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Fri 21 Dec, 2007 10:29 am
A few days ago, it was reported in the newspaper that a motorcyclist was knocked down by a lorry and was fatally injured.
I read the following sentence about him in the report:
The Chelsea Football Club fan, who has two elder sisters, took good care of his parents and gave them an allowance.
Since he has already passed away, should the verb be 'had' instead of 'has'?
Many thanks.
Yes,
"had" two sisters
"took care" of parents
"gave" them an allowance
all in the same past tense
It's a wee bit more complicated than that, although the foregoing is quite correct of course.
If you say he "had" two sisters, it seems to put the sisters into the past, and not the dead man.
The sisters are still living, but it doesn't sound like that.
Better to say something like "he is survived by two sisters".
In my opinion.
Hi Mc Tag
The Chelsea Football Club fan, who has two elder sisters, took good care of his parents and gave them an allowance.
Since he has already passed away, having died in a motorcycle accident, should the verb be 'had' instead of 'has'?
Yes, I've already agreed with his. It should be 'had'.
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