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Perfect Stranger Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Grammar question - past perfect
Dear Users,
I don't understand why past perfect is used in these sentences... Could someone enlighten me?
It was only two years before, in 1785, that Benjamin Franklin had returned from his diplomatic post in France. It was there that he had succeeded in one crucial aspect of the Revolutionary War, securing an alliance with the greatest opponent of the British. - See more at: http://benjaminfranklinbio.com/benjamin-franklin-and-the-constitution/160/#sthash.35YtrNVz.dpuf
Thanks
I don't understand why past perfect is used in these sentences... Could someone enlighten me?
It was only two years before, in 1785, that Benjamin Franklin had returned from his diplomatic post in France. It was there that he had succeeded in one crucial aspect of the Revolutionary War, securing an alliance with the greatest opponent of the British. - See more at: http://benjaminfranklinbio.com/benjamin-franklin-and-the-constitution/160/#sthash.35YtrNVz.dpuf
Thanks
Top answer
It was only two years before , in 1785, that Benjamin Franklin had returned from his diplomatic post in France. This event (return of Franklin) occurred prior to the event that has just been described in the context of the narrative.
- It was only two years before , in 1785, that Benjamin Franklin had returned from his diplomatic post in France.
- This event (return of Franklin) occurred prior to the event that has just been described in the context of the narrative.
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4 Answers
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It was only two years before, in 1785, that Benjamin Franklin had returned from his diplomatic post in France.
This event (return of Franklin) occurred prior to the event that has just been described in the context of the narrative.
This event (return of Franklin) occurred prior to the event that has just been described in the context of the narrative.
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Hmm... But if the time is indicated clearly, by the year 1785 and by the word before then why is there a need for past perfect tense?
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Perfect StrangerCould someone enlighten me?The point of reference is 1787. The text that precedes the text you've quoted must have mentioned something about the events of 1787. Once that time period is established in the text, the author can say what happened earlier using the past perfect:
... When Franklin attended
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Perfect StrangerHmm... But if the time is indicated clearly, by the year 1785 and by the word before then why is there a need for past perfect tense?Strictly speaking, you don't really need the past perfect. Nevertheless, it is used to alert the reader that the narrative is not proceeding in chronological order.
CJ
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