Have to vs Having to
What is the difference in meaning between these following sentences and why "having to" is used in the first sentence instead of "have to"? 1. Love means never having to say you're sorry. 2. Love means never have to say you're sorry.
2 Answers
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Good morning and thanks for another great question,
The answer here is tenses, particularly Present Simple VS Present Continuous Tense.
"Have to" is a modal verb which is used to indicate something which happens regularly whereas "having to" is a continuous action happening for a shorter period of time due to a need or requirement.
For example: I have to go for a walk with my dog every day. I'm having to walk my dog twice a day now as he has picked up weight.
Hope this helps? Chantelle
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To add on to what Chantelle wrote, we use have to + infinitive to talk about obligation, things that are necessary to do, or to give advice about things that are a good idea to do.
For e.g : I don't want but have to go there.
"Having to" can also be used for an ongoing present sitatuon of limited duration:
For e.g : My wife is away this week, so I'm having to cook my own food..
Neither Chantelle nor Monica paid attention to the actual sentence in the question but only commented on the forms - infinitive and -ing-form. But in "Love means never having to say sorry" there is no present Progressive tense because "having to" here is a non-finite form (Gerund). It's unusual because modal verbs do not form either Progressives or Gerunds...
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Important to note that you can also say "I have to walk my dog twice a day now as he has picked up weight" but that implies that this arrangement will continue indefinitely, not for a limited period of time.
Thank you! That was useful
Thanku for clear clarification