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Taka Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Discovered

She did not seem to belong to quite the same human species as he did. He might have felt like that if he had been talking quite casually to someone for an hour or two an then suddenly discovered it was a ghost.

About the 'discovered' above, is it the simple past or the past perfect?
  

Top answer

Taka ... hour or two and then suddenly discovered it was a ghost. There's no new subject introduced, so I consider it a continuation of the same clause.

— CalifJim

  • Taka ...
  • hour or two and then suddenly discovered it was a ghost.
  • There's no new subject introduced, so I consider it a continuation of the same clause.
  • And I sense it that way psychologically as well.
  • Thus, I take it to contain an implicit had from earlier, so I'd say past perfect.
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8 Answers
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Taka... hour or two and then suddenly discovered it was a ghost.
There's no new subject introduced, so I consider it a continuation of the same clause. And I sense it that way psychologically as well. Thus, I take it to contain an implicit had from earlier, so I'd say past perfect.

CJ
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CalifJim And I sense it that way psychologically as well.
Jim, just out of curiosity, could you tell me about the psychological process of your interpretation?
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I simply meant that it sounds right to me that way. Nothing more complicated than that. Emotion: smile

CJ
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OH, I see.

Then let me ask this way. If it were the simple past, why would it sound awkward to you?
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TakaIf it were the simple past, why would it sound awkward to you?
I've read it over a few more times, and I've decided that it's fine either way. It's not particularly awkward either way.

CJ
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So it's ambiguous. Hmm, I see.

Thanks, Jim!

(By the way, is it OK to use 'simple past' (or 'past perfect') without 'the'?)
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Takais it OK to use 'simple past' (or 'past perfect') without 'the'?
On the forum, yes, but the full forms are "the simple past tense", "the past perfect tense", etc., if you write them in a formal paper for publication.

CJ
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OK. You said 'I'd say past perfect', so asked the question.

Thanks, Jim!
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