The past perfect tense

It is common to use this tense when telling stories set in the past.

If you post some example sentences, maybe we can explain why a particular choice of tense had been taken by the writer.

We would need to see some examples first.

Rover_KEWe would need to see some examples first.

What does the 'would' in your sentence modify?
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Getting back to the topic. Hmm, I'll give you some examples.

The first light of dawn was streaking the night sky with pink and palest green. Stefan watched it from the window of his room in the boarding house. He had rented this room speci

Let's say I'm writing a book based on a true story.

'I haven't seen you in ages. You haven't aged a day since we last spoke. You haven't grown an inch. I hear you've given up on love.'

- I hadn't seen her in ages. She hadn't aged a day since we last spoke. She hadn't grown an inch, as well. I heard she'd given up on love.'

Isn't it something like reported speech? OK. My

AnonymousWhat does the 'would' in your sentence modify?

Would does not modify anything. It is not a modifier, but a modal auxiliary, used with the main verb need.

The first light of dawn was streaking the night sky with pink and palest green. Stefan watched it from the window of his room in the boarding house. He had rented this room specifically because of the trapdoor in the ceiling, a trapdoor that opened onto the w

OMG. I see how it works now! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Would it be correct if the writer had written: ?

He rented this room specifically because....

Also

The comments of the students yesterday had not escaped him, and he knew they were s

Dusan StojilkovicIsn't it something like reported speech? OK. My example was about the true story. Is it the same when I want to write an imaginary story?

An author needs to decide the time frame of the story. It might be in the present, told as if it were the same time frame as the reader. It might be a story in the past - last year, last month, or in ancient

Dusan StojilkovicOMG. I see how it works now! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Would it be correct if the writer had written: ?He rented this room specifically because....

Yes, the writer could chose to write this sentence in the simple past tense. But it does not really flow well with the time of the narrative.

The past perfect is an action in the past relat