Dear Grammarians,
I have read your several comments and find a certain lack of focus. What is at issue is that forty people were kind enough, or brave enough, to respond and the results came out this way.
%
( 45 ) John is upset because his application was turned down.
( 55 ) John is upset because his
application has been turned down.
( 37 ) John was upset because his application was turned down.
( 64 ) John was upset because his application had been turned down.
The question is, what conclusions can be drawn from what you see above? What does it mean that 40 grammar professionals display the wide range of opinion displayed above?
There are no names attached to the results. It was hard enough to rack them up by the numbers without trying to separate who said what, so do not worry that I will try to call any entity to account. Please try to view this exercise as the honest inquiry I claim it to be.
I honor your profession and your professionalism. Please do not persuade me otherwise.
.sincerely.brad.15feb08.
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