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New Hope Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Have been or Had been?
In the following passage, what is correct: "have been" or "had been."?
That night he planned to steal. Before leaving his home, he thought about the promise he made to his father. "If, tomorrow, my father asks where I had/have been, what will I say to him?" he thought to himself.
That night he planned to steal. Before leaving his home, he thought about the promise he made to his father. "If, tomorrow, my father asks where I had/have been, what will I say to him?" he thought to himself.
Top answer
Only the present perfect is possible. Never use the past perfect unless you can come up with a good reason for doing so,
- Only the present perfect is possible.
- Never use the past perfect unless you can come up with a good reason for doing so,
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3 Answers
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Only the present perfect is possible. Never use the past perfect unless you can come up with a good reason for doing so,
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In the situation below, can Ii write "had ? Please comment.
When it got dark, Amir rushed home. "Where had you been?" asked his father as Amir entered the house.
When it got dark, Amir rushed home. "Where had you been?" asked his father as Amir entered the house.
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Without further (unlikely) context, only the present perfect is natural.
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