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Pructus Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Had pp VS did

Hi,

Tense in English seems not to be so easy....

How about the difference between A and B?

A: It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. (Heart of Darkness),

B: It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains was killed in a scuffle with the natives.

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I guess A means that the killing happened long before the Company received the news compared to B.

Is my guess correct?
  

Top answer

pructus I guess A means that the killing happened long before the Company received the news compared to B. That could be, but not necessarily so. None of the tenses of English indicate the length of time that elapsed before or after another event.

— CalifJim

  • pructus I guess A means that the killing happened long before the Company received the news compared to B.
  • That could be, but not necessarily so.
  • None of the tenses of English indicate the length of time that elapsed before or after another event.
  • CJ
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8 Answers
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pructusI guess A means that the killing happened long before the Company received the news compared to B.
That could be, but not necessarily so. None of the tenses of English indicate the length of time that elapsed before or after another event.

CJ
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Thanks, CJ !!

I see....

Then, I wonder what the difference between A and B is....
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pructusI wonder what the difference between A and B is....
The difference is that A spells out the time line in greater detail by showing that the killing happened before the reporting of the killing. On the other hand, B leaves it to the reader to figure out the ridiculously simple fact that nothing can be reported before it happens, so there is no differenc
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I see..

Thanks....

So, I ( ) that it depends on the writer's mood at the time of writing...

What do I need to put in the "( )", to make it mean "Now I make it as my understanding".

"make", or "gather"?
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pructusWhat do I need to put in the "( )", to make it mean "Now I make it as my understanding".
Not 'make'.

Use

suppose
guess
imagine

'gather' is OK too, but I don't hear it much these days in California.

CJ
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Thanks...

But the three words you recommend feel a little off from my intention.

How about, "I conclude that...."?
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pructusconclude
Oh! That's the meaning you're trying to convey. Yes. You can use 'conclude'.

CJ
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Thanks for the tip, CJ !!
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