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Hela Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Choice of tense with "ever"
Dear teachers,
Would you please tell me which tense I can use with "ever" in the following passage ?
Should we normally use the perfect aspect with "ever" and "never" or not necessarily?
"Just occasionally, someone would feel curious enough to ask him what he was doing, and every time his answer would be the same: “I'm still writing the book. It should have been finished last year, but I can´t get it right”. And that was all we (1) ever learned / had ever learned about him.
Because no one (2) ever visited / had ever visited his house, either, I remember once running up to the house..."
Thank you for your help.
Hela
Would you please tell me which tense I can use with "ever" in the following passage ?
Should we normally use the perfect aspect with "ever" and "never" or not necessarily?
"Just occasionally, someone would feel curious enough to ask him what he was doing, and every time his answer would be the same: “I'm still writing the book. It should have been finished last year, but I can´t get it right”. And that was all we (1) ever learned / had ever learned about him.
Because no one (2) ever visited / had ever visited his house, either, I remember once running up to the house..."
Thank you for your help.
Hela
Top answer
There is nothing in your text that calls for past perfect. Use simple past.
- There is nothing in your text that calls for past perfect.
- Use simple past.
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9 Answers
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There is nothing in your text that calls for past perfect. Use simple past.
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So it would be wrong to use the past perfect ?
And what about this sentence, should it be "can't" or "couldn't" ?
"I´m still writing the book. It should have been finished last year, but I can´t / couldn't get it right”.
Many thanks
Hela
And what about this sentence, should it be "can't" or "couldn't" ?
"I´m still writing the book. It should have been finished last year, but I can´t / couldn't get it right”.
Many thanks
Hela
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HelaSo it would be wrong to use the past perfect ?As it stands, it is wrong.
HelaAnd what about this sentence, should it be "can't" or "couldn't" ?'can't'.
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Dear Mister Micawber,
Would you mind telling me why the past perfect is wrong in both cases?
Thank you for your patience.
Would you mind telling me why the past perfect is wrong in both cases?
Thank you for your patience.
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Past perfect is used to represent a past action earlier than another indicated past action when the order of the two actions is otherwise confusing or ambiguous.
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I thought that with "ever" and "never" we could use the present or past perfect since these adverbs refer to periods of time that started before the time of speaking.
e.g. I have never seen this picture before. (up to the moment of speaking which is the present)
I had never seen that picture before . (up to the moment of speaking which is the past)
Isn't it the same in
e.g. I have never seen this picture before. (up to the moment of speaking which is the present)
I had never seen that picture before . (up to the moment of speaking which is the past)
Isn't it the same in
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HelaI thought that with "ever" and "never" we could use the present or past perfect since these adverbs refer to periods of time that started before the time of speaking.I have never heard such a guideline. Both adverbs can refer to any time; they are not tied to tenses.
HelaAm I completely wrong ?You are wrong insofar as
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HelaSo is it possible to say: "I never saw that picture before" ?Yes, indeed. I believe it is more an Americanism, however.
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