Tenses!!!!

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Anonymous

#355293 Wed, 25 Apr 07 04:47 AM

Would it be gramatically correct to write:

"I am very happy to have received your letter"

I am questioning the fact that there is both present and past tenses involved. Would that be grammatically allowed?

Anonymous

Goodman

#355319 Wed, 25 Apr 07 06:12 AM

You came home and found a letter from a friend. You read and wrote him back a letter. You can say"I am very happy to have received your letter". It's perfectly fine. The present + present perfect tense combination structure is quite common.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,192)

The name says it all!

Tenses, Present perfect

CalifJim

#355337 Wed, 25 Apr 07 06:45 AM

both present and past tenses

No. There's no past tense here. The perfect infinitive to have received shows anteriority, but it's not a past tense. This combination is just fine. No problem.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,964)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Tenses, Past tenses