Teo  +  258751 Thu, 24 Aug 06 08:05 AM When I was a little child, I fell in love with playing basketball. When I had some leisure time, I would find a court to play. I ______  been doing this all along. Finally I became a professor. My students often kindly invite me to play basketball with them. Regretfully, I found out that I am too old to be involved in this kind of sports. Twice, I almost got hurt. The students were embarrassed. I switched to tennis playing after I became forty years old and have been doing so ever since. I have never been hurt by playing tennis. Which word should I use to fill in the blank, have or had? Teo Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004 Taiwan Contributing Member 1,631 Thank you very much for your reply. Present Perfect

	Ruslana  +  258857 Thu, 24 Aug 06 02:04 PM I'd use had. Ruslana Joined on Sat, Dec 17 2005 Senior Member 3,694

	CalifJim  +  258991 Thu, 24 Aug 06 09:21 PM Everything in the context is written in the past point of view.  There is nothing to suggest that the author is still playing basketball in present time.  In fact, as the story progresses, we see that it is quite certain that the author no longer plays basketball in present time. The choice has to be had. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,463 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Present Perfect

	Marius Hancu  +  259027 Thu, 24 Aug 06 11:38 PM  CalifJim wrote: Everything in the context is written in the past point of view.  There is nothing to suggest that the author is still playing basketball in present time.  In fact, as the story progresses, we see that it is quite certain that the author no longer plays basketball in present time. There's this sentence which messes up the tenses: My students often kindly invite me to play basketball with them. Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Tenses, Present Perfect

	CalifJim  +  259060 Fri, 25 Aug 06 03:08 AM Yes, indeed.  Surprisingly, the sudden shift of point of view is not too shocking in this example!  I've seen cases that were much more nerve-jangling than this one!  CJ CalifJim Present Perfect

	Maple  +  259105 Fri, 25 Aug 06 07:17 AM  CalifJim wrote: Yes, indeed.  Surprisingly, the sudden shift of point of view is not too shocking in this example!  I've seen cases that were much more nerve-jangling than this one!  Are shocking and nerve-jangling parallels and synonyms here? Maple Present Perfect, Synonyms

	CalifJim  +  259111 Fri, 25 Aug 06 07:43 AM shocking, jarring, unnerving, disturbing They all have similar meanings, yes. nerve-jangling also has a similar meaning, but I doubt you will find it in a dictionary.  It is an adjective I formed from to jangle one's nerves. CJ CalifJim Present Perfect