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Pencilsharp Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect questions

All right here’s a question about the past perfect. In general, if two events (A and B, and assuming that A is mentioned before B) that took place before a third event are mentioned in the same sentence, should the past perfect be used for both A and B? Or can you revert to the past tense for event B?

Here are three examples:

  1. First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I had not changed a garbage can in the kitchen. (Can it be written, “First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I didn’t change a garbage can in the kitchen” ?)
  1. There had been just one prior incident where I had been criticized by the boss, and I had not received a verbal warning from him. (Or can it be written, “There had been just one prior incident where I had been criticized by the boss, and I didn’t receive a verbal warning from him” ?)
  1. Joe later told me that he had not wanted to participate in the lynching--he had done so at Jack’s urging. (Can it be written, “Joe later told me that he had not wanted to participate in the lynching—he did so at Jack’s urging”?)

Thanks for any reply.

  

Top answer

I'll respond in red after each item: First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I had not changed a garbage can in the kitchen. ) The first sentence is fine if it is in reference to something that happened after it. The second sentence isn't logical because it seems you mean the tenses to refer to the same time, so there is no motivation for changing the second on to simple past.

— Englishmaven

  • I'll respond in red after each item: First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I had not changed a garbage can in the kitchen.
  • ) The first sentence is fine if it is in reference to something that happened after it.
  • The second sentence isn't logical because it seems you mean the tenses to refer to the same time, so there is no motivation for changing the second on to simple past.
  • It makes the sentence confusing and possible misinterpreted.
  • There had been just one prior incident where I had been criticized by the boss, and I had not received a verbal warning from him.
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4 Answers
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I'll respond in red after each item:

  1. First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I had not changed a garbage can in the kitchen. (Can it be written, “First, I had not finished cleaning the tables, and second, I didn’t change a garbage can in the kitchen” ?) The first sentence is fine if it is in reference to something that happened after i
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pencilsharpIn general, if two events (A and B, and assuming that A is mentioned before B) that took place before a third event are mentioned in the same sentence, should the past perfect be used for both A and B? Or can you revert to the past tense for event B?

There is no general tendency that I have ever observed. Sometimes the writer continues in the pa

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All right folks it looks like I'd have to rewrite the second sentence since it was misinterpreted. What I'm trying to say is that I didn't receive a verbal warning when being criticized by the boss at the time of the prior incident. In light of this, how would this sound: "There had been just one prior incident where I was criticized by the boss, and I didn't receive a verbal warning."

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