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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Tense and aspect in main clause
The tense of a verb in the subordinate clause changes in accordance with the tense of the verb in the main clause.
I think the tense of a verb in the main clause changes in accordance with the context of the passage as a whole.
But, in this sentence below, it seems as though the tense of the verb in the main clause is changing in accordance with the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause:
Before I went to school, I had eaten a big breakfast.
Does this mean that the tense of verb in a subordinate clause can sometimes have a bearing on the tense of the verb in the main clause?
I think the tense of a verb in the main clause changes in accordance with the context of the passage as a whole.
But, in this sentence below, it seems as though the tense of the verb in the main clause is changing in accordance with the tense of the verb in the subordinate clause:
Before I went to school, I had eaten a big breakfast.
Does this mean that the tense of verb in a subordinate clause can sometimes have a bearing on the tense of the verb in the main clause?
Top answer
English 1b3 Before I went to school, I had eaten a big breakfast. "
- English 1b3 Before I went to school, I had eaten a big breakfast.
- "
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5 Answers
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English 1b3Before I went to school, I had eaten a big breakfast.I cant' think of a situation where I would consider this correct, it should be "...I ate a big..." even better would be "Before I left for school I ate a big breakfast."
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The sentence is from this site:
http://www.myenglishteacher.net/pastperfecttense.html
Can you explain why you think it is wrong, please?
And do you have any thoughts regarding my initial question, not the
http://www.myenglishteacher.net/pastperfecttense.html
Can you explain why you think it is wrong, please?
And do you have any thoughts regarding my initial question, not the
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Hi English 1b3
I agree with you that the context of a passage as a whole can play a part in the tense choice of the main clause.
As a simple statement of fact, in a text that basically recounts things in the order they happened, I'd prefer your sentence written this way:
- Before I went to school, I ate a big breakfast.
(I like Ray's wording even better,
I agree with you that the context of a passage as a whole can play a part in the tense choice of the main clause.
As a simple statement of fact, in a text that basically recounts things in the order they happened, I'd prefer your sentence written this way:
- Before I went to school, I ate a big breakfast.
(I like Ray's wording even better,
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Yankee agree with you that the context of a passage as a whole can play a part in the tense choice of the main clause.
What else is considered then? Am I right to say the subordinate clause has some influence? I asked this question elsewhere and the responder said only the context of the whole passage influences the tense of the main clause. [:^)]
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Well, as I see it, context within the sentence itself will also influence things.
You took your example from a website that was attempting to illustrate what the use of the past perfect will achieve, how it works on a timeline. That goal in itself is context, and it obviously had an influence on their decision to use the past perfect in that sentence.
If I looked at that same s
You took your example from a website that was attempting to illustrate what the use of the past perfect will achieve, how it works on a timeline. That goal in itself is context, and it obviously had an influence on their decision to use the past perfect in that sentence.
If I looked at that same s
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