Must have had

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User_gary  #361882  Tue, 08 May 07 06:38 AM

They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to -- on a screen, you know. And then, when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had when they read it the first time.

`Gee,' said Tommy, `what a waste. When you're through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our television screen must have had a million books on it and it's good for plenty more. I wouldn't throw it away.'

Please rephrase the highlighted sentence. [Particularly I can't understand because of `must have had']

I never come across a sentence with (must have had)

  
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CalifJim  #361912  Tue, 08 May 07 08:19 AM
In present time:  must have

This library must have a million books. = It must be the case that this library has a million books. = The only possible conclusion is that this library has a million books.

In past time:  must have had

This library must have had a million books. = It must be the case that this library had a million books. = The only possible conclusion is that this library had a million books.

CJ

  
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