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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Regarding sentences in past perfect tenses
Please help me with these sentences.
What is the difference between sentence 1 and 2?
1. He had found out that Joe wasn't there.
2. He had found out that Joe hadn't been there.
Also could you answer these questions on their respective sentences?
He had found out Joe hadn't been there. -- Note this sentence doesn't have the word "that" between the word "out" and the name "Joe" and I think this is a correct sentence. Can you tell me why we don't have to have the word "that" (if indeed that is so)?
some other examples (where I think the word "that" could be left out):
He was saying (that) he would buy the toy if he had money.
They were commendable in showing (that) the people did the right thing.
What is the difference between sentence 1 and 2?
1. He had found out that Joe wasn't there.
2. He had found out that Joe hadn't been there.
Also could you answer these questions on their respective sentences?
He had found out Joe hadn't been there. -- Note this sentence doesn't have the word "that" between the word "out" and the name "Joe" and I think this is a correct sentence. Can you tell me why we don't have to have the word "that" (if indeed that is so)?
some other examples (where I think the word "that" could be left out):
He was saying (that) he would buy the toy if he had money.
They were commendable in showing (that) the people did the right thing.
Top answer
1. -- The discovery and the absence of Joe could well have occurred at the same time (and both occurred before another past event). 2.
- 1.
- -- The discovery and the absence of Joe could well have occurred at the same time (and both occurred before another past event).
- 2.
- -- The absence of Joe occurred before the discovery (and both occurred before another past event).
- - - 'That' is optional in this kind of structure, if it does not make the sentence confusing.
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1 Answers
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1. He had found out that Joe wasn't there.-- The discovery and the absence of Joe could well have occurred at the same time (and both occurred before another past event).
2. He had found out that Joe hadn't been there.-- The absence of Joe occurred before the discovery (and both occurred before another past event).
Can you tell me why we don't have to have the wor
2. He had found out that Joe hadn't been there.-- The absence of Joe occurred before the discovery (and both occurred before another past event).
Can you tell me why we don't have to have the wor
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