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Would not have had

General English Grammar & Vocabulary,... » ESL General English Grammar Questions

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Latest post Sun, Mar 11 2007 6:08 PM by Travis1234. 5 replies.
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Travis1234  +  337941 Sun, 11 Mar 07 04:29 AM
I'm a journalism student at the University of Memphis, and I had this question pop up on a grammer quiz today.

19. Harry and Sally ____________ a vacation in two years.

a. did not has
b. did not have
c. would not have had
d. none of the choices

Any thoughts on this one? Obviously, "a" is out since the subject is plural. I'm leaning towards "b." Something about "c" just dosen't sound right to me, but I can't find anything gramatically wrong with it.

Unfortunately, I've already turned in the test, and I have no way of knowing wether my guess was correct.

I suspect the answer to this one has something to do with the "did/would" difference.

Thanks for your thoughts. This one is bugging me.
Travis1234
Joined on Sun, Mar 11 2007
New Member 02
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Philip  +  337955 Sun, 11 Mar 07 05:50 AM
 Travis1234 wrote:
I'm a journalism student at the University of Memphis, and I had this question pop up on a grammer quiz today.

19. Harry and Sally ____________ a vacation in two years.

a. did not has
b. did not have possible
c. would not have had
d. none of the choices

Any thoughts on this one? Obviously, "a" is out since the subject is plural. I'm leaning towards "b." Something about "c" just dosen't sound right to me, but I can't find anything gramatically wrong with it.

Unfortunately, I've already turned in the test, and I have no way of knowing wether my guess was correct.

I suspect the answer to this one has something to do with the "did/would" difference.

Thanks for your thoughts. This one is bugging me.
Tell the test giver that this is a BAD example.
Philip
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
Veteran Member 8,738
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
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Anonymous, 2 yr 260 days ago
Both B and C look perfectly acceptable to me.

Harry and Sally did not have a vacation in two years is a perfectly proper statement of fact.

Harry and Sally would not have had a vacation in two years is also perfectly proper grammar, although it does require some context to fully make sense. It implies that Harry and Sally are no longer able to confirm the statement, and the writer is speculating based on other evidence.

For example, Harry's daughter must have spent much of her time in hospital due to the illness. Harry and Sally would not have had a vacation in two years.

I agree, a terrible example for a test, but the answer they probably sought was b.


Marius Hancu, 2 yr 260 days ago
b, without more context.
Kooyeen  +  338067 Sun, 11 Mar 07 02:49 PM
 Travis1234 wrote:
I'm a journalism student at the University of Memphis, and I had this question pop up on a grammer quiz today.  


Watch your grammar, you are a journalism student Stick out tongue [:P]
Kooyeen
Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005
Italy
Senior Member 4,981
Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts
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Travis1234, 2 yr 260 days ago
Whoops! Smile [:)]
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