Question

Mr smith had 4 daughters, each daughter had 4 brothers how many children does mr smith have? that is a commonly occurring quiz going around, i understand the logic behind the answer zero but i disagree that its the be all answer so my question mr smith had 4 daughters- they are gone
the daughters had any number of brothers, this is where my observation lies doesn't this "had" technically apply toward the daughters still? if the daughters are gone or "past tense" they had brothers could mean they are still living and its still in fact just the daughters that are gone? a past tense person couldn't "have" anything but that doesn't mean the brother(s) are gone because they don't connect this "had" to mr smith only the daughters meaning he could still have his sons

Answer 1

If it is about changing the past tense "had" it means that Mr. Smith has or had 8 children.

Explanation:

• But if we look at it as the quiz is given then it will be different.

• Now again we have two options, if we consider "had" then it means that Mr. Smith now has zero children.

• But if e consider "Had" only when they talk about his daughters then it means he still has four children.