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fussy
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 29
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 Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:20 pm Post subject: past tense of "must" |
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How to say "I must be confused" in past tense?
Thank you! |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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I must have been confused.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
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fussy
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, CP!
"I must have been confused" is a new lesson to me.
I've never known the pattern "verb + have". I guess because "must" is an irregular verb, so the pattern is unique. I would like to know is there other verbs that can be used with "have" to form thier paste tense? |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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I might have been confused.
I ought to have been confused.
I should have been confused.
I could have been confused.
I must have been confused!
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
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fussy
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks a bunch! |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't classify them as verbs, though. I think they are usually referred to as modals. |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I think they are modals, too. I was going to say that at first, but I changed my mind. Sometimes I say too much . . . .
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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| CP wrote: |
| Yes, I think they are modals, too. I was going to say that at first, but I changed my mind. Sometimes I say too much . . . . |
I think you never say too much, CP.  |
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beancurdturtle
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 1041
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:03 am Post subject: |
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| CP wrote: |
| I must have been confused. |
Pronounced:
I mustubin confused.
It's funny how we run things together when speaking. And we use short phrases that can be confusing.
I remember when I went to China, my good friend didn't know what I was meaning when I asked "how come?"
"How come?" means "why?" - like "how did it come to be that way?"
Within a few days she was asking "how come?" and I had switched to "why?" to be more clear. haha
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Daniel
�Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.�
--Dr. Seuss |
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fussy
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I got it. "must" is a modal, not a verb. But is it right that sometimes it can be called a modal verb?
Thanks very much to Lorikeet and CP! |
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