Hey,
I wanted to convert this into a negative sentence and I got confused somehow. What will be the correct negative structure of this sentence?
I did not have to buy a pen.
[or]
I had not to buy a pen. (someone told me that this is the right answer, but I don't think it would be)
Please also explain how you arrived at your specific answer. It will help me understand the process.
Thanks.
[Negative of] "I had to buy a pen"
Moderator: Alan
- Heisenberg
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2016 11:18 am
- Status: Learner of English
- Alan
- Teacher/Moderator
- Posts: 15257
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: Japan
Re: [Negative of] "I had to buy a pen"
The simple denial of have to (do) is not have to do and so
I didn't have to buy a pen.
means simply "it was not necessary for me to buy a pen".
Have not to (do), on the other hand, is not simply a denial but the contrary of the original statement, i.e. a prohibition. Thus
I had not (hadn't) to buy a pen.
means "I was not allowed/permitted to buy a pen".
This latter construction is, however, primarily British English (and a little dated at that), and an AmE speaker would be more likely to say "I wasn't allowed..."
I didn't have to buy a pen.
means simply "it was not necessary for me to buy a pen".
Have not to (do), on the other hand, is not simply a denial but the contrary of the original statement, i.e. a prohibition. Thus
I had not (hadn't) to buy a pen.
means "I was not allowed/permitted to buy a pen".
This latter construction is, however, primarily British English (and a little dated at that), and an AmE speaker would be more likely to say "I wasn't allowed..."