Oct 20, 2005 19:44
18 yrs ago
English term
not have to / don't have to
English
Other
Linguistics
I wish I were a bird. To fly free,
and not have to put with ...
I wish I were a bird. To fly free,
and don't have to put with ...
Which is correct? Why? Is "And not have to" an expression?
and not have to put with ...
I wish I were a bird. To fly free,
and don't have to put with ...
Which is correct? Why? Is "And not have to" an expression?
Responses
| 4 +7 | so as to fly free, so as not to have to ... |
Nick Lingris
|
| 4 +5 | mood change |
Rachel Fell
|
| 4 +1 | the first |
jccantrell
|
| 4 | not have to |
Kevin Kelly
|
Responses
+7
8 mins
Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The word is my oyster
Native in: Greek 
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English, Greek
Related KudoZ points
:
52
Selected
so as to fly free, so as not to have to ...
These are infinitives of purpose or something.
Instead of "so as to fly free", you say only "To fly free".
In the second case, you drop "so as" again.
You could say: "and not to have to put up with..."
But as "to" has already been mentioned, you can drop that as well.
"and not have to put up with..."
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Note added at 16 mins (2005-10-20 20:01:15 GMT)
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In other words: I wish I were a bird. So that I can fly free, so that I don't have to put up with teachers.
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Note added at 19 mins (2005-10-20 20:04:03 GMT)
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And in case I haven't made myself clear, the first version is fine.
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Note added at 32 mins (2005-10-20 20:16:53 GMT)
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Re my previous expanded version: Rachel is right, the past tense of the subjunctive (i.e. I were) should also apply to the following sentence. Therefore:
I wish I were a bird, so that I could fly free, so that I didn't have to put up with teachers.
Instead of "so as to fly free", you say only "To fly free".
In the second case, you drop "so as" again.
You could say: "and not to have to put up with..."
But as "to" has already been mentioned, you can drop that as well.
"and not have to put up with..."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2005-10-20 20:01:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In other words: I wish I were a bird. So that I can fly free, so that I don't have to put up with teachers.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2005-10-20 20:04:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
And in case I haven't made myself clear, the first version is fine.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2005-10-20 20:16:53 GMT)
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Re my previous expanded version: Rachel is right, the past tense of the subjunctive (i.e. I were) should also apply to the following sentence. Therefore:
I wish I were a bird, so that I could fly free, so that I didn't have to put up with teachers.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
5 mins
|
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Thanks, V.P.
|
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| agree |
Emilie
: Yes, it is really fine.
16 mins
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Thanks, Emilie.
|
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
: but it should be I wish I were... so that I could.... I didn't have to..."
18 mins
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Of course. The subjunctive carries on. I'll make the correction. Thanks, Rachel.
|
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| agree |
Dorota Nowakówna
39 mins
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Thank you, Dorota!
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| agree |
jennifer newsome (X)
42 mins
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Thanks, Jennifer.
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| agree |
Elizabeth Lyons
2 hrs
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Thanks, Elizabeth.
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| agree |
Elisabete Cunha
15 hrs
|
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Thanks, Elisabete.
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| neutral |
Refugio
: This sounds a bit stilted. It would sound more natural to say, I wish I were a bird, so I could fly free, so I wouldn't have to put up with
1 day 10 hrs
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Hi, Ruth. More than just a bit stilted. It is not my suggestion for a replacement, just a wordy explanation of why the first version is the right one. And I wouldn't change that.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all of you!!! All answers were very helpful. Salud..."
+1
3 mins
jccantrell
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
31
the first
change the second to
and did not have to put up with...
and it would be OK.
you need more than just 'and not have to' to be an expression
to put up with something, meaning to endure something, is a perfectly acceptable express in US English.
You might say something like "and I do not have to ...."
My thoughts from the USA>
and did not have to put up with...
and it would be OK.
you need more than just 'and not have to' to be an expression
to put up with something, meaning to endure something, is a perfectly acceptable express in US English.
You might say something like "and I do not have to ...."
My thoughts from the USA>
+5
20 mins
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
mood change
1) I wish I were a bird, able to fly free and not have to put up with...
2) I am a bird, able to fly free and don't have to put up with...
1) subjunctive, wishing
2) indicative, statement of fact
Others have answered the other points
2) I am a bird, able to fly free and don't have to put up with...
1) subjunctive, wishing
2) indicative, statement of fact
Others have answered the other points
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
sassa
20 mins
|
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Thank you sassa!
|
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| agree |
NancyLynn
44 mins
|
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Thank you NancyLynn!
|
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| agree |
Tegan Raleigh
: I wish I were a bird. (I wish I were able) To fly free and not have to put up. As I read it, the (I wish I were able) is implied, it doesn't have to be stated. But then, maybe the second part is conditional...
57 mins
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Thank you - yes, I was just trying to show how both could work; in the example it's about having to put up with teachers
|
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| agree |
RHELLER
: hmmm, a bird and a cat? I smell trouble :-)))
2 hrs
|
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Thanks Rita!!!
|
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
1 day 12 hrs
|
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Thank you Marju!
|
1 hr
Kevin Kelly
Native in English
&
English
Impeccable quality, on-time delivery.
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
not have to
Essentially what this is saying is: I wish I were a bird. (I wish I could) fly free and not have to....
The separation into two sentences is fine; it is reminiscent of Shakespeare's "To sleep, perchance to dream" where Hamlet is speculating about what may come after death.
"don't have to" is incorrect simply because it's the indicative mood, a statement of fact (I don't have to put up with teachers) that unfortunately does not correspond to the reality. In reality, you are a student who does indeed have to put up with teachers.
And the phrase "to have to" simply means to be obligated to do something.
The separation into two sentences is fine; it is reminiscent of Shakespeare's "To sleep, perchance to dream" where Hamlet is speculating about what may come after death.
"don't have to" is incorrect simply because it's the indicative mood, a statement of fact (I don't have to put up with teachers) that unfortunately does not correspond to the reality. In reality, you are a student who does indeed have to put up with teachers.
And the phrase "to have to" simply means to be obligated to do something.
Discussion