Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
close-fitting; tense; narrow
negotiable
tight
moral
mean
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

what to use had or had been?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
In case: I got you a pizza, in case you were(are) hungry? | Test About Present Tense
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
what to use had or had been? #1 (permalink) Wed Oct 14, 2009 16:40 pm   what to use had or had been?
 

"The patient had been died before doctor came"

is that a correct english..
or "the patient had died before doctor came" this one ?
Sudeep13582
New Member


Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Posts: 3

what to use had or had been? #2 (permalink) Wed Oct 14, 2009 16:53 pm   what to use had or had been?
 

The first sentence is wrong; it must be "the patient had died".
"Had been" would be passive, but the verb "to die" is intransitive, it has no passive: I cannot *die you.
Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1342

In this story you'll learn how to use the English articlesEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English course
what to use had or had been? #3 (permalink) Wed Oct 14, 2009 16:56 pm   what to use had or had been?
 

he patient had been dead before doctor came -- whould be ok??
Sudeep13582
New Member


Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Posts: 3

what to use had or had been? #4 (permalink) Wed Oct 14, 2009 17:16 pm   what to use had or had been?
 

If you want to use "had been dead" I'd expect some duration of time: "the patient had been dead for two hours before the doctor came". Moreover, perhaps "when" would sound somewhat better here than "before".

"The patient was dead before the doctor came" is remotely possible, but it would be much more natural to say "the patient was dead when the doctor came"; that is because the word "before" implies that the patient was dead only before the doctor came, but was not dead anymore when the doctor was present.

Note that it should be the doctor in all of your sentences.
Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1342

Display posts from previous:   
In case: I got you a pizza, in case you were(are) hungry? | Test About Present Tense
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Word order: Not only did I go to Paris but also I visited a lot of other placesTry to help: I have to give TOEFL® exam on this saturday...Zero, singular or plural?How to frame a question?Past tense: David couldn't pay the bill unless he had returned back to the car...Phrase "This is a state, not an action."Englishclub: "Why do some nouns have no plural?"By Monday morning. vs On Monday morning.Letter cover: I wish to apply for the position of 'Java Analyst Programmer...When do we use: File with and file at"get confused" or "become confused"?If he doesn't bring any messages for me? or If he doesn't bring me any messages?Difference between 'must have happened' and had to have happened/ for Alan

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail