As if it happened yesterday

Question

Ask for discussion: What's the difference between the following two sentences? I remember the whole thing as if it happened yesterday.  I remember the whole thing as if it had happened yesterday.

Just the truth · Accepted Answer

The difference reflects the focus of the speaker. See the thread, "Mixed Conditionals" for a more in depth analysis.

Qingqing · Answer

Sorry, I have already read the thread, but I still can't understand it. why "happened" can be used? Didn't it happen before"remember"? According the rules, we should use "had happened". But "happened" does exist. Can you explain it more clearly, Mr Just the Truth?

Just the truth · Answer

Why can "happened" be used? Didn't it happen before "remember"? According to the rules, we should use "had happened". But "happened" does exist. Can you explain it more clearly, Mr Just the Truth?

JT: Sorry for the delay, Qingqing. {how do you say your name? I know a little Chinese girl named QinQin and her name is pronounced "chinchin".}

This has nothing to do with the use of the past perfect to discuss REAL events wherein we "go back when we are already talking about the past". These two clauses are unconnected in the sense that one expresses a counterfactual and the other expresses something completely real.

Remembering something is a real event. The counterfactual idiomatic expression is used simply to make a comparison to something that illustrates that it's EXTREMELY easy to remember. This is often used to state that something from long ago is fresh in 'my' memory.

By making this comparison, the speaker says a long ago event is as clear as if it happened yesterday.

Not all uses of the past perfect are as the rule suggests. Michael Swan, in "Practical English Usage" says of the past perfect; "A common use is to go back when we are already talking about the past". It isn't the only use.

Here we see that it has nothing to do with that rule because there can be no going back to an unreal/completely hypothetical situation.

But, nevertheless, we find that both of your example sentences are in common use, both are possible, both are grammatical.

What's the difference between the following two sentences?
I remember the whole thing as if it happened yesterday.
I remember the whole thing as if it had happened yesterday.

, like can add emphasis to simple past tense FORM statement like this.

We had hardly reached the confines of our bedroom, aaaactually we hadn't even reached the front door, before, ... well, truth be told we had not even reached the porch before we had torn each others clothes off, and had there fallen and finally our love, **** and marriage had all been consummated in one great explosion of exhilarating fire.

Qingqing · Answer

Thank you, JT.  Qinqin and Qingqing are different girl's names. Qingqing is pronounced "chingching". Thank you for your explanation.

As if it happened yesterday

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions