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Thread: Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

  1. #1
    zaffar is offline Junior Member
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    Question Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    Dear sir,

    Do we have the problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    For example: she is not only incompetent but she also faced problems.

    Can we conjugate differently in a compound sentence.

    Please reply.

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    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    She is not only incompetent but she also faced problems.
    The problem with that sentence is the incongruity between the 'not only...but also' elements.

    It's like saying 'He's not only a window-cleaner but has also had a vasectomy'.

    You could say 'She is not only incompetent now, but has been for years'.

    Rover
    bhaisahab likes this.

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    zaffar is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    It means that verbs in a compound sentence should be consistent, am I right?

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    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    I can't say that for every compound sentence; I haven't heard them all yet.

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    Default Re: Problem of verb inconsistency in compound sentence

    Quote Originally Posted by zaffar View Post
    It means that verbs in a compound sentence should be consistent, am I right?
    If you mean they have to be of the same tense, no, they do not.

    Did you have another meaning in mind for "consistent"?
    Rover_KE likes this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

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