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Hello,

Is this okay: If X had won, Y would rather have died than surrendered. (I take it both 'died' and 'surrendered' must be in past tense?)

#2 When you write sentences like these, is it okay: Truth is, he wasn't a good guy. (or) Trust me, he is no good. (can we simply use a comma, as I've done?)

#3 He considered many things, scholarship being the most important among them. (is the structure okay?)

#4 When writing in past tense, is it necessary to write it completely in past: Is that why you were asking those doubts? (should it be 'was that why...?' because it is past tense?)

Thanks in advance.

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

AnonymousIs this okay: If X had won, Y would rather have died than surrendered. (I take it both 'died' and 'surrendered' must be in past tense?)

The sentence is right, but died and surrendered are not past tense forms. They are parts of a perfect infinitive. An infinitive is needed with the defective/modal auxiliaries, of which would is one.

AnonymousTruth is, he wasn't a good guy. (or) Trust me, he is no good. (can we simply use a comma, as I've done?)

All right in informal style.

AnonymousHe considered many things, scholarship being the most important among them.

The sentence could be acceptable in the right context. Scholarship without an article may sound odd to some. Instead of among them, many would prefer of them, which is very common after superlatives: There were many good students and Sam was the best of them.

AnonymousIs that why you were asking those doubts?

This looks strange to me. I might say: Was that the reason why you were asking / asked those questions?

CB

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