have/ had

[Unregistered]

Should 'have' be in the past or present tense?


what happened to all the duties you have to do?

what happened to all the duties you had to do?

thank you

[Excalibur]

what happened to all the duties you have to do?

'happened' is a Past tense fact - history - over - done - finished. So - no more duties, no more work.
So - how can 'you' still have duties to do: duties that you "have to do"?

[2006]

Should 'have' be in the past or present tense?
Both are possible; it depends on the situation you are talking about.

1...What happened to all the duties you have to do? (In this sentence "happened" has a more abstract meaning.)

You still have the duties to do, but perhaps you are procrastinating and ignoring them. We are surprised or disapproving of the fact you are not doing those duties now.

How come you're going to the movie with us? "What happened to all the duties you have to do?" (= Why are you ignoring them?)

2...What happened to all the duties you had to do? (This sentence is more straightforward.)

You originally had to do those duties, but you no longer have to do them. So #2 means 'How come you no longer have to do them?'


thank you

2006