had to have been better than an eel stuck up your nose.

[tufguy]

It might not have been a good one for you but it had to have been better than an eel stuck up your nose.

Could you please tell me the meaning of this part "had to have been"? I read it in the newspaper.

 

[Tdol]

Was better

 

[emsr2d2]

... must have been ...

 

[tufguy]

... must have been ...

So, it can also be written as following:

1) It might not have been a good one for you but it was better than an eel stuck up your nose.

2) It might not have been a good one for you but it might have been better than an eel stuck up your nose.

"Had to have been"="might have been"or "was+verb" Am I correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

Who suggested "might have been"?

 

[tufguy]

Who suggested "might have been"?

Oh sorry, "Had to have been"="must have been"or "was+verb or noun" Am I correct?

 

[Tdol]

"Had to have been"="might have been"or "was+verb" Am I correct?

You asked a question about the meaning, which doesn't mean that every sentence containing a form can be reduced to this.