Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[www0935]

Please help me with the following question:

She has a brain tumor and her doctor said she had no choice but to have a brain operation.

Can I put it this way, "She has a brain tumor and her doctor said she has no choice but to have a brain operation"?

Is there any difference between these two sentences?

Thanks a lot.

[jumbonaut]

It sounds like the patient made her choice already, thus "had" was used. If the patient was still trying to decide on whether to have the operation or not, "has" would be used.
_________________
Pat Mallon
www.englishnation.net