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muni



Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 176

PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:50 am    Post subject: have to Reply with quote

if i want to say sorry to my friend because she would have to go again some where because of me
then can i say that
i am sorry you will have to go there again .............
any other better way of saying this????
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's a good sentence, Muni. You could delete 'will' without changing its meaning. Either way is a very natural way to say it. Good job.
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muni



Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 176

PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

so both
you will have to go there ..................
and
you have to go there ..........
are for the future and have the same meaning
and if I want to say the same sentence in past tence then I would say that
"I am sorry you had to go there............
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes to everything you asked... I can't explain the grammar, but often we use the present tense to indicate the future.

- Where are you going tomorrow? = Where will you go tomorrow?

- What are we having for dinner tonight? = What will we have for dinner tonight?

- She is spending two months next year in Africa. = She will spend two months next year in Africa.

In fact, in each of those examples, the first version is more natural. It doesn't work in all cases, though. I'm sorry that I can't explain why this is so, or when it doesn't work. Maybe someone who knows will tell us.
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