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

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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.
 

emsr2d2

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Re: 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.

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).
 

billmcd

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

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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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!
 

5jj

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

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.
 
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