0
Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Which tense?

She couldn't even have the decency to remind herself that I HAVE always been helpful to her OR She couldn't even have the decency to remind herself that I HAD always been helpful to her?
Are there any specific situations where either one or the other would be correct?
I'd appreciate a reply.
  

Top answer

I'd appreciate a reply. The problem with your sentences is that you used " couldn't ", which to me seems to be the wrong choice of word for your sentences. When you mix tenses without a clear context, you create a temporal confusion to the readers.

— Grammarfreak

  • I'd appreciate a reply.
  • The problem with your sentences is that you used " couldn't ", which to me seems to be the wrong choice of word for your sentences.
  • When you mix tenses without a clear context, you create a temporal confusion to the readers.
  • That's just my take.
  • Suggestions: She doesn't even have the decency to acknowledge that I have always been there for her.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
Anonymous She couldn't even have the decency to remind herself that I HAVE always been helpful to her OR She couldn't even have the decency to remind herself that I HAD always been helpful to her?Are there any specific situations where either one or the other would be correct?I'd appreciate a reply.
The problem with your sentences is that you used " couldn't "
0
0
"I have" implies that this is a fairly recent event, and that you continue to be helpful to her. "I had" would be used for historical events, or when the situation in which you were helpful to her no longer exists.

I find "She couldn't even have the decency to ..." a bit unusual. I would expect "She didn't even have the decency to ..."

By the way, I'm sure you didn't inten
0
0
Thank you grammarfreak and GPY. That was really helpful.
GPY, funnily I was trying to be polite Emotion: smile But yeah, thanks for pointing
0

Related Questions