have been descended or have descended ?

[rte.sushil]

Pong is a classic game from which have descended many current computer pastimes.

When i saw this statement in S-V agreement chapter, i was confused and thought the current sentence should be:

Pong is a classic game from which have BEEN descended many current computer pastimes.(Pong is a classic game from which many current computer pastimes have BEEN descended--after fliping)
OR
Pong is a classic game which HAS descended many current computer pastimes. (removed FROM )

Similar to:
She was descended from an old Italian noble family

She is similar to many current computer past times
&
old Italian noble family == Pong?

Please help

[Willy]

Why do you think there should be 'have BEEN' in the sentence? It makes perfect sense to me with only 'have'.

Pong is a classic game which HAS descended many current computer pastimes. (removed FROM )

there is shift in meaning if you remove 'FROM' from the sentence and add 'has'. Now it is saying that

game itself has descended to computer pastimes.

which is not the intended meaning.

Moreover, look at the subordinate clause -- from which have descended many current computer pastimes -- subject here is -'many current computer pastimes' so we need HAVE.

She was descended from an old Italian noble family

Your above example is correct because it means SHE was a blood relative of an old Italian noble family.

[tim]

thanks Willy. please let us know if there are any further questions on this one..