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SuperESL Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Past / past perfect
Hello,
Say I applied to 10 graduate programs at different universities in January, then over the course of February I successively learned of the result of each of these applications. After learning of the last of these, I decided to write to the director of one of the programs to make some inquiries about the offer I had received from them. My letter opened in the following way:
"I have just heard back from the last of the schools that I applied to....."
Is this correct? Or should it be:
"I have just head back from the last of the schools that I had applied to....." ?
(This is a made-up scenario. My focus is on the grammar.)
Thank you.
Say I applied to 10 graduate programs at different universities in January, then over the course of February I successively learned of the result of each of these applications. After learning of the last of these, I decided to write to the director of one of the programs to make some inquiries about the offer I had received from them. My letter opened in the following way:
"I have just heard back from the last of the schools that I applied to....."
Is this correct? Or should it be:
"I have just head back from the last of the schools that I had applied to....." ?
(This is a made-up scenario. My focus is on the grammar.)
Thank you.
Top answer
When you are referring to a series of events that took place, the usual introduction would be, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I applied. ” (simple past) If you wish to specify that those applications took place in a specific time frame, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I had applied in January. ” (past perfect) The second separates the application period from the total application and response period.
- When you are referring to a series of events that took place, the usual introduction would be, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I applied.
- ” (simple past) If you wish to specify that those applications took place in a specific time frame, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I had applied in January.
- ” (past perfect) The second separates the application period from the total application and response period.
- You have a choice of personifying the schools by using "to whom".
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7 Answers
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When you are referring to a series of events that took place, the usual introduction would be, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I applied.” (simple past)
If you wish to specify that those applications took place in a specific time frame, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I had applied in January.” (past perfect)
The sec
If you wish to specify that those applications took place in a specific time frame, “I have just heard back from the last of the schools to which I had applied in January.” (past perfect)
The sec
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"I have just heard back from the last of the schools that I applied to....."
This seems fine to me.
Clive
PS This use of the word 'schools' is a feature of American English.
This seems fine to me.
Clive
PS This use of the word 'schools' is a feature of American English.
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Clive: Have we ceased the rule that a preposition should not be used to end a sentence?
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wilpeter Clive: Have we ceased the rule that a preposition should not be used to end a sentence?It's one of those rules that is somewhat artificial and has never reflected the actual use of the language. H. W. Fowler described it as "a cherished superstition". Eric Partridge commented that placing a preposition at the end may result in an ugly, awkward sente
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Your question surprises me. As a hard and fast 'rule', I've only ever seen it mocked on the Forum!
I'd say it's a matter of style, and that one should review each sentence on its own merits.
Clive
I'd say it's a matter of style, and that one should review each sentence on its own merits.
Clive
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CliveYour question surprises me. As a hard and fast 'rule', I've only ever seen it mocked on the Forum!It's a matter of learning English in England too early in life. In the fifties, largely with Winston Churchill as my hero, I was taught it as a 'hard and fast rule'. I say 'too early' in the sense of it's now too late to unlearn it. I do recognize the jok
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