Why does Bradbury use "had to" in "what they had to offer."? An excerpt from "Just this Side of Byzantium" by Ray Bradbury: > I had to send myself back, with words as catalysts, to open the memories out and see what they **had to** offer. Why does the author use the auxiliary word "had to" here, making me feel the action "offer" is compulsory? I think it'd be better to leave out "had to."

'Had' is not used in the same sense in 'had to offer' as it is in 'had to send'.

In 'had to send' 'had' denotes, as you observe, a sense of compulsion. In 'had to offer' it denotes possession.

To paraphrase; the speaker feels compelled to send himself back, with words as catalysts, to open the memories out and see what they have, that they can offer.