Does "have to" express necessity here?

There is a conversation: Pedro: Tom, why is the food in English so awful? Tom: Hey, come on Pedro. It's not that bad. In fact, it's better than most other European countries. Pedro: But not Spain. The diet of the Mediterranean has to be one of the best. "Have to" is in the sentence "The diet of the Mediterranean has to be one of the best." I don't think necessity makes sense here, what's your idea?

Public Comments

  1. I think it does....there is a neccessity for it to be categorized as one of the best
  2. I think you're right. and I bet that if this is not homework you have lots of spare time. lol
  3. The sentence should read: 'The diet of the Mediterranean, in this author's opinion, has to be one of the best.' since it isn't that the diet necessarily IS one of the best but that the author thinks it is one of the best.
  4. "Have to" = "must" Yours is a subjective statement, but the opinion expressed is fairly absolute.
  5. Sometime have poor commnuication problems. Luke 2.32 What do you think?
  6. I sure would like to know why this is an issue in the first place.
  7. i'd say yes! if you're interested in having the diet, there's a great series in libraries!!!
  8. Yes, in an indirect way, it does express necessity. A person saying "this has to be right" is in effect saying that "from everything I know, I think it is necessary to conclude that this is right." So the person in your conversation is saying, "From everything I know about food and diet, I think it's necessary to conclude that the Mediterranean diet is best." So the "necessity" part refers to the person's thinking process.
  9. No, it doesn't. There are a lot of problems with this conversation: Tom, why is the food in ENGLAND so awful? Hey, come on Pedro, it's not that bad. (It's not that bad should be linked to the first part of the sentence). - Just examples of problems with the statements. As far as has to, first, you are using a passive voice, no necessity in that. It's not a necessity being expressed here, it's a fact (or fact to the speaker). That is why the passive voice is particularly bad here, it makes the statement unclear.
  10. I believe it is only Pedro's opinion. He believes it is the best. However, it is my opinion, too. (By the way, you meant to say England, not English, and they do have some awful food.)
  11. In your first sentence, please change English to England. "has to" expresses an opinion of the speaker in this sentence. has to can mean: to assert, maintain, or represent as being. That is the way it is used in your sentence.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers