I’d know who had done it
From Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. While Rick, the protagonist, is away at work, Rachael Rosen, an android Rick knows, comes to his home and kills his goat. In the novel, many animals have gone extinct, and those who have survived are highly valued. His wife, Iran, and his neighbor were home and saw everything. Iran is telling Rick what happened.
“And she made no effort to keep us from seeing her. As if she didn’t care.”
“No, she didn’t care,” he said. “Rachael wouldn’t give a damn if you saw her; she probably wanted you to, so I’d know who had done it.”
Why does Rick use "had"? Is it because of the "I'd" ("I would") or because Rick is referring to something in the past relative to another past event (e.g., I'd know who had done it [before I arrived home])? If it's the former, could I say "has" instead?
Top answer
Lerethel Why does Rick use "had"? Is it because of the "I'd" ("I would") or because Rick is referring to something in the past relative to another past event Yes. The 'done it' part occurs before the 'know' part.
- Lerethel Why does Rick use "had"?
- Is it because of the "I'd" ("I would") or because Rick is referring to something in the past relative to another past event Yes.
- The 'done it' part occurs before the 'know' part.
- That's only logical.
- You can't know that something was done until after it is done.
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LerethelWhy does Rick use "had"? Is it because of the "I'd" ("I would") or because Rick is referring to something in the past relative to another past event
Yes. The 'done it' part occurs before the 'know' part. That's only logical. You can't know that something was done until after it is done.
'before I arrived home' may be true as well, but it's
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