student asking question

How come "has to say" was used here? Can I just say "has said" or "said" instead?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Both expressions would be correct in this case. The main difference between "has to say" and "said" or "has said" is that "has to say" implies that there is a need to say something. In other words, "has to say" reflects an urgency to speak while the other words are more neutral. "Has to say" in this way can indicate that someone is telling their opinion or thoughts. Ex: What do you have to say about the politics in your country? Ex: The mother had a lot to say to her disobedient son.

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