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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Ferrari

He has “never driven a Ferrari” and had not been to the US Embassy in Beijing or the US ambassador’s residence in China, Bo said.

Please proofread. I don't understand why the past perfect is used in this statement.

This is from an article from an online newpaper.
  

Top answer

PreciousJones I don't understand why the past perfect is used in this statement. The author could have used either 'has' or 'had' throughout. 'had' goes with Bo said .

— CalifJim

  • PreciousJones I don't understand why the past perfect is used in this statement.
  • The author could have used either 'has' or 'had' throughout.
  • 'had' goes with Bo said .
  • Apparently Bo had the opportunity to visit those places previous to the time he said that he hadn't been to them.
  • This nicety is not preserved in the first instance, however, and he has never driven is used, which is inconsistent.
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2 Answers
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PreciousJonesI don't understand why the past perfect is used in this statement.
The author could have used either 'has' or 'had' throughout. 'had' goes with Bo said. Apparently Bo had the opportunity to visit those places previous to the time he said that he hadn't been to them. This nicety is not preserved in the first instance, howeve
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It appears to be a careless mixture of direct and reported speech:

He has “never driven a Ferrari”-- direct speech in quotes (with the opening quote mark in the wrong position!)
and had not been to the US Embassy in Beijing or the US ambassador’s residence in China, Bo said.-- indirect speech, where the present perfect is regressed to past perfect because of 'said'.
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