Unjustified Past Perfect?
Unjustified Past Perfect?
I've been coming across such cases all my life. This last time was the last straw. I have to make sure this is either a mistake or there is some kind of explanation as to using the Past Perfect in this sentence:
"The denouement to the tale works well in plot terms, and will delight Republicans, leaving the audience guessing as to what had really happened, but is undermined by the lack of characterisation."
This is a sentence from a native (the UK) speaker's review of a 1993 movie.
Is there a way the Past Perfect can be accounted for in this case?
Thank you in advance. Will appreciate your clarification.
YETY
Top answer
That is a perfectly normal use of the past perfect. The Republicans saw the movie and when they left, the didn't really know what had happened (in the movie). The audience observed the end of the movie at an earlier point in time than when they left the theater.
- That is a perfectly normal use of the past perfect.
- The Republicans saw the movie and when they left, the didn't really know what had happened (in the movie).
- The audience observed the end of the movie at an earlier point in time than when they left the theater.
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That is a perfectly normal use of the past perfect.
The Republicans saw the movie and when they left, the didn't really know what had happened (in the movie).
The audience observed the end of the movie at an earlier point in time than when they left the theater.
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