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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

the word 'past perfect'

Hi,

Why is that sometimes I see words like 'past perfect' or 'present continuous', they are used in sentences as a noun, not as an adjective as my dictionary seems to be showing? Are they adjectives or nouns?

You should use a past perfect, not a present perfect.
  

Top answer

Both these terms refer to the time when verb action takes place. Your sample sentence could read "You should use a past perfect verb , not a present perfect verb. " But often that noun would be understood and the adjectives modifying it are taken as a noun.

— Spides

  • Both these terms refer to the time when verb action takes place.
  • Your sample sentence could read "You should use a past perfect verb , not a present perfect verb.
  • " But often that noun would be understood and the adjectives modifying it are taken as a noun.
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4 Answers
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Both these terms refer to the time when verb action takes place. Your sample sentence could read "You should use a past perfect verb, not a present perfect verb." But often that noun would be understood and the adjectives modifying it are taken as a noun.
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Or tense. Use the past perfect = Use the past perfect tense (of the verb).

CJ
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Thank you, CalifJim.

This question deals with the usage of the past perfect. Why would many people think the first sentence is better than the second sentence when both can be understood to mean basically the same contextually, at least to me, aside from making the transition of events more apparent?

1. John came in and spoke to us. He told us what he had done to find a w
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Is this only difference?
Yes. I would say so. The sequence of events is actually pretty clear in either case, though.

CJ
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