Teacher Discussion Forums

Please help me identify the verb tense for the following form:

"having had".

My students saw a company announcement that read:
"Having had a terrific 4th quarter, we have decided to spend the extra funds on new computers for our computer lab."

So, of course, they ask Ms. Teacher for the name of the tense for "having had" and Ms. Teacher hasn't got a clue!

Please, please help me!
Thanks a bundle,
RomanGirl

Hi,

This is not a tense - it's a participle clause using the past participle to modify the verb (had).

Normally the subject of a participle clause is the same as the subject of the main clause of the sentence.

Sometimes the participle acts as a 'sentence adverb' - modifying the whole, in other cases the participle has its own subject.

Having said what I feel is necessary, and having work to carry on with I'll log off.

Peter