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Eddweirdo Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
use of the verb modifier 'had'
I have trouble, using the word 'had' as a verb modifier. With writing prose one normally uses the past tense, ie 'He went to the bar'. To refer to a point in the past (from the point of time in the story), ie 'He thought she had gone home.'
Consistency is a must, but it seems that I am overing doing it (and softening up dramatic effect) if I continually use 'had' in a paragraph.
Here is how I would like to write the following. Is it correct to write this this way?:
Marietta had stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over, and the police had left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her brother had killed the hotel owner, sshe slammed the door in his face and had remained in her room since.
Consistency is a must, but it seems that I am overing doing it (and softening up dramatic effect) if I continually use 'had' in a paragraph.
Here is how I would like to write the following. Is it correct to write this this way?:
Marietta had stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over, and the police had left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her brother had killed the hotel owner, sshe slammed the door in his face and had remained in her room since.
Top answer
eddweirdo, My view on your question is this: "Had" is the past tense of "have". Both are auxiliary or helping verbs. They are not modifiers.
- eddweirdo, My view on your question is this: "Had" is the past tense of "have".
- Both are auxiliary or helping verbs.
- They are not modifiers.
- The passage is correct: Marietta had stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby.
- After it was over, and the police had left, he went to her room to check on her.
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2 Answers
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eddweirdo,
My view on your question is this: "Had" is the past tense of "have". Both are auxiliary or helping verbs. They are not modifiers. The passage is correct:
Marietta had stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over, and the police had left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her bro
My view on your question is this: "Had" is the past tense of "have". Both are auxiliary or helping verbs. They are not modifiers. The passage is correct:
Marietta had stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over, and the police had left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her bro
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Your paragraph is nearly reported speech, and I would write it as follows:
Marietta stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over and the police left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her brother killed the hotel owner, she slammed the door in his face and remained in her room.
Marietta stayed in her room during the commotion in the lobby. After it was over and the police left, he went to her room to check on her. When he foolishly told her that her brother killed the hotel owner, she slammed the door in his face and remained in her room.
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