Is this correct grammar - "the man has then left the room"?

Question

It's annoyed me for years. Using phrases such as "-they have then both died" and " the car has then crashed into a tree"

Very common in Police reports and summaries which I had to read out aloud in Court, but it sounds awkward and not at all good english.

Answer 1

The "has" is kind of redundant isn't it? I don't think it's right. It would be correct to say "The man then left the room" or "then they both died". The English language gets butchered all the time. Don't worry, one day you'll be reading out summaries in court in txt speak because it doesn't seem like school teaches anyone how to write these days.

Answer 2

No. Because has and then are different tenses.

Answer 3

"have" is present tense while "then" is in past tense.

It sounds awkward because of the mix of the two tenses.

It would be better to say, " They have died." or ," They then died."

Using both together doesn't make sense, although come to think of it "have" can also be a past tense I suppose, if you use it in sentences such as, " They have been shopping here before." or " We have enjoyed this restaraunt over the years."

I think it would make it even easier to nix the "then" and "have" and just say, " The car crashed into the tree". I assume they use these sort of sentences in court because it is more proper, but is archaic language to us today.

Answer 4

Most of the above have it all covered pretty well, and I agree the sentence, as written, is incorrect.

However, there is the conversational usage -still not appropriate for police reports,etc.!- where someone might ask: "The man has, then, left the room?"  Or your other example, as a statement: "They have, then, both died."  It's still a bit awkward and the 'then' is strictly unnnecessary, but is a bit of a rhetorical flourish.

/Commas can work wonders!

Answer 5

It's correct, however, not needed, and very annoying and awkward sounding. ;D

Just like the above sentence.

Or whatever else I write in this text block.

Answer 6

Forget the "have." or "has."