[Grammar] I have not never been bullied, my younger brother had

[Oceanlike]

I don't know what the correct tense should be in the sentence:

Although I have never been bullied before, my younger brother had/has had/had had a terrible experience.

I wrote the first clause in present perfect, hence I'm thinking the second clause should also be in the perfect tense. However, I'm unsure. 'Has had' seems right. If I use 'had had', what would that mean?

Thank you. :-D

 

[andrewg927]

You can't use "had had" (there needs to be more information) but the other two are okay.

 

[Oceanlike]

Based on Piscean's explanation, I understand why the simple past works. How about the present perfect?

What is the difference if I use the present perfect? Please help me to understand why the present perfect is 'okay'.

Thank you!

 

[emsr2d2]

They're all possible with changes to the sentence. For example:

... but my brother had a terrible experience last week.
... but my brother has had a terrible experience.
My brother had had terrible experiences of bullying before our parents finally moved him to a new school. (Note that past simple is also possible there.)

 

[Tdol]

Also, think about the present perfect in the first part. If you want to locate things in the past, you might want to change the tense there too.

 

[Oceanlike]

Sorry that I don't understand your suggestion. Can you give me some examples?

Thank you!

 

[narriag]

Not a teacher.

As you are talking of a single experience, the past simple is most likely. I would add an adverbial such as 'once', 'at primary school'.

I'm not sure that using a double negative is right " I have not never". I guess that "I have never been bullied " is correct.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Sorry that I don't understand your suggestion. Can you give me some examples?

I had never been bullied, but my brother had a terrible experience last week.

 

[GoesStation]

I'm not sure that using a double negative is right "I have not never". I guess that "I have never been bullied" is correct.

You're correct; I have not never is wrong. You can say I have not ever,​ which means the same as "I have never", but it's usually awkward and unnatural.

 

[Rover_KE]

narriag, welcome back after an absence of nearly nine years!

Please read this extract from the forum's Posting Guidelines:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly in your post.


​Thank you.

 

[Oceanlike]

You are right. It was a typo error.

 

[Oceanlike]

You're correct; I have not never is wrong. You can say I have not ever,​ which means the same as "I have never", but it's usually awkward and unnatural.

Yes, I just realised the typo error. I have just replied to Narriag.

Thank you.