What is the past tense of "must"? |
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Votes: 1443
Comments: 10
Added: July 2003
| 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". |
| vladimir - 4th February 2009 02:05 |
| had to just seems fine. |
| Rasmus - 4th November 2009 09:32 |
| How come there be only two choices? Anyway, must is like hit both present and past tense, at least in my opinion, and you will mostly understand witch one from context. |
