0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Questions mainly on past perfect tense uses
Hi. Please help me with these tenses.
1. Do you think these sentences are correct? It might not make a difference but note that in first sentence, there is the "time" word "last week" (I think it is a "time" word - not sure, though). Is it common to use the words like "last week" in a sentence that has a past perfect tense? For the first sentence, would you say it would correct if the words "last week" were replaced with the words "the previous week"?
This problem had been pointed out last week during a routine.
I met John Doe who had been injured during an accident in May.
2. Is the past perfect tense "had left" correct instead of the verb "left"? I feel the past tense "left" is correct too? Am I wrong? Also I don't think the verb "found" is sharing the auxiliary (helping?) verb "had" with the first verb "had arrived." (Not sure I phrase my question correctly to ask what I wanted to ask, though)
He had arrived home late and found out that he left his bag on the office table.
3. I feel the past perfect tense as used in the sentence below is identical to the use of present perfect tense in the present. What do you think? Also, I think it would be wrong to write/use the verb "would be" instead of "would have been."
Because he hadn't taken a bite of his meal since yesterday, they thought it would have been best to gently prod him to eat.
1. Do you think these sentences are correct? It might not make a difference but note that in first sentence, there is the "time" word "last week" (I think it is a "time" word - not sure, though). Is it common to use the words like "last week" in a sentence that has a past perfect tense? For the first sentence, would you say it would correct if the words "last week" were replaced with the words "the previous week"?
This problem had been pointed out last week during a routine.
I met John Doe who had been injured during an accident in May.
2. Is the past perfect tense "had left" correct instead of the verb "left"? I feel the past tense "left" is correct too? Am I wrong? Also I don't think the verb "found" is sharing the auxiliary (helping?) verb "had" with the first verb "had arrived." (Not sure I phrase my question correctly to ask what I wanted to ask, though)
He had arrived home late and found out that he left his bag on the office table.
3. I feel the past perfect tense as used in the sentence below is identical to the use of present perfect tense in the present. What do you think? Also, I think it would be wrong to write/use the verb "would be" instead of "would have been."
Because he hadn't taken a bite of his meal since yesterday, they thought it would have been best to gently prod him to eat.
Top answer
1. There is no objection to the use of time words with the past perfect tense. The objection is when these words are used with the present perfect tense.
- 1.
- There is no objection to the use of time words with the past perfect tense.
- The objection is when these words are used with the present perfect tense.
- You may, however, if you wish, replace "last week" with "the previous week".
- Both are equally correct from the grammatical point of view.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
1. There is no objection to the use of time words with the past perfect tense. The objection is when these words are used with the present perfect tense. You may, however, if you wish, replace "last week" with "the previous week". Both are equally correct from the grammatical point of view.
2. The sentence is fine as it stands. The simple past forms of find and lea
2. The sentence is fine as it stands. The simple past forms of find and lea
0
Related Questions