Poll: The dog wouldn't have ____ the postman.

The dog wouldn't have ____ the postman.

bit
bitten
Either

Votes: 406
Comments: 4
Added: March 2004

Comments:

tom - 13th September 2006 15:54
first of all the tense is in the past perfect tense which is clear by would not have which express this tense and that the verb following by the word have it should be in the past participle
 
Liz - 26th September 2006 12:11
Tom, would have + past participle is not the past perfect. Had + past participle is the past perfect.
 
Miciah Dashiel Butler Masters - 10th August 2008 18:50
As for the choice between 'bit' and 'bitten', I prefer the old-fashioned 'bitten'. I'd love to know to what extent the preference is regional. I'm an American and prefer 'has bitten,' 'has gotten,' 'has proven,' and so on. The opinions of American acquaintances of mine vary, as do the opinions of British acquaintances.
 
Miciah Dashiel Butler Masters - 10th August 2008 18:51
The first paragraph of my post has gotten lost.

The question uses the subjunctive pluperfect.
 
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