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Thread: Mixed Tenses

  1. 01-Oct-2011, 03:37 #1
    AliciaBor
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    Arrow Mixed Tenses

    Suppose I talked to a coach about his team's performance. Suppose losing has never made him happy: (Ignoring singular/plural issues..)

    "He has never been happy when the team lose."
    "He has never been happy when the team lost."

    Should it be "lose" or "lost"?
  2. 01-Oct-2011, 06:17 #2
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    5jj
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    Default Re: Mixed Tenses

    'Lose' or 'has lost' are both natural.
    emsr2d2 likes this.
  3. 01-Oct-2011, 06:20 #3
    AliciaBor
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    Arrow Re: Mixed Tenses

    In that case:

    "He has never been happy when the team lose."
    "He has never been happy when the team lost."
    "He has never been happy when the team has lost."
  4. 01-Oct-2011, 06:26 #4
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    Default Re: Mixed Tenses

    I would not say that 'lost' is wrong. I think that the other two are more likely.
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