As far as I know, we can say "might have to" or "may have to", but I think I am not used to "can have to." Can we say, "can have to" like in this sentence I thought of: "You can have to buy me a new phone if you drop it." I know we can say, "You may/might have to buy me a new phone if you drop it (my phone)", but how about the phrase "can have to"? Is it generally ever usable?
1 Answer
No, we don't say "can have to."
Generally the options are:
You may/might have to do x. (possibility)
You could have to do x. (possibility)
You will have to do x. (certainty)
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1Also possible is "You have to buy me a new phone if you drop it." This is also expressing certainty.– PeterJun 13, 2020 at 5:22
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You could also say "You can buy me a new phone if you break it." (without the "have to"). Although "can" seems to express possibility, in that use it has an air of threat. Jun 13, 2020 at 11:21
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Thank you. How about "You can need to"? Is it used? It sounds like it might be wrong as well to me. Jun 13, 2020 at 14:05
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"You could have to" also sounds wrong to me unless it is used in indirect speech. Jun 13, 2020 at 16:10