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Bball1 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

has/had

Talking about a past event: I remember your friend has/had a tattoo on her right arm.

Are both OK?
  

Top answer

bball1 your friend has/had a tattoo 'has' is present. 'had' is past. CJ

— CalifJim

  • bball1 your friend has/had a tattoo 'has' is present.
  • 'had' is past.
  • CJ
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7 Answers
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bball1your friend has/had a tattoo
'has' is present.
'had' is past.

CJ
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CalifJim bball1your friend has/had a tattoo'has' is present.'had' is past.CJ
Right. But If I use had it sounds like she doesn't have the tattoo anymore. What if she still has the tattoo? Should I use had because the event I met her took place in the past?
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bball1 But If I use had it sounds like she doesn't have the tattoo anymore.
Who told you that?
bball1Should I use had because the event I met her took place in the past?
You can.

CJ
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CalifJim bball1 But If I use had it sounds like she doesn't have the tattoo anymore.Who told you that?bball1Should I use had because the event I met her took place in the past?You can.CJ
So, both has and had are OK when talking about a past event?
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bball1So, both has and had are OK when talking about a past event?
Not for all sentences. No.

CJ
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CalifJim bball1So, both has and had are OK when talking about a past event?Not for all sentences. No.CJ
What about for this particular incident?
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bball1What about for this particular incident?
You can't remember the present or the future. You remember the past. So the past makes more sense. But the present is all right, too, if you know the tattoo is still there.

CJ
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