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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Makes it out to be / makes it out to have been

"Stalin's decision to implement collectivization of the agricultural sector did not constitute, as Professor Johnson makes it out to have been in his most recent book, an act of defiance against what Lenin commanded in his will."

Is it absolutely wrong to say "makes it out to have been" instead of "makes it out to be" here?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

SuperESL Is it absolutely wrong to say "makes it out to have been" instead of "makes it out to be" here? No, it's not wrong. The sentence is about something that happened a long time ago, so using "have been" is appropriate.

— Canadian45

  • SuperESL Is it absolutely wrong to say "makes it out to have been" instead of "makes it out to be" here?
  • No, it's not wrong.
  • The sentence is about something that happened a long time ago, so using "have been" is appropriate.
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4 Answers
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SuperESLIs it absolutely wrong to say "makes it out to have been" instead of "makes it out to be" here?
No, it's not wrong. The sentence is about something that happened a long time ago, so using "have been" is appropriate.
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Hello Canadian45,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Your reply to another thread of mine corrected the example that I raised in the original post:

"John's decision to go ahead with the project did not constitute, as you (make)(made) it out to be, an act of defiance against the chairman's instruction."

Is your point if it is about something that happened a r
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SuperESLYour reply to another thread of mine corrected the example that I raised in the original post:
"John's decision to go ahead with the project did not constitute, as you (make)(made) it out to be, an act of defiance against the chairman's instruction."
Is your point if it is about something that happened a really long time ago then "makes it out to ha
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Hi Canadian45, Thank you very much. This clears up my problems.
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