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Rotter Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Had played or played
Former Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey has died at his Dublin home at the age of 80 after a long illness.
Mr Haughey had been suffering from prostate cancer and associated complications for a number of years.
Premier for three separate terms between 1979 and 1992, he was widely considered to be the most controversial Irish politician of his generation.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had no doubt history's "ultimate judgement on Mr Haughey will be a positive one".
Irish President Mary McAleese said Mr Haughey had played a "highly significant, central and leading role in national politics.
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Recently Clive suggested that I come up with my own sentences of the past perfect tense. That is not so easy.
1. Mr Haughty died at his home.
2. He had been suffering from cancer.
3. He held the primeminister post three terms.
4. Mr Ahern said he had no doubt about something.
5. President McAleese said Mr Haughey had played a highly significant role in politics.
My question is on the fifth sentence. Is it necessary to write the past perfect tense?
Is it a pure indirect statement? I find no reason to write the past perfect as written by the author.
6.President McAleese said Mr Haughey played a highly significant role in politics.
Mr Haughey had been suffering from prostate cancer and associated complications for a number of years.
Premier for three separate terms between 1979 and 1992, he was widely considered to be the most controversial Irish politician of his generation.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had no doubt history's "ultimate judgement on Mr Haughey will be a positive one".
Irish President Mary McAleese said Mr Haughey had played a "highly significant, central and leading role in national politics.
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Recently Clive suggested that I come up with my own sentences of the past perfect tense. That is not so easy.
1. Mr Haughty died at his home.
2. He had been suffering from cancer.
3. He held the primeminister post three terms.
4. Mr Ahern said he had no doubt about something.
5. President McAleese said Mr Haughey had played a highly significant role in politics.
My question is on the fifth sentence. Is it necessary to write the past perfect tense?
Is it a pure indirect statement? I find no reason to write the past perfect as written by the author.
6.President McAleese said Mr Haughey played a highly significant role in politics.
Top answer
Hi, These are all OK. In #5, the writer probably chose PP because it emphasized that the man was dead. Rather than writing sentences, I suggest you write a short paragraph.
- Hi, These are all OK.
- In #5, the writer probably chose PP because it emphasized that the man was dead.
- Rather than writing sentences, I suggest you write a short paragraph.
- For PP, you need to be discussing several things in the past, not just one.
- Don't choose events that are obviously 'final', like someone dying, because this makes the time sequence pretty obvious.
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1 Answers
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Hi,
These are all OK. In #5, the writer probably chose PP because it emphasized that the man was dead.
Rather than writing sentences, I suggest you write a short paragraph. For PP, you need to be discussing several things in the past, not just one. Don't choose events that are obviously 'final', like someone dying, because this makes the time sequence pretty obvious.
Bes
These are all OK. In #5, the writer probably chose PP because it emphasized that the man was dead.
Rather than writing sentences, I suggest you write a short paragraph. For PP, you need to be discussing several things in the past, not just one. Don't choose events that are obviously 'final', like someone dying, because this makes the time sequence pretty obvious.
Bes
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