The maximum sequence achievable using only uses is three: John had eaten more fairy cakes than Mary had had, had anyone stopped to count. It is possible (with a bit of grammatical legerdemain) that this could be exceeded in a sentence using the token 'that' (q.v.).
The fact that Oroboros, where Seanahan had had "had had "had had", had had "had", had had" had had "had had "had had", had had "had", had had", was terribly confusing. Really, we could play this game all night.
"I'm sorry, but I can't resist. The 'had had' sentence (John, where Mary had had "had" had had "had.") takes advantage of the use/mention distinction. Of course, you can mention other examples of mentioning, so you can create infinitely long sentences. Mark, where I had had "had had 'had' had had 'had'" had had " had 'had' had had 'had.'"; extend this for as long as you like. Points off for incorrect punctuation."
John, you slack bastard, leave some fairy cakes for the rest of us!
The maximum sequence achievable using only uses is three: John had eaten more fairy cakes than Mary had had, had anyone stopped to count. It is possible (with a bit of grammatical legerdemain) that this could be exceeded in a sentence using the token 'that' (q.v.).
The more you say this word, the stranger it sounds. Kind of like "egg."
Y'all BEEN had! ;oD
Mercy!
The fact that Oroboros, where Seanahan had had "had had "had had", had had "had", had had" had had "had had "had had", had had "had", had had", was terribly confusing. Really, we could play this game all night.
"I'm sorry, but I can't resist. The 'had had' sentence (John, where Mary
had had "had" had had "had.") takes advantage of the use/mention
distinction. Of course, you can mention other examples of mentioning, so
you can create infinitely long sentences. Mark, where I had had "had had
'had' had had 'had'" had had " had 'had' had had 'had.'"; extend this for
as long as you like. Points off for incorrect punctuation."
--Will Fitzgerald--Message 4 under "Parsing Challenges"
P.S., Messages 1-3 by others are also fun.
That's awesome!
The fact that John, where Joe had had "had had", had had "had", had had a greater effect.
9 is the most I've ever heard.