I've had to wake up early vs I had to wake up early

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I've had to wake up early' implies that the speaker has had the experience of needing to wake up early multiple times in the past, while 'I had to wake up early' simply states that the speaker needed to wake up early on a specific occasion.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 1887 views

I've had to wake up early

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker has experienced the need to wake up early multiple times in the past.

Examples:

I've had to wake up early every day this week.
She's had to wake up early for work for years.

Show examples from the web [+]

Look, I've got to wake up early in the morning.
He has to wake up early for rock climbing.
I have to wake up early with my daughter anyway.
Don't think that I like to wake up early...
Need to wake up early for that.
I have to wake up early tomorrow for a thing, so I called a car.
Now I just want my head on a pillow because I have to wake up early.
Yun-jung, I have to wake up early tomorrow
I have to wake up early. I'll go and pack.
That kid always wakes up early.
He wakes up early to get papers and muffins.
We can wake up early and go clam digging.
Tom wakes up early almost every morning.
I wake up early every morning and watch Regis.
Let's go for a nice dinner, get a bottle of wine... maybe two, since we don't have to wake up early tomorrow.
Sorry, I have to wake up early tomorrow To make you breakfast.
Sorry, I have to wake up early tomorrow
I have to wake up early tomorrow so set the alarm!
No, Hugh needs his rest when he's doing a play, and I wake up early, so that wakes him up.
He would wake up early for prayers... have breakfast, go to band practice.

Alternatives:

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

I had to wake up early

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate a specific occasion in the past when the speaker needed to wake up early.

Examples:

I had to wake up early yesterday for a meeting.
She had to wake up early to catch the early train.

Show examples from the web [+]

I had to wake him up early for his talk in duluth and... I just fell asleep waiting for him to get -
He has to wake up early for rock climbing.
I have to wake up early with my daughter anyway.
Don't think that I like to wake up early...
Need to wake up early for that.
I have to wake up early tomorrow for a thing, so I called a car.
Now I just want my head on a pillow because I have to wake up early.
Yun-jung, I have to wake up early tomorrow
I have to wake up early. I'll go and pack.
Look, I've got to wake up early in the morning.
That kid always wakes up early.
He wakes up early to get papers and muffins.
We can wake up early and go clam digging.
Tom wakes up early almost every morning.
I wake up early every morning and watch Regis.
Let's go for a nice dinner, get a bottle of wine... maybe two, since we don't have to wake up early tomorrow.
Sorry, I have to wake up early tomorrow To make you breakfast.
Sorry, I have to wake up early tomorrow
I have to wake up early tomorrow so set the alarm!
No, Hugh needs his rest when he's doing a play, and I wake up early, so that wakes him up.

Alternatives:

I needed to wake up early
I was required to wake up early

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I've had to wake up early vs I had to wake up early