TextRanch
The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

TextRanch Editors

i have to be vs i had to be

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I have to be' is used to express a current obligation or necessity, while 'I had to be' is used to talk about a past obligation or necessity. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on whether you are referring to something that is currently required or something that was required in the past.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 784 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a current obligation or necessity.

"i have to be"

Use 'I have to be' when you want to convey that there is a current obligation or necessity for you to do something.

Examples:

  • I have to be at the meeting by 9 a.m.
  • She has to be more careful when crossing the street.
  • We have to be quiet during the exam.
  • But i have to be sure Of my prey.
  • During the day, I have to be a girl.
  • I have to be with my Nina.
  • I have to be careful not to overdo it.
  • Sorry, I have to be in court this morning.
  • Your time is up. I have to be with the Italian Prime Minister tomorrow.
  • And I have to be at the DMV today.
  • I have to be reachable in an emergency.
  • I have to be rested so I can get yelled at again tomorrow.
  • And I have to be brave for everybody else.
  • Emmie, I have to be truthful with you.
  • But I have to be this guy, Jane.
  • - I have to be downtown in 15 minutes.
  • I have to be ruthless with myself.
  • I have to be ruthless with myself.
  • I have to be dispassionate and consider what's best for the child.
  • I have to be so careful with my image.
  • - I have to be ready in six months.
  • So I have to be at school in 20 minutes.
  • I have to be true to myself...

Alternatives:

  • I need to be
  • I must be
  • I am required to be

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a past obligation or necessity.

"i had to be "

Use 'I had to be' when you want to refer to a past obligation or necessity that was required of you.

Examples:

  • I had to be at the airport by 6 a.m. yesterday.
  • She had to be more assertive in the meeting last week.
  • We had to be quiet during the movie.
  • And so I had to be punished.
  • I had to be here for the end of the show.
  • I had to be with people my own age.
  • I had to be with my family.
  • But, you know, I had to be straight with him.
  • I had to be aggressive towards you in order to gain Greg's trust.
  • She said I had to be ugly.
  • I had to be tough for my kids.
  • I'm sorry, guys. I had to be certain.
  • But I had to be honest with myself.
  • I just knew that I had to be there.
  • I had to be certain that you were a decent man.
  • Before you, I had to be both Hedvig and Elvira.
  • You said that I had to be protected.
  • I had to be at work before they left for school.
  • I had to be careful with something this sensitive.
  • I had to be in court first thing, so I took a cab.
  • To pull that off, I had to be absolutely certain my father wouldn't show.
  • I had to be on the red carpet at 10:00.
  • Even if it was a lie, I had to be honest with her.

Alternatives:

  • I needed to be
  • I was required to be
  • I had a duty to be

Related Comparisons

"I don't want to be" vs "i don't wanted to be" "i have to went." vs "Because it is to late" "he has to be" vs "he have to be" "have to be" vs "has to be" "I have shame of being" vs "I have shame to be" "I found to be" vs "I have found to be"

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

  • Emails and short texts
  • Proofreading & editing
  • Ready in 5-10 minutes
SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

  • Documents of any type (*.docx)
  • Advanced & Premium editing
  • Ready in as little as 4 hours
UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

  • Personalized answers to your language questions
  • Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
  • Ready in 24 hours
ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Powered By Humans

TextRanch Editors

AI is a great tool, but when it comes to perfecting your writing, we rely on real human editors.

  • All our editors are native English speakers.
  • Each editor has passed a rigorous admission test to ensure quality.
  • Our global team is ready to correct any text, anytime.

MEET OUR EDITORS

TextRanch Editors

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

People Feedback 4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Profile picture of Zubair from Bangladesh

Zubair
from Bangladesh From

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Profile picture of Arturo from Mexico

Arturo
from Mexico From

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Profile picture of Selena from USA

Selena
from USA From

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Profile picture of Ifiok from Nigeria

Ifiok
from Nigeria From

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Profile picture of Wilson from France

Wilson
from France From

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Profile picture of Susan from Germany

Susan
from Germany From

Trusted by Hundreds Teams

Facebook logo
Accenture logo
Air Asia logo
AirBus logo
Amazon logo
Bayer logo
Decathlon logo
Docusign logo
Ebay logo
Fiverr logo
Fossil logo
Keller Williams logo
LinkedIn logo
Loreal logo
Motorola logo
Orange logo
Roche logo
Salesforce logo
Stellantis logo