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Thread: have had to
- 01-Jan-2005, 11:14 #1Unregistered Guest
have had to Dear teachers.
I'd like to know the difference between (1) and (2)?
(1) I had to do it.
(2) I have had to do it.
Happy New Year!
- 02-Jan-2005, 04:25 #2AintFoolin Guest Re: have had to
1 refers to a specific instance
2 refers more to the behavior in general and the fact that it has occurred in the past (usually more than once)
"I had to shoot the dog" - usually everybody knows precisely which dog you are talking about
"I have had to shoot dogs" - people don't necessarily know/care which dogs, just the fact that you have shot dogs in the past
- 02-Jan-2005, 15:23 #3
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Teacher Re: have had to (1) I had to do it. - This is one complete action in the past. - simple past
Originally Posted by Unregistered
(2) I have had to do it. - The means up until you "did it" any number of times. It could be just one time. The speaker is not specifying how many times he/she did it or when he/she did it. It could be any amount of times at any time up until now. This is why the present perfect is used here. - present perfect
