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Pokh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
DID/HAD
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they did in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Can someone help me to understand the difference between did and had in above sentences?
Can I assume the second sentence has elided confronted. Without eliding it will be:
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had confronted in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. ---And time sequence is not clear
Thank you
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they did in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Can someone help me to understand the difference between did and had in above sentences?
Can I assume the second sentence has elided confronted. Without eliding it will be:
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had confronted in the Tax Reform Act of 1986. ---And time sequence is not clear
Thank you
Top answer
1. "Had" is the past tense of have. It isn't short for "had confronted".
- 1.
- "Had" is the past tense of have.
- It isn't short for "had confronted".
- 2.
- "Did" replaces "confronted", not "had confronted" as you wrote.
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4 Answers
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1. "Had" is the past tense of have. It isn't short for "had confronted".
2. "Did" replaces "confronted", not "had confronted" as you wrote.
The sequence of events is clear because of the past perfect.
2. "Did" replaces "confronted", not "had confronted" as you wrote.
The sequence of events is clear because of the past perfect.
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Ivanhr1. "Had" is the past tense of have. It isn't short for "had confronted".Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had
2. "Did" replaces "confronted", not "had confronted" as you wrote.
The sequence of events is clear because of the past perfect.
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Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they did in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
The two sentences carry the same meaning. 'Have' is the only verb that can take either 'have' or 'do' as its dummy –
You have a car, don't you?
Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they did in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
The two sentences carry the same meaning. 'Have' is the only verb that can take either 'have' or 'do' as its dummy –
You have a car, don't you?
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While I prefer "did" there, there's nothing terribly wrong with "had" (nothing's been left out).
I had confronted many opponents before 2010, but this year I had/confronted the worst oppponent yet.
I had confronted many opponents before 2010, but this year I had/confronted the worst oppponent yet.
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