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PreciousJones Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect tense

Could you begin a sentence with this in the present:

I hadn't told you this but (sentence continues)

Or

I don't think I had told you this but.....
  

Top answer

If you're asking if you may begin a live conversation this way, the answer is yes. When you use the past perfect, a simple past reference event is usually implied - although some speakers use it for style, hoping to sound indirect. (casual speech)

— Avangi

  • If you're asking if you may begin a live conversation this way, the answer is yes.
  • When you use the past perfect, a simple past reference event is usually implied - although some speakers use it for style, hoping to sound indirect.
  • (casual speech)
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7 Answers
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If you're asking if you may begin a live conversation this way, the answer is yes.

When you use the past perfect, a simple past reference event is usually implied - although some speakers use it for style, hoping to sound indirect. (casual speech)
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What do you mean by some ppl use it for style tho? Why can't they just say this:

I don't think I've told you this...... or

I haven't told you this.....

and

What if there's no continuation after the fragment? And let's say if there was a continuation what should it look like?

Thanks in advance!
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PreciousJonesWhat do you mean by some ppl use it for style tho? Why can't they just say this:I don't think I've told you this...... orI haven't told you this.. andWhat if there's no continuation after the fragment? And let's say if there was a continuation what should it look like? Thanks in advance!
Sometimes a subject is "touchy" or embarrassing, or a
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AvangiAs an introductory remark, "I haven't/hadn't told you this [yet]" works fine as a stand-alone sentence.
I hadn't told you this yet. - How can this be okay as a stand alone sentence?

I thought past perfect tense has to be describing something that happened before another past event?
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PreciousJones I hadn't told you this yet. - How can this be okay as a stand alone sentence?I thought past perfect tense has to be describing something that happened before another past event?
I feel your pain. Let's say it's an idiomatic usage. Surely someone has given it a name.

I had thoughtthis was the subject of this thread.
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AvangiI had thought this was the subject of this thread
What's the difference between the sentence above and:

I thought this was the subject of this thread.

Could you give me more examples of this idiomatic usage? I mean I don't understand why and how it's being used and what's the point of grammar if it doesn't follow the rules.
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PreciousJonesand what's the point of grammar if it doesn't follow the rules.
May I join you in this question?

I think Grammar is supposed to be like History. The events come first. Then you try to explain what happened.
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