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Liveinjapan Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Sequence of tenses

 But he said he believed historians would be able to have a better look after time had passed.

Why 'had' is used is this is in a reported speech, right?

It's the sequence of tenses, right?

So, that would be:

But he said, "I believe historians will/would be able to have a better look after time have passed." 
  

Top answer

Feeling a little confused myself. I see the sentence as: I believe historians would be able to have a better look after time has passed. Historians, I believe, would be able to have a better look after time passes.

— Reefannie

  • Feeling a little confused myself.
  • I see the sentence as: I believe historians would be able to have a better look after time has passed.
  • Historians, I believe, would be able to have a better look after time passes.
  • Hmmmm.
  • K.
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2 Answers
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Feeling a little confused myself. I see the sentence as:

I believe historians would be able to have a better look after time has passed.

Historians, I believe, would be able to have a better look after time passes.

Hmmmm.
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reefannieI believe historians would be able to have a better look after time has passed.
Oh, yes.
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