I told you he invited me to the restaurant that he has been going to..

Question

Dear Teachers,

I’m often here because I learn English using the Internet and because you are great. [Y]

Ben: You told something about your boss a while ago. I can’t remember.
Mike: I told you that he invited me to the restaurant that he has been going to eat regularly since he became rich. [pl][D]

I think I can say either “invited” or “had invited” because the relation of the time between “told” and the act of the invitation is clear.

But I don’t know about the tense for “has been going” because the boss started to eat at that restaurant way before the verb “told” and the invitation.

Thanks,
SFB

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your kind words.

Ben: You told something about your boss a while ago. I can’t remember.
Mike: I told you that he invited me to the restaurant that he has been going to eat regularly since he became rich.

I think I can say either “invited” or “had invited” because the relation of the time between “told” and the act of the invitation is clear. Yes, you're right. I think 'invited' would be the more common.

But I don’t know about the tense for “has been going” because the boss started to eat at that restaurant way before the verb “told” and the invitation If you want to be very strict about it, you need Past Perfect. However, I think Present Perfect would be OK and normal here. PastP recognizes the possibility that he may not have gone there since 'I told you'. PresentP suggests he has continued going there until the present, which is probably true.

....the restaurant that he has been going to eat regularly ... You need to say something like ....the restaurant that he has been going to eat at regularly ... or....the restaurant that he has been going to, to eat, regularly ...

Best wishes, Clive

Davkett · Answer

I think I would revise it to this:

Ben: You told me something about your boss a while ago. I can’t remember what it was.
Mike: I told you that he invited me to the restaurant where he has eaten regularly since he has become rich.

The 'invited' or 'has invited' or 'had invited' ought to depend on whether the invitation is still in force, or whether the occasion of the dinner has passed.

MrPedantic · Answer

Hmm. I'd revise it like this:

Ben: You told me something about your boss a while ago. I can’t remember what it was.
Mike: I told you he'd invited me to that restaurant he's been going to ever since he pushed his wife off a cliff and successfully claimed on the life insurance.

i.e. past perfect + present perfect progressive + simple past.

MrP

Davkett · Answer

I'm gonna agree with your version and stand corrected, MrP...except for the 'pushed'.  I swear she fell.

MrPedantic · Answer

Fine by me, DK. I'm no friend to insurance companies.

Anonymous · Answer

I think one could just use has invited or had invited and as far as the invited goes I wouldn't use it because the speaker is reporting a speech so the invited part has to be in the past

I told you he invited me to the restaurant that he has been going to..

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