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Rotter Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Had asked or asked
The rebels and monitors held emergency talks in the wake of a sea battle which the government says left dozens dead.
After the incident, the monitors blamed the Tigers for provoking the navy, saying it was "very clear that the Sea Tigers have no rights at sea".
Rebel official SP Thamilselvan said the Tigers had asked the monitors to explain their statement.
The government says 17 troops and more than 40 rebels died in a Tiger suicide sea attack near Jaffna on Thursday. The Tigers say the navy attacked them and say only four of their members were killed.
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Tigers had asked the monitors to explain their statement.
Is it necessary to write the past perfect here? I would write the simple past here. [ Tigers asked the monitors to explain their ...]
1. They may have had a meeting with the monitors around 10 o' clock in the morning.
2. Thamilselvan may have told the reporters about this around 2o' clock in the evening of the day.
So there is a time gap. I am not sure this lapse of time automatically qualifies to write the past perfect tense.
I would like to hear your comments.
After the incident, the monitors blamed the Tigers for provoking the navy, saying it was "very clear that the Sea Tigers have no rights at sea".
Rebel official SP Thamilselvan said the Tigers had asked the monitors to explain their statement.
The government says 17 troops and more than 40 rebels died in a Tiger suicide sea attack near Jaffna on Thursday. The Tigers say the navy attacked them and say only four of their members were killed.
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Tigers had asked the monitors to explain their statement.
Is it necessary to write the past perfect here? I would write the simple past here. [ Tigers asked the monitors to explain their ...]
1. They may have had a meeting with the monitors around 10 o' clock in the morning.
2. Thamilselvan may have told the reporters about this around 2o' clock in the evening of the day.
So there is a time gap. I am not sure this lapse of time automatically qualifies to write the past perfect tense.
I would like to hear your comments.
Top answer
Hi Rotter, Yes, you could use simple past here. The sequence of events would still be clear. The use of the Past Perfect just makes the sequence more emphatic.
- Hi Rotter, Yes, you could use simple past here.
- The sequence of events would still be clear.
- The use of the Past Perfect just makes the sequence more emphatic.
- You wrote: So there is a time gap.
- I am not sure this lapse of time automatically qualifies to write the past perfect tense.
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12 Answers
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Hi Rotter,
Yes, you could use simple past here. The sequence of events would still be clear. The use of the Past Perfect just makes the sequence more emphatic.
You wrote: So there is a time gap. I am not sure this lapse of time automatically qualifies to write the past perfect tense.
The
Yes, you could use simple past here. The sequence of events would still be clear. The use of the Past Perfect just makes the sequence more emphatic.
You wrote: So there is a time gap. I am not sure this lapse of time automatically qualifies to write the past perfect tense.
The
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Thanks Clive for the reply.
I have learnt the basic necessity for writing the past perfect tense is 'one past event before another past event'.
1. A couple of days ago I visited a shop.
2. I bought a mobile hard drive becaue I was lured by the price tag.
3. Afterwards, I came home and posted a question on this to this forum.
4. I had pos
I have learnt the basic necessity for writing the past perfect tense is 'one past event before another past event'.
1. A couple of days ago I visited a shop.
2. I bought a mobile hard drive becaue I was lured by the price tag.
3. Afterwards, I came home and posted a question on this to this forum.
4. I had pos
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Hi again,
I have learnt the basic necessity for writing the past perfect tense is 'one past event before another past event'. That's true, but there is a bit more to it than that. After all, almost every time you talk about two different events in the past, one will be before the other. Yet you don;t always have to use the past perfect every time.
I have learnt the basic necessity for writing the past perfect tense is 'one past event before another past event'. That's true, but there is a bit more to it than that. After all, almost every time you talk about two different events in the past, one will be before the other. Yet you don;t always have to use the past perfect every time.
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No Clive, you misunderstood me.
In my first 3 senteces, I am telling you the entire episode.
1. First I visited a shop.
2. I bought a mobile drive.
3. Finally I came home and posted a question to know about the word 'seduce'. They seduce me into buying the mobile hard drive.
So the context is clear to you.
Would you write the fo
In my first 3 senteces, I am telling you the entire episode.
1. First I visited a shop.
2. I bought a mobile drive.
3. Finally I came home and posted a question to know about the word 'seduce'. They seduce me into buying the mobile hard drive.
So the context is clear to you.
Would you write the fo
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Hi,
Let's look at a bit more explanation, and then a simple example.
You speak of a time in the past. eg yesterday afternoon.
Now you speak of a time before that, eg yesterday morning. The reason you do this is because something that happened yesterday morning had 'importance' yesterday afternoon. eg
It rained yesterday afternoon.
Let's look at a bit more explanation, and then a simple example.
You speak of a time in the past. eg yesterday afternoon.
Now you speak of a time before that, eg yesterday morning. The reason you do this is because something that happened yesterday morning had 'importance' yesterday afternoon. eg
It rained yesterday afternoon.
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Yes, the insertion of an umbrella into your backpack took place before rain.
So today you could say 'I had put my umbrella in my backpack'.
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1. You left home walking around the forest around 11 o' clock.
2. It rained yesterday afternoon around 1 o' clock.
3 You had wor
So today you could say 'I had put my umbrella in my backpack'.
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1. You left home walking around the forest around 11 o' clock.
2. It rained yesterday afternoon around 1 o' clock.
3 You had wor
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Hi again,
Yes, the insertion of an umbrella into your backpack took place before rain.
So today you could say 'I had put my umbrella in my backpack'. Yes. But first, you need to say 'It started to rain'.
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1. You left home walking around the forest around 11 o' clock.
Yes, the insertion of an umbrella into your backpack took place before rain.
So today you could say 'I had put my umbrella in my backpack'. Yes. But first, you need to say 'It started to rain'.
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1. You left home walking around the forest around 11 o' clock.
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Putting the umbrella into the backpack is the oldest event.
Why do you want to say 'it rains yesterday afternoon' first?
I thought the past tense of the word 'wear' is wore.
My dictionary says both wore and worn.
Why do you want to say 'it rains yesterday afternoon' first?
I thought the past tense of the word 'wear' is wore.
My dictionary says both wore and worn.
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Rotter, regarding wear/wore/worn
Everyday I wear clean underwear. (I'm sure you're all relieved.)
Yesterday, I wore my new blue shorts.
Knowing it was supposed to rain, I had worn my raincoat to the softball game.
This sweater is itchy. I have worn it only once in the past and I won't wear it again in the future.
Everyday I wear clean underwear. (I'm sure you're all relieved.)
Yesterday, I wore my new blue shorts.
Knowing it was supposed to rain, I had worn my raincoat to the softball game.
This sweater is itchy. I have worn it only once in the past and I won't wear it again in the future.
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I like your humourous reply, Grammr Geek.
I am not familiar with this word. This is an irregular verb like 'begin' and ' swim'.
I hope Clive will look at the rest when he finds time.
I am not familiar with this word. This is an irregular verb like 'begin' and ' swim'.
I hope Clive will look at the rest when he finds time.
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