came/had come

Question

"America was where all my mother’s hopes lay. She had come to San Francisco in 1949 after losing everything in China: her mother and father, her home, her first husband, and two daughters, twin baby girls. But she never looked back with regret. Things could get better in so many ways."

The text above is excerpted from "Two kinds" by Amy Tan

I would like to know why it says "She had come to San Francisco in 1949 after losing everything in China....." rather than "She came to San Francisco....".

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI would like to know why it says "She had come to San Francisco in 1949 after losing everything in China....." rather than "She came to San Francisco....".

So it is made clear that the arrival well preceded the looking back.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for your help! That's really fast!

So it's about time sequence. But how about the time sequence of "America was where all my mother’s hopes lay." I can't be sure if it happens before or after "She had came to....."

And I think the sentence in the question can also be considered as a description. Can I just simply use "came" as the description that "she came to San Francisco.....".

Thanks again!

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousBut how about the time sequence of "America was where all my mother’s hopes lay." I can't be sure if it happens before or after "She had came to....."

Presumably, they continued over that lengthy period begin spoken of. The reader is expected to use common sense and human reasoning in addition to grammar knowledge when reading a story (or anything else).

AnonymousAnd I think the sentence in the question can also be considered as a description. Can I just simply use "came" as the description that "she came to San Francisco.....".

'Description' is irrelevant, but you may use simple past. I have already given you the reason it was not used.

Anonymous · Answer

Appreciate it

came/had come

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