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Daithy Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

2 past perfects in one sentence?

Now I am aware that usually correct sentence would be made up 'past perfect' + 'simple past', that's the usual combo, until one day when I was listening to Garth Brooks' song called 'Unanswered Prayers' and in the lyrics he mentions when he was younger he craved this girl and prayed to god to make her his.
It goes something like this...
"And if he'd only granted me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again "

Now at this stage he is much older and married and also after finding out that he doesn't fancy her and want her anymore. Shouldn't it be expressed this way?....

"And if he'd only granted me this wish I'd wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again "

I know that this isn't allowed in English grammar, but it would make sense....

What are you thoughts on this? Thanks
  

Top answer

Daithy What are you thoughts on this? Still that there is no call for the past perfect in the relative clause.

— Mister Micawber

  • Daithy What are you thoughts on this?
  • Still that there is no call for the past perfect in the relative clause.
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7 Answers
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DaithyWhat are you thoughts on this?
Still that there is no call for the past perfect in the relative clause.
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Why not?...
"If he'd only granted" --- (past perfect) 20 years ago let's say
"This wish I had wished back then" -- also (past perfect), he was wishing for it long time ago.

Point of reference is present.
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Daithy"If he'd only granted" --- (past perfect) 20 years ago let's say
That past perfect is used to present a counterfactual, hypothetical situation.
Daithy"This wish I had wished back then"
The wish was presumably made shortly before the hoped-for granting, but there is no need to stress this with a past perfect.

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DaithyAnd if he'd only granted me this wish I wished back then, I'd never ask for anything again
Fine as written. (that) I wished back then places the wish in the past. That's all the writer has to do to say what he wants to say about the wish. This little clause is separate from the main sentence: If he had granted my wish, I would never ask for
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I have another example:

We are talking about a relationship that ended 5 years ago.

"If you had kept the home semi-clean, you would have had seen much more cooperation from me."

Standard would of course be:
"If you had kept the home semi-clean, you would have seen much more cooperation from me."
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DaithyWe are talking about a relationship that ended 5 years ago."If you had kept the home semi-clean, you would have had seen much more cooperation from me."
That is simply wrong.
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I thought so only wanted to make sure Emotion: smile thanks.

So this would cover it.

"If you had kept the home semi-clean, you w
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