Grammar

[Sahand]

Dear friends! Can you help me with the structure of the verb in this sentence? (I had it some time ago in the translation of Odysseus too)

"I had need have you always to find fault with me ..." (The Mill on the Floss, George Eliot, Oxford, p 413)

[OrphanPip]

Dear friends! Can you help me with the structure of the verb in this sentence? (I had it some time ago in the translation of Odysseus too)

"I had need have you always to find fault with me ..." (The Mill on the Floss, George Eliot, Oxford, p 413)

"had need" is an outdated modal phrase like must or ought to. Think of the sentence as I ought to have you always to find fault with me.

[Jackson Richardson]

If it said "I had need to always have you with me" I'd have had no problem. Its the missing to that makes in read oddly.

I take it that is from direct speech by a character, in which case the grammar need not be strictly grammatical.

[Sahand]

So what about this one: "... who must needs pull up cumbersomely and wait to be let through." Far from the Madding Crowd, T. Hardy, Collins, 366
must needs pull???

[Sahand]

Any ideas?!

[MANICHAEAN]

For "pull up", read "helped up" or "encouraged."