"I had to get up early" vs "I've had to get up early"

Question

"I had to get up early" vs "I've had to get up early"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I've had to get up early' implies that there have been multiple occasions in the past where the speaker had to get up early. 'I had to get up early' simply states that the speaker had to get up early on a specific occasion.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker had to get up early on a specific occasion.

Examples:

I had to get up early yesterday for a meeting.
He had to get up early last weekend for an event.

Alternatives:

I needed to get up early
I was required to get up early

This phrase is used to indicate that there have been multiple occasions in the past where the speaker had to get up early.

Examples:

I've had to get up early every day this week.
She's had to get up early for work for the past year.

Alternatives:

I have had to get up early
I've had to wake up early

Answer 1

I had to get up early

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

I've had to get up early

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I had to get up early" vs "I've had to get up early"

I had to get up early

I've had to get up early

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