0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Does this sentence need past perfect tense?
HI, I'm writing a story (using past tense) about this girl who's currently at home reflecting about the past and I need help with this line:
When she was in her grandma's house, she found Robert crossing her mind a lot, and she was so very thankful that he was probably far away from Miami, far away from the the danger that almost killed her.
Is this okay or do I need the past perfect anywhere like...
When she had been in her grandma's house, she found Robert crossing her mind a lot, and she was so very thankful that he was probably away from Miami, far away from the danger that had almost killed her.
Is there a better way to write this line?
thanks for your help!
When she was in her grandma's house, she found Robert crossing her mind a lot, and she was so very thankful that he was probably far away from Miami, far away from the the danger that almost killed her.
Is this okay or do I need the past perfect anywhere like...
When she had been in her grandma's house, she found Robert crossing her mind a lot, and she was so very thankful that he was probably away from Miami, far away from the danger that had almost killed her.
Is there a better way to write this line?
thanks for your help!
Top answer
If anything, put the past perfect with the thinking of Robert. When she was at her grandma's house, she had realized that Robert was frequently on her mind. What's not clear is whether her thankfulness was at the time she was with Grandma, or whether she feels it now.
- If anything, put the past perfect with the thinking of Robert.
- When she was at her grandma's house, she had realized that Robert was frequently on her mind.
- What's not clear is whether her thankfulness was at the time she was with Grandma, or whether she feels it now.
- "
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
If anything, put the past perfect with the thinking of Robert.
When she was at her grandma's house, she had realized that Robert was frequently on her mind.
What's not clear is whether her thankfulness was at the time she was with Grandma, or whether she feels it now. If then, then "she had been so very..."
When she was at her grandma's house, she had realized that Robert was frequently on her mind.
What's not clear is whether her thankfulness was at the time she was with Grandma, or whether she feels it now. If then, then "she had been so very..."
00
1. She was at her grandma's house.
2. She thought about Robert a lot.
3. She was thankful.
4. He was away from Miami.
5. There was a danger that almost killed her.
Situations 1. through 4. take place at almost the same time. The only thing that might not be in its normal order is 5. It doesn't seem logical that the danger that almost killed her would have appeared
2. She thought about Robert a lot.
3. She was thankful.
4. He was away from Miami.
5. There was a danger that almost killed her.
Situations 1. through 4. take place at almost the same time. The only thing that might not be in its normal order is 5. It doesn't seem logical that the danger that almost killed her would have appeared
0
Related Questions