"had to"

[Shinishi]

When you use "had to", can a "but" follow it?
For example, can you say
"I had to do my homework but I didn't."

In a Japanese grammer book,
it says "had to" is used only when you
"did" the thing you "had to" such as,
"I had to work last night, so I didn't watch the program."

Is it true?

I understand you can say,
"I should have worked last night, but I watched the program."
but I also have a feeling that
"I had to do my homework but I didn't."
is also correct...

[JillP]

Hi Shinishi! The English language can be confusing at times, even to the English. I think I can help you out with this though. If you say, 'I had to do my homework last night' then that implies the you did do it, as the sentence says you 'Had to'. 'Had to' means that you had no alternative but to do it. However, it would be correct to say, 'Last night, I had homework to do, but I did not do it!' I hope that this makes sense to you and you can see the difference the sentence structure makes.

[Quizmonster]

Yes, 'had to' may be followed by 'but'. 'Had to' suggests something was your duty or that it was compulsory. However, many things in life fit that definition but other life circumstances prevent them from actually happening.
"I had to visit my granny this morning, but I twisted my ankle and was unable to get there."
That is, you'd promised to visit, your granny was expecting you, you were determined to see her and were on your way downstairs to set off for her home, but...Oops! You stumbled, fell awkwardly, hurt youself and simply couldn't walk.
'Had to' suggests merely an outcome to be hoped for rather than an inevitability in some circumstances.

[Muffet]

Sorry to be difficult, but 'had to' does seem a bit obligatory, and I go along with JillP in thinking that 'but' shouldn't be used.
"had to do homework" is compulsory.
"had homework to do" isn't.
In your suggestion, Shinishi, it should more properly have been -I should have done my homework, but I didn't.

I hope Quizmonster won't mind too much, but a more likely version of yours might be - I twisted my ankle, and was in a lot of pain, but I had to visit my granny.(obligation)
Or - I should have visited (was due to visit) my granny, but twisted my ankle and had to go to hospital.
(the 'had to's were the obligations. No ifs or buts)

[Muffet]

Just an afterthought, Shinishi, about the ifs and buts, and where they might be used.
1. I had to cut the grass. (Obligation. No ifs or buts)

2. I had to cut the grass, but not if it was raining
3. I had to cut the grass if I got home early enough.
(These weren't obligations if (2) it was raining or (3) I didn't get home early enough. )
I just hope I haven't confused you even further. It's been an interesting question. I think you've got a good grammar book there.

[JillP]

Thank you, Muffet for your support. Like I said, the English language can be confusing, even for those of us who speak it first and foremost.

[Quizmonster]

Muffet and Jillp, you are both failing to take tense into account. In the simple past, 'but' cannot follow 'had to'. For example, "I had to hand in my passport when the Customs Officer demanded it" means you had no option and you, in fact, did hand it in on that past occasion.
But that does not mean one cannot say "I had to be at the station by 10 o'clock but my taxi was late and I missed the train." ('Had to' here implies...if I was to catch the appropriate train.) Your own Examples 2 and 3, Muffet, illustrate the point I was making perfectly. In other words, they refer to "future-in-the-past", as it were. In other words, ideally such and such would have to happen but only if certain conditions were met.

There is not a shadow of doubt but that 'had to' can - perfectly legitimately - be followed by 'but' in certain circumstances, just as I outlined earlier. End of story.

[Muffet]

Well done, Quizmonster. I agree with what you've said. It was late last night when I entered the fray, and I realised this morning that you could say 'I had to catch the 6.30 train, but it was cancelled.'
The 'but' is justified when it relates to something outside your control.
Shinishi, I do hope you'll let us know whether any of this has been helpful to you, or has just added to the confusion. I've enjoyed it at any rate. Best of luck.

[Quizmonster]

Thanks for that, M.