Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Learner33]

Hi,
I have encountered the following two sentences :
1.I thought I have left my wallet on the table but I still can't find it.
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wanted.

Now shouldn't the sentences have read as follows:
1.I thought I had left my wallet
and
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wants.

Because there is no verb consistency in the previous sentences?
THANKS

[Nef]

1.I thought I have left my wallet on the table but I still can't find it.
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wanted.

Now shouldn't the sentences have read as follows:
1.I thought I had left my wallet
and
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wants.



Hello,
I agree with you about sentence 1.
But I think sentence 2 is fine as it stands. "...has never had any problems" includes the past, of course, but also touches the present. The guest has a history of being able to get what he wants and, quite possibly, will continue in the future.

[Nef]

1.I thought I have left my wallet on the table but I still can't find it.
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wanted.

Now shouldn't the sentences have read as follows:
1.I thought I had left my wallet
and
2.My next guest has never had any problems with getting what he wants.



Hello,
I agree with you about sentence 1.
But I think sentence 2 is fine as it stands. "...has never had any problems" includes the past, of course, but also touches the present. The guest has a history of being able to get what he wants and, quite possibly, will continue in the future.