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Stenka25 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"we packed" or "we were packed"

In the following paragraph, in the underlined part, It seems OK to me that "we packed."

What I want to know is

1. Is it OK with "we packed"?

2. Can you tell me the difference of meaning between "we packed" and "we were packed"?

One year. after many summers of camping, I finally summoned up the courage to drive our car with the camping trailer attached. We were packed and ready to leave the campsite, and my husband had walked up the hill to the gate to pay our fee.
  

Top answer

Further context will probably show that something happens immediately after this which prevents the action from continuing.

— Feebs11

  • Further context will probably show that something happens immediately after this which prevents the action from continuing.
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8 Answers
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The narrator is saying that they have packed their bags ready to go, her husband is off to pay the bill, and then....Further context will probably show that something happens immediately after this which prevents the action from continuing.
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I checked up my dictionary and found out "be packed" can be used with the meaning of having put everything you need into cases ready to go somewhere.

Thanks anyway.
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I checked up my dictionary and found out "be packed" can be used with the meaning of having put everything you need into cases ready to go somewhere.

Thanks anyway.
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But humans cannot be packed into boxes, can they?

This is my rewrite:

One year. after many summers of camping, I finally summoned up the courage to drive our car with the camping trailer attached. We were done with packing and were ready to leave the campsite, and my husband had walked up the hill to the gate to pay our fee.
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The original is fine, both with summoned and "were packed."

If you want to say "We packed" you would need to use the "were" later - with "and were ready to leave."
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Hi,



Be packed – is used in passive construction.

I am packed and ready to go! – Packed is used as a participle adjective, as in “we are prepared”, “exhausted”, “tired” or “interested”.



Did you pack enough winter clothes for trip? It’s very cold in this time of the year. – Pack is
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But humans cannot be packed into boxes, can they?
Well, actually, they can if the boxes are big enough, but that's not the meaning of being packed in this sentence! Your version were done with packing means the same as were packed. We automatically know by context that we means our things in We were packed.

CJ
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Thanks, CalifJim, Goodman, Grammar Geek, Neeraj Jain, Feebs11.
You've been a great help.
Thanks again.
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