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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Past perfect here
Hello teacher
Here is the scenario: I would like to cancel an order because I ordered the same item twice.
Could you please cancel my first order.
First I had ordered an item but I had thought it had not gone through. So I tried a second time and it went through. But then I received a confirmation for both orders so I realised that I had ordered
the same item twice .
Is past perfect needed here in the second sentence for "order and think "because I want to emphasize that both actions took place before the second order and explain it. However I know without the "had" the sequence of time is clear
"First I ordered an item and thought it had not gone through "but it does not emphasize and explain the link between the first and second order
and the fact that I changed my mind after receiving the confirmation .
First I had thought and then changed
What do you think of it ?
Thanks for your answer
Here is the scenario: I would like to cancel an order because I ordered the same item twice.
Could you please cancel my first order.
First I had ordered an item but I had thought it had not gone through. So I tried a second time and it went through. But then I received a confirmation for both orders so I realised that I had ordered
the same item twice .
Is past perfect needed here in the second sentence for "order and think "because I want to emphasize that both actions took place before the second order and explain it. However I know without the "had" the sequence of time is clear
"First I ordered an item and thought it had not gone through "but it does not emphasize and explain the link between the first and second order
and the fact that I changed my mind after receiving the confirmation .
First I had thought and then changed
What do you think of it ?
Thanks for your answer
Top answer
” (I would suggest using “Would”. ) In the main paragraph, the confusion might be avoided with times or dates for the two orders. “First, I ordered an item but thought it had not gone through; so I tried ordering it a second time.
- ” (I would suggest using “Would”.
- ) In the main paragraph, the confusion might be avoided with times or dates for the two orders.
- “First, I ordered an item but thought it had not gone through; so I tried ordering it a second time.
- This time it went through.
- ” This suggestion avoids the past perfect confusion.
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5 Answers
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“Could you please cancel my first order.” (I would suggest using “Would”. Would is a request, Could is a question of possibility.)
In the main paragraph, the confusion might be avoided with times or dates for the two orders.
“First, I ordered an item but thought it had not gone through; so I tried ordering it a second time. This time it went through. But I then received a confirmation f
In the main paragraph, the confusion might be avoided with times or dates for the two orders.
“First, I ordered an item but thought it had not gone through; so I tried ordering it a second time. This time it went through. But I then received a confirmation f
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Thanks for your answer ,but would you mind letting me know if past perfect is suitable here and if not why?
All the best
All the best
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“First, I had ordered an item but (I had) thought it had not gone through; so I tried a second time and it went through.” (The second “I had” is not necessary.)
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Sorry, I posted before finishing my answer. I don't think putting it in the past perfect tense adds anything to the message. To the recipient, there is simply past on two occasions.
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