the best teacher I ever / had ever / have ever had

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Verona_82

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Hello,

I'd like to make sure if my thoughts are correct.

(1) He was the best teacher I have ever had (up to now)
(2) He was the best teacher I ever had (perhaps AmE, the intended meaning is the same as in (1))
(2) He was the best teacher I had ever had (up to a point in the past)

(2) is the one I'm not quite certain about.
I'd be grateful for your comments.

Thank you.
 

emsr2d2

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Hello,

I'd like to make sure if my thoughts are correct.

(1) He was the best teacher I have ever had (up to now)
Fine if he's dead. If he's not, then "He is the best teacher I have ever had".

(2) He was the best teacher I ever had (perhaps AmE, the intended meaning is the same as in (1)
More AmE, yes, and my point is the same as in (1).

(2) He was the best teacher I had ever had (up to a point in the past).
That's correct.

(2) is the one I'm not quite certain about.
I'd be grateful for your comments.

Thank you.

See above.
 

Verona_82

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Raymott

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You can also use "He is the best teacher ..." with all those forms if the context is right.
 
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