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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Picture me a time line
Hi,
Please take a look at the sentence below and tell me why the past perfect is used? Is it used since the fact contain within there is relevant to the present situation? I am used to seeing the present perfect being used in the main clause and it seems a little foreign to see it in a auxiliary clause.
Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it has been decline ...
Please take a look at the sentence below and tell me why the past perfect is used? Is it used since the fact contain within there is relevant to the present situation? I am used to seeing the present perfect being used in the main clause and it seems a little foreign to see it in a auxiliary clause.
Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it has been decline ...
Top answer
there is no past perfect in your sentence... What does the "it" refer to?
- there is no past perfect in your sentence...
- What does the "it" refer to?
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4 Answers
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there is nopast perfect in your sentence... What does the "it" refer to? 
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Thank you, Pieanne. I think the original post would likely show that it was an accidental typo and should be the "present perfect." I think the full sentence would look something like this and I figure that "it" here serves no real function, except assuming a dummy part.
Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it has been decline and carnage.
Als
Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it has been decline and carnage.
Als
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...when it was...would seem to make a bit more sense here, but the last part of your sentence is quite confusing as 'when it has been/was/any other option decline and carnage' is hard to make sense of. Do you have more context?
Ah ok, I found it, a column on African elections. Read in context, I would interpret 'it' as meaning 'the reporters' experience of Africa' or 'Africa's condition'
Ah ok, I found it, a column on African elections. Read in context, I would interpret 'it' as meaning 'the reporters' experience of Africa' or 'Africa's condition'
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this is wrong and should read " Most of their memories go back to the dark 80s and 90s when it was declining/in decline"
The first sentence was present continuous which must have a connection to the present and must not refer to a finished time in the past.
"Most of their memories that go back to the dark 80s and 90s have been declining " is OK because it is talking about what th
The first sentence was present continuous which must have a connection to the present and must not refer to a finished time in the past.
"Most of their memories that go back to the dark 80s and 90s have been declining " is OK because it is talking about what th
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