulfilled)
   I didn't have to see the doctor (so didn't so the lack of obligation was fulfilled)

https://www.eltconcourse.com/training/inservice/modality/deontic_modality.html#2 JMGN (talk) 10:08, 21 August 2023 (UTC)Reply