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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
Had had made
Hi.
"When Jane was clearing out the flat, she came across a large enamel sign, which Betty had had made for her last business venture." [From The Independent.]
Is the verb phrase "had had made" correct or is the additional "had" mistakenly put into the sentence?
Thank you.
"When Jane was clearing out the flat, she came across a large enamel sign, which Betty had had made for her last business venture." [From The Independent.]
Is the verb phrase "had had made" correct or is the additional "had" mistakenly put into the sentence?
Thank you.
Top answer
It's correct as written, but is still somewhat confusing. Betty did not make the sign herself; she arranged for it to be made -- she had it made. "
- It's correct as written, but is still somewhat confusing.
- Betty did not make the sign herself; she arranged for it to be made -- she had it made.
- "
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6 Answers
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It's correct as written, but is still somewhat confusing. Betty did not make the sign herself; she arranged for it to be made -- she had it made. Put that back into the "farther past" than when Jane found the sign, and you get "a sign, which Betty had had made." It would be more elegant to change it to something like "a sign, which Betty had ordered" or "had commissioned."
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khoffIt's correct as written, but is still somewhat confusing. Betty did not make the sign herself; she arranged for it to be made -- she had it made. Put that back into the "farther past" than when Jane found the sign, and you get "a sign, which Betty had had made." It would be more elegant to change it to something like "a sign, which Betty had ordered" or "had commissi
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Thanks, 5jj -- I suspected that was the case, but my grammar terminology is pretty shaky so I was not about to say so.
In the phrase "A sign which Betty had had made. . ." the second "had" is part of the phrasal verb (?) "to have something made," meaning "to arrange or order the making of something." The first "had" sets it back prior to another described action.
In the phrase "A sign which Betty had had made. . ." the second "had" is part of the phrasal verb (?) "to have something made," meaning "to arrange or order the making of something." The first "had" sets it back prior to another described action.
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khoff" the second "had" is part of the phrasal verb (?) "to have something made," meaning "to arrange or order the making of something." The first "had" sets it back prior to another described action.Yes, though it's referred to as a causative rather than a phrasal verb
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