Is it correct to say?

[blissful]

Hi

Is it correct to say?

1) I know I had made a mistake.

2) He believes that I did not get upset.

 

[5jj]

In the right context, both are possible. It depends on the message you want to convey.

We need a lot more context before we can say for certain whether the tenses in such utterances are appropriate or not.

 

[blissful]

Hi

Please help to elaborate on the scenarios/conditions when we would use sentence (1) or (2).

Thank you.

 

[5jj]

It would be more useful if you came up with contexts in which you thought they might be appropriate. We can then comment.

 

[Rover_KE]

Please help to elaborate on the scenarios/conditions when we would use sentence (1) or (2).

The idea is, blissful, that you give us the context in which you think a sentence might be used, rather than giving us a sentence and asking us to invent a scenario in which it might be used.

Is this some sort of homework exercise?

Rover

 

[blissful]

Hi

Oh no, not homework.

I know I had made a mistake.

I made an error at 9am.One hour later, I realised that I’ve made a mistake.
So may I say “I know I had made a mistake.” or “I know I made a mistake.” or “I know I've made a mistake.”

He believes that I did not get upset.

Alan and I were having some arguments in the morning. Later in the afternoon, may I say “He believes that I did not get upset.” or He believes that I haven’t get upset.

Thank you

 

[Barb_D]

I know I had made a mistake.

I made an error at 9am.One hour later, I realised that I’ve made a mistake.
So may I say “I know I had made a mistake.” or “I know I made a mistake.” or “I know I've made a mistake.”

It's hard to think of a good reason to use the past perfect. The simple past certainly works. If you are doing something at 10 am that relates to the mistake at 9 am, then the present perfect also works.

He believes that I did not get upset.

Alan and I were having some arguments in the morning. Later in the afternoon, may I say “He believes that I did not get upset.” or He believes that I haven’t get upset.

"He believes that I did not get upset.” That's possible. You are thinking NOW about how his thinking NOW on your reaction THEN.

"He believes that I haven’t get upset." Not grammatical. "I haven't gotten upset" is grammarical, but doesn't work in this sequence of tenses.

 

[Rover_KE]

"He believes that I haven’t get upset." Not grammatical. "I haven't gotten upset" is grammatical, but doesn't work in this sequence of tenses.

BE speakers would not say 'I haven't gotten upset'.

Rover

 

[Barb_D]

Would you say "I haven't become upset" or something else?

Surely "I haven't get upset" (the original) is not right?

 

[bhaisahab]

Would you say "I haven't become upset" or something else?

Surely "I haven't get upset" (the original) is not right?

"I haven't get upset" is most certainly not right. Depending on the context we might say "I didn't get upset", "I wasn't upset". "I haven't got upset" is theoretically possible in response to "You've got upset!".

 

[Barb_D]

A: I'm afraid you're going to get all upset about this.
B: Don't be silly. I haven't got upset over similar incidents in the past, have I?

A BrE speaker would use this form? Is that right? (An American speaker would use "gotten" there.)

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, Barb; that's how we'd say it.

Rover

 

[blissful]

"He believes that I did not get upset.” That's possible. You are thinking NOW about how his thinking NOW on your reaction THEN.

Hi

You are thinking now about how his thinking then.

Is it possible to say, “He believed that I didn’t get upset.” or “He believed that I hadn’t got upset.”

Thank you

 

[Barb_D]

Hi

You are thinking now about how his thinking then.

Is it possible to say, “He believed that I didn’t get upset.” Yes or “He believed that I hadn’t got upset.” No

Thank you

.

 

[blissful]

Hi

Thank you for your reply.

How about when I revise the sentence to “He believed that I hadn’t got upset when I lost my handphone during the holidays.”?

Is this acceptable?

 

[philo2009]

Hi

Is it correct to say?

1) I know I had made a mistake.

It is certainly possible as an ellipsis of something like

I (now) know that I had (already) made a mistake before he checked the books.

 

[Barb_D]

Hi

Thank you for your reply.

How about when I revise the sentence to “He believed that I hadn’t got upset when I lost my handphone during the holidays.”?

Is this acceptable?

The past perfect (hadn't got upset) is used when there was an action in the past, and then another action, also in the past. It doesn't fit this context.

"He believes that I didn't get upset" is what you need here.