Guest  +  77986 Thu, 03 Mar 05 03:03 AM Hello I'd like to ask about "tense." Would you help me to choose past or present perfect? I wonder if I can choose both past and present perfect in these sentences and they can convey the same meaning or not. Would you take a look at the following sentences? Pattern 1 #1 It is unbelievable that he passed the examination. #2 It is unbelievable that he has passed the examination. Pattern 2 #3 It is clear that he broke the vase. #4 It is clear that he has broken the vase. Thank you. Guest Tenses, Present Perfect

	lynlianna  +  77997 Thu, 03 Mar 05 03:57 AM #1 It is unbelievable that he passed the examination. #2 It is unbelievable that he has passed the examination. Pattern 2 #3 It is clear that he broke the vase. #4 It is clear that he has broken the vase. I am not sure whether both options would be 'correct,' however I think that #1 and #3 are the most easily understood ( and my best guess is that they are correct where the others might not be). I'm not too helpful, am I? Nor am I an English professor. Hah. lynlianna Joined on Thu, Mar 3 2005 New Member 11

	CalifJim  +  78018 Thu, 03 Mar 05 05:15 AM All four are correct and the elements of each pair convey nearly the same thing. The first and third make the actions more remote and detached from present concerns; the second and fourth make the actions more relevant to the present. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,463 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche