Verb Tense

[raj]

Source: Priceton GMAT Online test

Announcing that it had had difficulties reaching a decision because of a lack of data, the panel of scientists said it would not meet again until next year.

it had had difficulties reaching

it has had difficulties in reaching

it had been finding it difficult in reaching

they had difficulties reaching

they had been finding it difficult to reach

What is the rule when one want to make a distinction on whether to use has had or had had ?

Thanks

[RonPurewal]

has had is present perfect, and is thus, fundamentally, a present-tense construction; had had is past perfect, and is thus, fundamentally, a past-tense construction.

if you examine the latter half of the sentence, you'll notice that the panel's statements are in past tense (...it would meet again...), so that anything else said/announced by the panel is likewise committed to the past tense. therefore, had had is the logical choice.

had the sentence said '...said it will not meet again...', you'd opt for the present perfect instead.

[Hei]

I thought that the correct usage should be "...difficulties in doing something". No?

[StaceyKoprince]

Nope - generally, we have difficulties doing something (in this case, difficulties reaching...). Don't need the "in."

[DCE]

Hi

Isn't would future tense ?

Really confused

Regards,
DCE

[esledge]

Nope, "will" is future tense.