… or rather: in tense. At least I find this sentence in today’s New York Times intensely annoying. Both. The incident described in the following half-sentence *and* the grammar used in this description, where Elizabeth Bumiller writes:

In a blistering statement reacting to the angry crowds at McCain-Palin rallies in the past week that have shouted “off with his head” and other insults about Senator Barack Obama, Mr. Lewis said: …

Now what? “in the past week” – a clear indicator of a point in the past, combined with the present perfect tense in “crowds … have shouted”? Is this new usage, US usage, New York Times usage – or just a mistake?

For all I know, it is plainly wrong. But I don’t know everything. May I have your opinion (or expert knowledge), please, on the New York Tenses?

This entry with proper links: TulgeyWood

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