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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
he failed/had failed English
Chris pleaded with his sister not to tell their parents he failded/had failed English.
Would you use "failed" or "had failed" in the above? Do they make any difference in meaning? Thanks.
Would you use "failed" or "had failed" in the above? Do they make any difference in meaning? Thanks.
Top answer
No difference in meaning, really. The past perfect roots the failure distinctly earlier than the telling of it, but it's not necessary here.
- No difference in meaning, really.
- The past perfect roots the failure distinctly earlier than the telling of it, but it's not necessary here.
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6 Answers
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No difference in meaning, really. The past perfect roots the failure distinctly earlier than the telling of it, but it's not necessary here.
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Hi,
Chris pleaded with his sister not to tell their parents he failded/had failed English.
Would you use "failed" or "had failed" in the above? Do they make any difference in meaning?
They'd normally be taken to mean the same, but the Past Perfect makes the sequence very clear.
It's not impossible
Chris pleaded with his sister not to tell their parents he failded/had failed English.
Would you use "failed" or "had failed" in the above? Do they make any difference in meaning?
They'd normally be taken to mean the same, but the Past Perfect makes the sequence very clear.
It's not impossible
00
Mister MicawberNo difference in meaning, really. The past perfect roots the failure distinctly earlier than the telling of it, but it's not necessary here.Thanks, Mister and Clive.
Got it.
As a small aside, what does "roots" in the above refer to? It's very interesting because I've never run across "root" used this way.
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This is the meaning I am using, Anglo:
Root (v) 19. to implant or establish deeply: Good manners were rooted in him like a second nature.
Root (v) 19. to implant or establish deeply: Good manners were rooted in him like a second nature.
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I would use failed personally cause' had failed makes it should older than it is Only my opinion 
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