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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Pluperfect and past simple

In an older English book on phrasal verbs there is a sentence "Before we had been settled in our new home a week we were called on by the vicar." Is this sentence correct, as regards the the usage of tenses? Should they not be used the other way round (i. e. "were settled"; "had been called on")? By correctness I mean whether the sentence is idiomatic, not whether it is logical (languages are prone to illogicalities). (To him who identifies the source I shall pay a compliment.) Thank you for your answers.
  

Top answer

No, the settling process was underway before the vicar's visit. It is only the 'week' that has not been completed.

— Mister Micawber

  • No, the settling process was underway before the vicar's visit.
  • It is only the 'week' that has not been completed.
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2 Answers
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No, the settling process was underway before the vicar's visit. It is only the 'week' that has not been completed.
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Thank you, I think I see it now -- it is the duration that implies the usage of the pluperfect; the rest than makes sense as well. (The sentence shifted to present, it seems even clearer to me.)
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