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Pructus Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Had PP
They appear to have been written after Anne Boleyn had been sent away from court, in
consequence of reports injurious to her reputation, which had begun to be publicly
circulated. Her removal indeed was so abrupt that she had resolved never to return. The
king soon repented his harshness, and strove to persuade her to come back; but it was a
long time, and not without great trouble, before he could induce her to comply.
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Hi,
Above is from the introduction to the letter written by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
How about the underlined part...
The part seems to mean that "Because her removal was so abrupt, she resolved never to return".
Then, logically, "her removal" comes before "her resolve to never ruturn".
But, the structure "had PP" is used to refer to things that happened prior to something.
Then doesn't it have to be, "Her removal indeed had been so abrupt that she resolved never to return"?
The only logical interpretation of the sentence seems to be: Her removal comes first, and then comes her resolve never to return and then comes something else.
Is my understanding correct?
consequence of reports injurious to her reputation, which had begun to be publicly
circulated. Her removal indeed was so abrupt that she had resolved never to return. The
king soon repented his harshness, and strove to persuade her to come back; but it was a
long time, and not without great trouble, before he could induce her to comply.
*** *** ***
Hi,
Above is from the introduction to the letter written by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
How about the underlined part...
The part seems to mean that "Because her removal was so abrupt, she resolved never to return".
Then, logically, "her removal" comes before "her resolve to never ruturn".
But, the structure "had PP" is used to refer to things that happened prior to something.
Then doesn't it have to be, "Her removal indeed had been so abrupt that she resolved never to return"?
The only logical interpretation of the sentence seems to be: Her removal comes first, and then comes her resolve never to return and then comes something else.
Is my understanding correct?
Top answer
I agree that the past perfect verb is in the wrong clause.
- I agree that the past perfect verb is in the wrong clause.
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3 Answers
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pructusHer removal indeed was so abrupt that she had resolved never to return.The past time which serves as the reference point for the use of a past perfect need not be in the same sentence as the past perfect itself. It just has to be somewhere in the text, though occasionally it is implicit.
She had resolved never to return before the king repent
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I feel so honored with the presence of the two Forum masters of English...
Thank you, so much!!
Thank you, so much!!
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