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Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Past perfect
Which is better?
a: I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they had been always nearby.
b: I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they were always nearby.
Logically, 'a ' should be better. But two had-beens in a single sentence may be too much...
a: I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they had been always nearby.
b: I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they were always nearby.
Logically, 'a ' should be better. But two had-beens in a single sentence may be too much...
Top answer
I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they had always been nearby!
- I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they had always been nearby!
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28 Answers
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I had not been aware of the importance of my family, because they had always been nearby!
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The reason is, the person started living on his/her own and, before that, his/her family were always nearby and he/she wasn't aware of the importance of them.
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nona, let me ask some more. When you combine "I had not been aware" and "my family had been always nearby", is it simply going to be "I had not been aware that my family had been always nearby"---the double past perfect in the same sentence again?
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Taka: The reason is, the person started living on his/her own and, before that, his/her family were always nearby and he/she wasn't aware of the importance of them.
JT: But that's only A reason to choose the past perfect, Taka. There are millions upon millions of examples of this in English where a simple past is chosen.
JT: But that's only A reason to choose the past perfect, Taka. There are millions upon millions of examples of this in English where a simple past is chosen.
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In fact, as Taka says, B rolls off the tongue a bit better, so why is Nona for A?
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I am for 'A' as it simply sounds more natural to me. I don't have any problem with the two 'had beens' in one sentence, although the last one I would phrase as 'had always been' instead of 'had been always' as this sounds stilted to me.
In addititon, 'B' implies a slightly different meaning to me.
I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance
In addititon, 'B' implies a slightly different meaning to me.
I started living on my own a week ago. I had not been aware of the importance
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I started living on my own a week ago. I didn't aware of the importance of my family, because they were always nearby.
I think no need to use past perfect....
I think no need to use past perfect....
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Does this make sense to anyone?
Yes, it makes 'perfect' sense to me! You have my vote of confidence.
I loved the examples! I don't think it's a British thing by any means! (Well, except the "blimey" part, but that's in parens.)
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You've got my vote as well, nona. Your logic is exactly the same as mine!!
By the way, could you answer the additional question that I posted? I mean, this one:
By the way, could you answer the additional question that I posted? I mean, this one:
When you combine "I had not been aware" and "my family had been always nearby", is it simply going to be "I had not been aware that my family had been always nearby"---the double past perfect in the same senten
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