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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Negative Smple Past
If the simple past of have is had, can I make a negative simple past statement with hadn't? Or do I need to follow the rule that negative simple past uses didn't have? What about could and brought? How would one make a simple past negative statement following this rule with can? Didn't can wouldn't make any sense!
Top answer
: He hadn't his passport, so he couldn't go through customs. It is used, however, to form the past perfect: He hadn't left for the office yet when I called. Use couldn't : He couldn't see the TV set from where he was sitting.
- : He hadn't his passport, so he couldn't go through customs.
- It is used, however, to form the past perfect: He hadn't left for the office yet when I called.
- Use couldn't : He couldn't see the TV set from where he was sitting.
- I've never heard anyone try to contract brought with a negative; it is didn't bring .
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1 Answers
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Hadn't as a simple past is not very common in the U.S.: He hadn't his passport, so he couldn't go through customs.
It is used, however, to form the past perfect: He hadn't left for the office yet when I called.
Use couldn't: He couldn't see the TV set from where he was sitting.
I've never heard anyone try to contract brought with a negative; it is
It is used, however, to form the past perfect: He hadn't left for the office yet when I called.
Use couldn't: He couldn't see the TV set from where he was sitting.
I've never heard anyone try to contract brought with a negative; it is
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