Kook j Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
The meaning of 'don't have to''
Hi,teachers I have two questions.
I've been wondering about Don't have to. I vaguely see two meanings in it.
A:Tom,you don't have to cry.
1.Here A is telling Tom there's no need to cry.
2.A is warning Tom not to cry.
Questions:
1.Which understanding above is correct?
2.Are there better ways for saying each meanings?
I've been wondering about Don't have to. I vaguely see two meanings in it.
A:Tom,you don't have to cry.
1.Here A is telling Tom there's no need to cry.
2.A is warning Tom not to cry.
Questions:
1.Which understanding above is correct?
2.Are there better ways for saying each meanings?
Top answer
Which understanding above is correct? Number 1. Are there better ways for saying each meanings?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
kook j1.Which understanding above is correct?Number 1.
kook j2.Are there better ways for saying each meanings?I don't know about better but you used one yourself in your question "Tom, there's no need to cry."
I'm sure there are others but none come to mind at the moment.
00
I would understand A only to mean 1.
Tom, don't cry! That's meaning 2.
Tom, don't cry! That's meaning 2.
00
kook jyou don't have to cry. I vaguely see two meanings in it.You may be mistakenly thinking that the negation can affect either the modal or the residue, but in fact negation in a "have to" construction affects only "have to".
Original: You have to cry.
Negating the modal: You don't have to cry.
Negating the residue
00