Tenses

[afvatcha]

I have a question about tense however it is in the Modifiers Strategy Chapter on pg. 76 of the 2007 Strategy Guide. The section mentions introducing a relative pronounto avoid awkward sentences. Example:

We test-drove a car having engine trouble.

We test-drove a car that had engine trouble.

Doesn't the tense in this sentnce change if we insert THAT and change having to had?

And is that ok?

[esledge]

Nope, the tense doesn't change, because test-drove is past tense in either sentence.

Remember that having is not present tense--it's not even a tensed verb!

We test-drove a car having engine trouble.
In this sentence, having modifies car, the car we drove in the past.