Have to

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Linguaphile

#401173 Mon, 06 Aug 07 07:03 PM

I had the opinion that "have to" can be used in the simple present to refer to a pesent obligation until I came across this sentence.

I'm having to bone up on criminal law for a test next week. (Longman)

Well, what would the difference be if I said

I have to bone up on criminal law for a test next week.

My non-native intuition tells me that in the first one I started studying, but in the second one not yet. Is my intuition playing tricks on me? Smile [:)]

Linguaphile

Joined on Tue, Jul 17 2007

Turkey

Full Member (140)

Simple Present

CalifJim

#401278 Mon, 06 Aug 07 10:43 PM

I think your intuition is fine. Your interpretation seems reasonable to me. Smile [:)]

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,716)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Linguaphile

#401289 Mon, 06 Aug 07 11:14 PM

Thank you, Jim.

Linguaphile

milky

#401392 Tue, 07 Aug 07 07:57 AM

Linguaphile wrote:

I had the opinion that "have to" can be used in the simple present to refer to a pesent obligation until I came across this sentence.

I'm having to bone up on criminal law for a test next week. (Longman)

Well, what would the difference be if I said

I have to bone up on criminal law for a test next week.

My non-native intuition tells me that in the first one I started studying, but in the second one not yet. Is my intuition playing tricks on me?

How about here?

He's so behind at school that I have to/I'm having to help him with his homework every night.

milky

Joined on Thu, Jan 15 2004

Senior Member (3,149)

Hume said that if we had perfect or complete descriptive knowledge of reality, we could not, by reasoning, derive a single valid "ought".

Simple Present

milky

#401394 Tue, 07 Aug 07 08:02 AM

I have to/I'm having to get up early for this new job.

The "have to" one can imply the action has begun or is about to begin. The "having to" one can only imply that it has begun.

milky

Linguaphile

#401471 Tue, 07 Aug 07 11:35 AM

Milky wrote:
How about here?
He's so behind at school that I have to/I'm having to help him with his homework every night.

I guess here the distinction gets a bit blurrier. Smile [:)]

Linguaphile