What is the past tense of "must"? |
|
|
| Votes: 877 |
Comments: 8 |
Added: July 2003 |
Comments:
| willbut - 28th November 2003 23:52
|
| Into the early twentieth century, people used 'must' as the past tense. Then it disappeared.
|
| |
| Schaheb - 3rd July 2005 04:12
|
| I know "must" can be used as a past tense in reported speech. But I have seen it used as a past tense in a translation of Franz Kafka's "The Trial": "it was as if in a moment he must spring up with a violent and probably wrathful gesture [...]"
|
| |
| USACat - 8th February 2006 16:26
|
| In my experiences I have heard " must have" sounding like "must've". Rather it is correct or not I don't know. I do think it is acceptable in Americanized English.
|
| |
| BT - 10th March 2006 01:50
|
| Schaheb - that's actually a future form ("in a moment he must = would have to")
|
| |
| cheesewiz - 9th October 2006 08:40
|
| im mostly concerned about the present tense of must (musting?) than the past tense. or, i was.
|
| |
| Trish - 20th December 2006 12:26
|
| Well, when you say must in a sentence, meaning you don't have any choice but to do it. That is why "I had to do it."
|
| |
| stephen uy - 23rd October 2007 15:08
|
| actually i dont have any idea eithier
|
| |
| Vidableek - 27th February 2008 23:38
|
| I think "It must have had to happen" would work. But if you are talking about yourself and you must do something yesterday, you should just say "I should have".
|
| |
You must vote before you can post a comment.
Browse our language polls:
|
 |
| Poll Statistics |
Polls: 771
Votes: 189,283
Comments: 1,898 |
|
