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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
present perfect
Please check to see if I used the present perfect correctly here:
It's hard to say that we've been put on this earth for a sole reason, because that's like implying, our lives had been preplanned even before it started.
Or
It's hard to say that we were put on this earth for a sole reason, because that's like implying, our lives had been preplanned even before it started.
Should I stick to one tense? Can I mix tenses like present perfect and past perfect in one sentence? Thank you!
It's hard to say that we've been put on this earth for a sole reason, because that's like implying, our lives had been preplanned even before it started.
Or
It's hard to say that we were put on this earth for a sole reason, because that's like implying, our lives had been preplanned even before it started.
Should I stick to one tense? Can I mix tenses like present perfect and past perfect in one sentence? Thank you!
Top answer
PreciousJones ... see if I used the present perfect correctly here: It's hard to say that we've been put on this earth for a sole reason ... Correct.
- PreciousJones ...
- see if I used the present perfect correctly here: It's hard to say that we've been put on this earth for a sole reason ...
- Correct.
- PreciousJones Can I mix tenses Yes, you can.
- ____________ By the way, the commas should be removed, and it's " lives ...
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5 Answers
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PreciousJones... see if I used the present perfect correctly here:Correct.
It's hard to say that we've been put on this earth for a sole reason ...
PreciousJonesCan I mix tensesYes, you can.
____________
By the way, the commas should be removed, and it's "lives ... before they sta
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CalifJimBy the way, the commas should be removed…Normally I would agree with you, but without the comma, any reader could momentarily think that because describes …we've been put on this earth for a sole reason…
What are we to do with such constructions?
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Aspara Gus ... without the comma, any reader could momentarily think ...Ah! Right. It's probably better to leave in the comma before because in that case.
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Do you think that for or as might be a better choice? Those—when used to describe a reason—are usually used with a comma, anyway, no?
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Aspara GusDo you think that for or as are better choices?No. To my ear because is fine in the given context. for seems too literary.
CJ
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