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JaxTeller Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
I'd been sent to kill him / I was sent to kill him. etc..
When do I use had and when can I leave out had? or use was instead of had
This is the context it was used in:
With the Reds and the Germans knocking seven shades of *** each other back at Museum Island, I'd bought myself some time. I headed for Opernplats, where Schwaiger was being held. I'd been sent to kill him, but now I was trying to save his ass. Funny how some days turn out
Words in bold arre the ones I can't seem to understand.
-Can't we use I bought myself some time instead of ''I'd''...
- Or use: I was sent to kill him, instead of I'd been...
thanks
This is the context it was used in:
With the Reds and the Germans knocking seven shades of *** each other back at Museum Island, I'd bought myself some time. I headed for Opernplats, where Schwaiger was being held. I'd been sent to kill him, but now I was trying to save his ass. Funny how some days turn out
Words in bold arre the ones I can't seem to understand.
-Can't we use I bought myself some time instead of ''I'd''...
- Or use: I was sent to kill him, instead of I'd been...
thanks
Top answer
It is the past perfect tense, used when you have one event earlier in time than a second event in the past. I moved to London last year (event in the past) . Before that, I had lived (an earlier event in the past) in Spain for many years.
- It is the past perfect tense, used when you have one event earlier in time than a second event in the past.
- I moved to London last year (event in the past) .
- Before that, I had lived (an earlier event in the past) in Spain for many years.
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4 Answers
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It is the past perfect tense, used when you have one event earlier in time than a second event in the past.
I moved to London last year (event in the past). Before that, I had lived (an earlier event in the past) in Spain for many years.
I moved to London last year (event in the past). Before that, I had lived (an earlier event in the past) in Spain for many years.
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I see. So I'd been sent to kill him is earlier in time than the sentence before that. What if I change it to: I was sent to kill him. Would this be wrong?
But what about the sentence: I'd bought myself some time. Is this sentence earlier in time than the sentence before that?, can't really see that.
But what about the sentence: I'd bought myself some time. Is this sentence earlier in time than the sentence before that?, can't really see that.
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The past perfect is very common in stories where the action is set in the past. It clarifies the sequence of events. If you use the simple past tense, then adverbs such as "before" and "after" have to be used to give that same effect.
I'd bought myself some time. (He had gained some time before he headed for Opernplats.)
I headed for Opernplats, where Schwaiger was b
I'd bought myself some time. (He had gained some time before he headed for Opernplats.)
I headed for Opernplats, where Schwaiger was b
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Thank you. This is like the most difficult tense for me. I'll have to so some practice. I'll also check out the link. Really want to get the hang of this!
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