0
New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

hadn't/didn't

0I hadn't received your e-mail the last time I checked.02br
02br
00I didn't receive your e-mail the last time I checked.02br
02br
00Is there any difference in meaning in sentences above? I have a feeling that the first sentence implies a slight frustration or at least I am waiting for the e-mail to arrive, while the second simply states the fact that the e-mail wasn't in my mailbox.0-
  

Top answer

0I see no emotive difference of that sort. The past perfect is unnecessary here as the order of events is obvious; however, the speaker of the first sentence may want to imply-- by stressing the temporal distance between the events-- that perhaps the email may indeed have arrived after she checked. 0-

— Mister Micawber

  • 0I see no emotive difference of that sort.
  • The past perfect is unnecessary here as the order of events is obvious; however, the speaker of the first sentence may want to imply-- by stressing the temporal distance between the events-- that perhaps the email may indeed have arrived after she checked.
  • 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
0I see no emotive difference of that sort. The past perfect is unnecessary here as the order of events is obvious; however, the speaker of the first sentence may want to imply-- by stressing the temporal distance between the events-- that perhaps the email may indeed have arrived after she checked. If anything, she would be concessive rather than annoyed.02br
02br
00Others
0
0
0In my opinion, the first sentence does indicate more clearly that the speaker is waiting for or expecting the e-mail to arrive (because 'yet' is implied). I wouldn't say it automatically indicates any frustration, though. 0-
0

Related Questions