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Mkyol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
attempted diets...
Most of the teeangers who have attempted diets were not overweight at those times.
I read that when present perfect is used, then specific time can't be mentioned.. so I'm wondering if I can say those times in the sentence. The assumption is that there have been multiple diet attempts, and "those times" is referring to that. Although it's assuming multiple diet attempts, this is only because (I think) it's better to have the possibility of multiple occurrances rather than just singular occurrance. I'm also curious if I can just say 'a diet', 'at that time' and have the possibility of multiple occurrances fully intact.
Most of the teeangers who attempted a diet were not overweight
I wonder if this sentence conveys the meaning that most of teeangers have attempted a diet, and that when they tried it(at that time), they were not overweight. It's not important whether they had multiple attempts at it or not, in delivering the specific message intended by the sentence, where the importance is placed on the fact that they had attmpted diets before even though they were not overweight. <-- please verify this statement.
I read that when present perfect is used, then specific time can't be mentioned.. so I'm wondering if I can say those times in the sentence. The assumption is that there have been multiple diet attempts, and "those times" is referring to that. Although it's assuming multiple diet attempts, this is only because (I think) it's better to have the possibility of multiple occurrances rather than just singular occurrance. I'm also curious if I can just say 'a diet', 'at that time' and have the possibility of multiple occurrances fully intact.
Most of the teeangers who attempted a diet were not overweight
I wonder if this sentence conveys the meaning that most of teeangers have attempted a diet, and that when they tried it(at that time), they were not overweight. It's not important whether they had multiple attempts at it or not, in delivering the specific message intended by the sentence, where the importance is placed on the fact that they had attmpted diets before even though they were not overweight. <-- please verify this statement.
Top answer
If I understand your question, I think both your assumptions are wrong. In the first case, I believe we have multiple teenagers but not multiple diet attempts. I further believe "at that time" is not so much meant to exclude other times (possibly implying they were overweight at other times) as to point out the limitations of the scientific data.
- If I understand your question, I think both your assumptions are wrong.
- In the first case, I believe we have multiple teenagers but not multiple diet attempts.
- I further believe "at that time" is not so much meant to exclude other times (possibly implying they were overweight at other times) as to point out the limitations of the scientific data.
- " Your question about "a diet" instead of "diets" is moot, since I don't accept your premise.
- In the second case, we're confusing groups, or subsets, or whatever.
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3 Answers
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If I understand your question, I think both your assumptions are wrong. In the first case, I believe we have multiple teenagers but not multiple diet attempts. I further believe "at that time" is not so much meant to exclude other times (possibly implying they were overweight at other times) as to point out the limitations of the scientific data. They just don't have any data on "other times."
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I read that when present perfect is used, then specific time can't be mentioned.In the same clause. That doesn't apply here. There is no specific time associated with the attempts, which is in a present perfect subordinate clause -- but with the idea of being overweight, which is in the main clause, which is not in the present perfect. Still, to my ear, it sounds
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Thanks for the detailed replies guys.. I think I had a 'brain ****' on the second sentence regarding the subset.
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