I wonder sometimes if I had/have given up on life.

Question

Hi allI am having trouble deciding between these two sentences for a piece of self-reflective writing. Could you please tell me how they differ from each other?I wonder sometimes if I have given up on life.I wonder sometimes if I had given up on life.Thank you. Best wishesPBF

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

PeaceblinkfriendCould you please tell me how they differ from each other?
I wonder sometimes if I have given up on life.
I wonder sometimes if I had given up on life.

Only the point of view is different.

In the first case the reference point is the present moment.
In the second case the reference point is in the past, as established previously in your text.

So if what you are writing is anchored in the present, and focused on events currently happening in your life, you'll need the first one. On the other hand, if you're relating an incident that occurred in the past, and you now pause in your story to wonder if, at that time in the past (the time when the story took place), you had given up on life, you'll need the second one.

CJ

I wonder sometimes if I had/have given up on life.

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