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Thread: Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

  1. #1
    Fabulous_Learner is offline Newbie
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    Default Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

    Hello,

    I would like to know which one of these sentences is more correct:

    1- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece was missing from this car.
    2- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has been missing from this car.
    3- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had been missing from this car.
    4- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got missed from this car.
    5- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got lost from this car.
    6- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got missed from this car.
    7- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got lost from this car.
    8- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got missed from this car.
    9- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got lost from this car.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    emsr2d2's Avatar
    emsr2d2 is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

    Quote Originally Posted by Fabulous_Learner View Post
    Hello,

    I would like to know which one of these sentences is more correct:

    1- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece was missing from this car.
    2- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has been missing from this car.
    3- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had been missing from this car.
    4- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got missed from this car.
    5- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got lost from this car.
    6- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got missed from this car.
    7- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got lost from this car.
    8- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got missed from this car.
    9- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got lost from this car.

    Thanks.
    What do you mean by "more correct"? I can tell you that 2, 6 and 7 are entirely incorrect; 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are unnatural. #1 is the only one you are likely to hear but even then it is a rather strange sentence. By "serviceman" do you mean "mechanic"? "Serviceman" to me means a soldier, sailor or airman (ie a man who is currently serving in the armed forces).
    bhaisahab likes this.
    Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.

  3. #3
    billmcd is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

    Quote Originally Posted by Fabulous_Learner View Post
    Hello,

    I would like to know which one of these sentences is more correct:

    Context, context. Most depend on context.

    1- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece was missing from this car. OK. Something that should have been found/installed was not.
    2- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has been missing from this car. OK. Similar to above, but suggests "missing" for some indefinite period.
    3- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had been missing from this car. OK. Similar to #1, but would fit best, for example, if I/you were telling someone else about the missing piece.
    4- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got missed from this car. No.
    5- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece got lost from this car. No.
    6- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got missed from this car. No.
    7- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece has got lost from this car. No.
    8- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got missed from this car. No.
    9- The serviceman found that one mechanical piece had got lost from this car. No.

    Thanks.
    b.

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    Fabulous_Learner is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

    Thanks for the replies.

    I have 2 comments:

    1- emsr2d2 wrote that sentence 2 is incorrect, while billmcd wrote that it is ok in a specific context. Any final agreement on this?

    2- About the word "serviceman", I think that a car dealer may have a sales section and a service section. Those employees in the service section may be called servicemen, I guess, whether they are the actual mechanic persons or have the knowledge of car mechanics. Any thoughts on this?

    Thanks!

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    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: Usage of "missing", "missed", and "lost" in the past

    Quote Originally Posted by Fabulous_Learner View Post
    1- emsr2d2 wrote that sentence 2 is incorrect, while billmcd wrote that it is ok in a specific context. Any final agreement on this?
    I doubt it. I agree with ems - at least, I feel that it is not natural BrE, but I can imagine that it might be acceptable in some varieties of English.
    2- About the word "serviceman", I think that a car dealer may have a sales section and a service section. Those employees in the service section may be called servicemen, I guess, whether they are the actual mechanic persons or have the knowledge of car mechanics. Any thoughts on this?
    Yes. That is just not possible in BrE. A serviceman is, as ems said, a member of the armed services.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


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