does "n'a pas eu a" mean "didn't have to"

Question

I'm looking at the "Manon n'a pas eu a payer" as the translation of the English "Manon didn't have to pay."  This translates literally but is it correct French.  I would think "Manon didn't have to pay" would be something like "Manon n'a pas du a payer."

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Carl,
‘Avoir à faire’ in French indicates a need rather than the idea of must when ‘devoir’ is used.
Tu ne dois pas payer = You must not  pay
Tu n’as pas à payer =  There’s not need for you to pay
Which I think is the meaning required in the exercise ....

Paul Fisquet · Answer

Yes. It is correct French. I think you could also say “Manon n’a pas dû payer” as you suggested (but without ‘a’ before payer) but I’m pretty sure that in this case they asked us to use “avoir à”  for to have to.

Carl Cerco · Answer

Thank you both for the replies.  This is a subtlety I have never seen before.