Has or had?

Question

Sentence: It is up for distress sale so early ? I thought it has/had atleast 6-10 months before it goes bankrupt.Question: Which verb will be right to use in the sentence, has or had? Please tell with reason. Also tell if there is any mistake in the sentence.Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

After thought and knew, use the past tense. It's very rare to use the present tense after these words.

I thought it had at least 6 months before it went into foreclosure.

(Properties can't go bankrupt. Only people can.)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimAfter thought and knew, use the past tense. It's very rare to use the present tense after these words.

I thought it had at least 6 months before it went into foreclosure.

(Properties can't go bankrupt. Only people can.)

CJ

I did not get this part "before it went into foreclosure." Why use the word forclosure, cannot the company go "bankrupt"? By the way I never mentioned I am taking about properties! You assumed that

Also kindly explain why you have used the past tense "went" and not "goes"? Is the use of goes not possible in any situation?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhy use the word forclosure, cannot the company go "bankrupt"?

Yes, a company can go bankrupt. But you said "it" so I figured I could assume anything I wanted for "it".

You'd better change it back to bankrupt and forget the foreclosure idea.

I thought it had at least 6 months before it went bankrupt.

AnonymousAlso kindly explain why you have used the past tense "went" and not "goes"?

I continued matching tenses with thought throughout the whole sentence. had ... before it goes sounds strange.

The present tense form of the sentence above is

I think it has at least 6 months before it goes bankrupt.

Even without I think or I thought at the beginning, a before clause would not normally be in the present if the main clause were in the past.

I spent an hour shopping before I go to the bank. No!

I spent an hour shopping before I went to the bank. Yes.

Ken parked the car before he calls his wife. No!

Ken parked the car before he called his wife. Yes.

Susan wanted to be sure she had the right answer before she raises her hand. No!

Susan wanted to be sure she had the right answer before she raised her hand. Yes.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim
AnonymousWhy use the word forclosure, cannot the company go "bankrupt"?
Yes, a company can go bankrupt. But you said "it" so I figured I could assume anything I wanted for "it".

You'd better change it back to bankrupt and forget the foreclosure idea.

I thought it had at least 6 months before it went bankrupt.
AnonymousAlso kindly explain why you have used the past tense "went" and not "goes"?
I continued matching tenses with thought throughout the whole sentence. had ... before it goes sounds strange.

The present tense form of the sentence above is

I think it has at least 6 months before it goes bankrupt.

Even without I think or I thought at the beginning, a before clause would not normally be in the present if the main clause were in the past.

I spent an hour shopping before I go to the bank. No!
I spent an hour shopping before I went to the bank. Yes.

Ken parked the car before he calls his wife. No!
Ken parked the car before he called his wife. Yes.

Susan wanted to be sure she had the right answer before she raises her hand. No!
Susan wanted to be sure she had the right answer before she raised her hand. Yes.

CJ

Now it is clear

Thanks I understood it very well. Can you take my question regarding preposition in another thread?

Has or had?

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