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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Past Perfect
Please, can you explain the function of the Past Perfect in the following sentence (the example comes from a translation of the novel "Fathers and sons" by Turgenev).
"I'm not inviting you to Maryino”, Nikolai Petrovich had once said to him (he had given his estate that name in honour of his wife). – I was silly and restless then, - answered Pavel Petrovich”
Why do we use Past Perfect in the first case and do not do it in the second one? Can we use Past Indefinite in both cases and what would be the difference?
"I'm not inviting you to Maryino”, Nikolai Petrovich had once said to him (he had given his estate that name in honour of his wife). – I was silly and restless then, - answered Pavel Petrovich”
Why do we use Past Perfect in the first case and do not do it in the second one? Can we use Past Indefinite in both cases and what would be the difference?
Top answer
The second one could have been in the past perfect tense, but once the time of the event has been established with a past perfect, it is sometimes possible (as it is here) to continue in the same time without the past perfect. The logic of the situation then takes over (answered what had been said, obviously), and the strict adherence to the sequence of tenses is unnecessary. CJ
- The second one could have been in the past perfect tense, but once the time of the event has been established with a past perfect, it is sometimes possible (as it is here) to continue in the same time without the past perfect.
- The logic of the situation then takes over (answered what had been said, obviously), and the strict adherence to the sequence of tenses is unnecessary.
- CJ
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3 Answers
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The second one could have been in the past perfect tense, but once the time of the event has been established with a past perfect, it is sometimes possible (as it is here) to continue in the same time without the past perfect. The logic of the situation then takes over (answered what had been said, obviously), and the strict adherence to the sequence of tenses is unnecessary.
CJ
CJ
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Thank you for your answer!
Actually, I was confused by the form of the first, not the second verb. In other translations of this novel Past Tense is used with both "answer" and "say".
Just can't see the reasons for grammatical expression of anteriority in the translation with Past Perfect. Maybe the interpreter had his own reasons for that, maybe his Past Perfect fulfils some pra
Actually, I was confused by the form of the first, not the second verb. In other translations of this novel Past Tense is used with both "answer" and "say".
Just can't see the reasons for grammatical expression of anteriority in the translation with Past Perfect. Maybe the interpreter had his own reasons for that, maybe his Past Perfect fulfils some pra
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It's a question of when "I'm not inviting you to Maryino” was said.
Was it said in the same time frame as the time frame of the story as shown in the paragraph that precedes this quote? Or did it take place some time before the time established in the preceding material?
It seems to me that it did not take place "in-line" with the story unfolding in the surrounding paragraphs
Was it said in the same time frame as the time frame of the story as shown in the paragraph that precedes this quote? Or did it take place some time before the time established in the preceding material?
It seems to me that it did not take place "in-line" with the story unfolding in the surrounding paragraphs
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