Which is correct?

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hoangkha

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Not only ______the jewelry she ____been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.
A. is; has
B. has; had
C. has; has
D.x; has
The key is C. But I am wondering why isn't B chosen?
 

5jj

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I think B is better. If the jewellery has been sold, then she no longer has it.
 

Mohammadhelmi

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Not only ______the jewelry she ____been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.
A. is; has
B. has; had
C. has; has
D.x; has
The key is C. But I am wondering why isn't B chosen?

I think it sounds better for me to be written like this
Not only has the jewelry been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.

I have never seen a sentence like yours
Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.


Not only ______the jewelry she ____been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.
 

billmcd

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I think it sounds better for me to be written like this
Not only has the jewelry been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house. This has a different meaning than the "has/had" version. Your version does not indicate that the jewelry had previously been sold to the mother as opposed to it having been inherited or given to the mother as a gift.

I have never seen a sentence like yours There is a first time for almost everything.
Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.


Not only ______the jewelry she ____been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.

b.
 

bhtr88

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Oh my God, this is a really tough one for me.
I also have never seen such constructions before. "Has been sold" is a passive related to "the jewelry", but why was "she" put between them. And what does the first "has" mean?

Will "Not only the jewelry she has sold for..." have same meaning? :oops:
 

emsr2d2

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Not only ______the jewelry she ____been sold for her son’s gambling debts but also her house.
A. is; has
B. has; had
C. has; has
D.x; has
The key is C. But I am wondering why isn't B chosen?

I think the main confusion with this sentence is that various people keep assuming that "has been sold" (where those three words appear consecutively) is the verb. It's not.

The verb is broken up as shown below in red:

Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son's gambling debt ...

Look at what was sold (in red):

Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son's gambling debt ...


The jewelery she had (meaning "the jewelry she once owned") has been sold to pay back her son's gambling debt, as has her house.
 

bhtr88

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I think the main confusion with this sentence is that various people keep assuming that "has been sold" (where those three words appear consecutively) is the verb. It's not.

The verb is broken up as shown below in red:

Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son's gambling debt ...

Look at what was sold (in red):

Not only has the jewelry she had been sold for her son's gambling debt ...


The jewelery she had (meaning "the jewelry she once owned") has been sold to pay back her son's gambling debt, as has her house.

Such a relief, thank you very much, now I got it.

But why is the verb broken up this way? Is it a strict rule or was it made just for artistic purposes?
Is it possible to write:
Not only the jewelry she had has been sold
for her son's gambling debt...
 

5jj

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Is it possible to write:
Not only the jewelry she had has been sold
for her son's gambling debt...
No.

When a sentence begins with a negative adverbial, we need inversion of subject and verb:

I have never seen such a beautiful sight. - Never have I seen such a beautiful sight.
Her house, as well as the jewelry she had have been sold ... - Not only the jewelry she had has been sold [..] but also her house.
 

5jj

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I think the main confusion with this sentence is that various people keep assuming that "has been sold" (where those three words appear consecutively) is the verb.
I think you mean 'had been sold'
 

bhtr88

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No.

When a sentence begins with a negative adverbial, we need inversion of subject and verb:

I have never seen such a beautiful sight. - Never have I seen such a beautiful sight.
Her house, as well as the jewelry she had have been sold ... - Not only the jewelry she had has been sold [..] but also her house.

Thanks a lot. I didn't know that, I'll write it down...
 
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