Question
Updated on
ShinobiNinja
about 21 hours
- Japanese
English (US)
English (UK)
Question about English (US)
- Report copyright infringement
Answers
When you "disagree" with an answer
The owner of it will not be notified.Only the user who asked this question will see who disagreed with this answer.
OK
newenglandgenie
about 20 hours
Featured answer
- English (US)
There’s nothing (that) I have to do = There’s nothing that I’m required to do right now. There’s nothing that I must do right now.
It implies that I’ve finished all my work and I’m done so there’s nothing left that I need to do.
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
Southeastern
about 21 hours
- English (US)
It means I have no work to do.
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 21 hours
- Japanese
@Southeastern
Thank you for the reply.
I have a question. It seems you think “have to” doesn’t mean “must”. That you think “have” is a main verb and “to do” is an adjective phrase. If “nothing” is used, it would seem you think it’s “I have nothing to do”. Is this understanding correct?
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 20 hours
- English (US)
There’s nothing (that) I have to do = There’s nothing that I’m required to do right now. There’s nothing that I must do right now.
It implies that I’ve finished all my work and I’m done so there’s nothing left that I need to do.
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 20 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Thank you for the response.
You think “have to” means “am required to” or “must”, a kind of auxiliary verb, don’t you?
The interpretations seem to be different. For native speakers, are its structure and meaning ambiguous? Or are they easy even for native speakers to misunderstand?
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 20 hours
- English (US)
@ShinobiNinja
"Have to" is easy to understand for native speakers because of context.
Yes, have to means must --> I have to go to the store today means I must go to the store today.
It's rarely misunderstood in my opinion.
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 19 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Oh, sorry.
>> The interpretations seem to be different. For native speakers, are its structure and meaning ambiguous? Or are they easy even for native speakers to misunderstand?
I intend to mean this part is about “There’s nothing (that) I have to do”, not just “have to”. So, are the structure and meaning of “There’s nothing (that) I have to do” ambiguous?
But even so, it seems you will reply, “No. They are easy to understand”.
I came up with another example, “All you have to do is…”. In “All you have to do”, you think “have to” is “must”, don’t you?
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 19 hours
- English (US)
@ShinobiNinja
Correct. All you have to do = All you must do is ……
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 19 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Ah, I almost understand it, maybe.
Could you paraphrase "There's nothing (that) I have to do" without THERE-construction?
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 19 hours
- English (US)
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 18 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Thank you. I understand the meaning. But sorry, I have another question.
Before paraphrasing, "(that) I have to do" is an affirmative sentence(clause). But after paraphrasing, "I don't have to do anything" is a negative sentence. Is this change allowed?
If you would paraphrase it into "I have to do nothing", it would be easy for me to understand from the view of the form. But from the view of the meaning, "I have to do nothing" wouldn't be right.
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 18 hours
- English (US)
@ShinobiNinja
I have to do nothing is very unnatural and no native speaker would say it this way. I don't have to do anything is the way it's said and means the exact same thing.
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 18 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Hmm... The form changing with paraphrase is still weird to me, but if no native speakers say, "I have to do nothing", I must accept it as it is.
But at least, the first question of the meaning is already clear. Thank you for your kindness to reply and answer my asking repeatedly.
- Report copyright infringement
newenglandgenie
about 18 hours
- English (US)
@ShinobiNinja
You’re welcome. This type of sentence is quite common.
Maybe this helps: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/anything-...#
- Report copyright infringement
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
ShinobiNinja
about 18 hours
- Japanese
@newenglandgenie
Thank you for the link. At a glance, it seems to be helpful; I'll read it carefully later. Thanks!
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
newenglandgenie
about 18 hours
- English (US)
@ShinobiNinja Good luck and keep asking questions! 💕
- Report copyright infringement
0likes
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
Was this useful?
- Why did you respond with "Hmm..."?
Obviously wrong
Explanation is not enough
Written in a language I can't understand
Answer is not related to the question
Other reason
- Your feedback will not be shown to other users.
Recommended Questions
- Show more
- What does “There’s nothing (that) I have to do” mean?How do you paraphrase or explain it?
- Can you fix my English to make it sound more natural? Also does this sound romantic?"He taught ...
- I got an answer from a native speaker, but he said my guessing might be right, but he wasn’t sure...
- Go by Am I using this one phrasal verb correctly in my sentences:• the year went by quickly • ...
- Do both sound natural?1. I'm still debating going to the reunion.2. I'm wavering between the be...
Topic Questions
- Show more
- Does this sound natural?It's exhausting to talk to some people trying to convince them
- Can native English speakers understand all the dialects of English?
- Do Americans use “so-so” or “just so-so”? I’ve heard that Americans never use those and only non-...
- Is it OK to say "total amount of production costs" and "total amount inclunding VAT excluded on ....
- Could you check this e-mail that I typed to practice for my writing test? Dear Ms. Mills,Tha...
Newest Questions
- Show more
- What does “skip” refer to?would have been able to go back to school, if only just a little late...
- "As good as" can only mean (with the same skill as)I speak English as good as French.But "as w...
- Kens brother は三人称単数ですか?
- Does this sound natural?It's exhausting to talk to some people trying to convince them
- "I am afraid I will pass on your offer at this time, considering the budget."Is this sentence f...
Previous question/ Next question
- How do you say this in Japanese? How do I say I’m hungry
- How do you say this in French (France)? What do you recommend?
What’s this symbol?
The Language Level symbol shows a user's proficiency in the languages they're interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that aren't too complex or too simple.
Beginner
Has difficulty understanding even short answers in this language.
Beginner-Intermediate
Can ask simple questions and can understand simple answers.
Intermediate
Can ask all types of general questions and can understand longer answers.
Advanced
Can understand long, complex answers.
Sign up for premium, and you can play other user's audio/video answers.
Learn about premium features
What are gifts?
Show your appreciation in a way that likes and stamps can't.
By sending a gift to someone, they will be more likely to answer your questions again!
If you post a question after sending a gift to someone, your question will be displayed in a special section on that person’s feed.