What is the past tense of "must"? |
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Votes: 1585
Comments: 12
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. |
| Adrock - 8th December 2009 19:13 |
| "Must" is a Saxon imported word and interestingly in old english it was primarily used in past tense more then present tense. Back then the past tense was "Moste" however this got dropped over time and we were left with a present/future tense shortening of that word. If you study German you will find that modal verbs such as these still retain the ability to be used in past tense with a different verbal suffix .. "Ich muss" translates to English as "I must" perfectly, but "Ich musste" can now only translate as "I had to" instead of "I musted". Old English was forced to adapt to new language structure changes whereas German could remain largely intact. But yeah in conclusion, "Must" no longer has a past tense form of itself other than an archaic saxon relic :) |
| Secsee Devil - 11th December 2009 14:18 |
| WRONG WRONG! THERE IS NO PAST TENSE! It must have been dark. It had to have been dark? They are both past tense already. He must want it. He had to want it? no no no... |
