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Reegis Posted 9 years ago
Grammar
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
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Does the past perfect make sense in the sentence below?
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
I am not sure how to interpret this... The time of this exam is in the past simple and the time of the possible failure is in the past perfect, which suggests that it happened before the actual examination...
Does the past perfect make sense in the sentence below?
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
I am not sure how to interpret this... The time of this exam is in the past simple and the time of the possible failure is in the past perfect, which suggests that it happened before the actual examination...
Top answer
The Past Perfect makes sense. It suggests to me that the possible failure was before 'he thought'.
- The Past Perfect makes sense.
- It suggests to me that the possible failure was before 'he thought'.
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15 Answers
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The Past Perfect makes sense. It suggests to me that the possible failure was before 'he thought'.
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Hmmm, this definitely makes sense, but doesn't it also suggest that this possible failure happened before the exam?
What do you think about the new sentence below?
The examination had been quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
Now the exam and the failure are in the past perfect, and the thought is in the past simple. Doesn't it describe the chronol
What do you think about the new sentence below?
The examination had been quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
Now the exam and the failure are in the past perfect, and the thought is in the past simple. Doesn't it describe the chronol
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doesn't it also suggest that this possible failure happened before the exam? This interpretation defies common sense. No-one is likely to think that you can fail an exam before you take it!
Yes, your new sentence is clearer, but the original is more common and more natural English.
Yes, your new sentence is clearer, but the original is more common and more natural English.
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CliveNo-one is likely to think that you can fail an exam before you take it!Yeah, without a doubt. I only meant that both grammar and common sense should support the same interpretation...
CliveYes, your new sentence is clearer, but the original is more common and more natural English.This is interesting
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As a rule of thumb, common sense trumps grammar.
Consider that most native speakers have no real grasp of grammar rules and terminology,. eg they don't even know what the Past Perfect is!
Consider that most native speakers have no real grasp of grammar rules and terminology,. eg they don't even know what the Past Perfect is!
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One more version of this sentence came to my mind:
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he would fail.
I think it sounds natural and, more or less, means the same - just the moment of failure is ahead of this person in this example. My interpretation is that here the failure would happen after he received the results, while in the original sentence the
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he would fail.
I think it sounds natural and, more or less, means the same - just the moment of failure is ahead of this person in this example. My interpretation is that here the failure would happen after he received the results, while in the original sentence the
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Hmm, let's consider this.
Assume the exam ended at 3pm, and the results were announced at 9pm.
If he failed , would it be at 3pm or 9pm?
When did he conclude that the exam was quite difficult? 3pm? 2pm? The week before?
Assume the exam ended at 3pm, and the results were announced at 9pm.
If he failed , would it be at 3pm or 9pm?
When did he conclude that the exam was quite difficult? 3pm? 2pm? The week before?
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My understanding is as follows:
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
exam: up until 3 pm
thought: (right) after 3 pm
failure: sometime before 'thought' (not specified exactly, probably 3 pm or maybe any point of time during the exam?)
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he would fail.
exam: up u
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
exam: up until 3 pm
thought: (right) after 3 pm
failure: sometime before 'thought' (not specified exactly, probably 3 pm or maybe any point of time during the exam?)
The examination was quite difficult and he thought he would fail.
exam: up u
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The examination was quite difficult and he thought he'd failed.
exam: up until 3 pm
thought: (right) after 3 pm
failure: sometime before 'thought' (not specified exactly, probably 3 pm or maybe any point of time during the exam?)
He thought he'd failed. Sounds like he thought it at 3 or later. Before 9.
exam: up until 3 pm
thought: (right) after 3 pm
failure: sometime before 'thought' (not specified exactly, probably 3 pm or maybe any point of time during the exam?)
He thought he'd failed. Sounds like he thought it at 3 or later. Before 9.
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CliveI see failure as being at 3pm.Hmmm, I interpreted 'he thought he would fail' as the past version of 'he thinks he will fail'. Thus, failure at 9 pm when the results are known.
CliveWhat difference.do you see? Are you talking about a high mark versus a barely adequate mark?
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