Simple grammar question

Forums: English, Grammar, Esl
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First time posting here, not a wiz at grammar to say the least. Cant seem to find a grammatical precedent to refer to.

As I wrote it.... "Don't miss the look Jakes then wife has after watching the exchange."
I mean by "then wife" his wife at the time. It just doesn't look right to me though. Should I isolate 'then wife' with commas? Maybe a comma after 'has'? Input greatly appreciated.

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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 682 • Replies: 9

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@mikegus99,

Use "former" instead of "then." Commas aren't necessary.

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There is nothing wrong with "then wife," it's a common locution.

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@Setanta,

I agree completely, even 100%, with Set.

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@JTT,

I agree too though somehow it doesn't set well

Incidentally Mike it's "Jake's"

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@mikegus99,

You've missed the possessive apostrophe, and you're mixing up tenses then (past) has (present). I'd s,y.

Don't miss the look Jake's then wife had after watching the exchange.

Although if you are discussing a painting or photograph, has would be correct.

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@izzythepush,

ORIGINAL: "Don't miss the look Jakes then wife has after watching the exchange."

Quote:

and you're mixing up tenses then (past) has (present).

'then' is not a tense, Izzy.

Quote:

Don't miss the look Jake's then wife had after watching the exchange.

Although if you are discussing a painting or photograph, ...

Or a story or daily event or a video/picture of a finished event or ... .

Quote:

has would be correct.

Why, immediately after telling the OP they were mixing tenses, you state that it is okay to mix tenses.?

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@JTT,

In this case it is. As in then and now. His then wife would suggest a time in the past. You would not say Here is his then wife unless you were discussing a picture/photograph. Actually, you might.

All you're doing is muddying the waters. You're not helping. You're just trying to score cheap points. You've become absurd.

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@izzythepush,

Quote:

In this case it is. As in then and now.

There's no tense because there is no verb. In English only verbs have tense.

Quote:

His then wife would suggest a time in the past.

It would indeed, but it still doesn't have any tense.

Quote:

You would not say Here is his then wife unless you were discussing a picture/photograph. Actually, you might.

And you suggest that I am muddying the waters. Rolling Eyes

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@izzythepush,

You're welcome, Izzy.

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Simple grammar question

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