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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Past or past perfect
Hi, would you use past perfect or past here when there is a definite time reference?
He didn't want to read the book again since/as he had read it two days ago.
He didn't want to read the book again since/as he had read it two days ago.
Top answer
I'd use past perfect-- it makes it clear that the book was completed 2 days ago.
- I'd use past perfect-- it makes it clear that the book was completed 2 days ago.
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4 Answers
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I'd use past perfect-- it makes it clear that the book was completed 2 days ago.
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I'd use past perfect-- it makes it clear that the book was completed 2 days ago.
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Thank you. Are you saying that if the sentence had a past tense, the sense of having completed 2 days ago would not be conveyed?
He didn't want to read the book again since/as he had read it two days ago.
He didn't want to read the book again since/as he had read it two days ago.
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Hi, I think I have learned that we shouldn't use a past perfect tense if the sequence of events is clear. Does the original sentence in the original post make the sequence of events clear with the time phrase "2 days ago"?
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To Anon # 1:
No, but it stops me and makes me think about the possibility. Reading a book is a lengthy process.
To Anon # 2:
I don't think it is absolutely clear that the book was finished..
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To Anon # 1:
No, but it stops me and makes me think about the possibility. Reading a book is a lengthy process.
To Anon # 2:
I don't think it is absolutely clear that the book was finished..
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