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Lunchbox Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
what's the reason for past perfect use here?
Hi,
"The issue was simply too divisive to be raised, let alone resolved. However, the fault lines of inconsistency and prejudice only widened over time, and in just four score and seven years they had torn the nation apart."
Why did the writer use past perfect at the end there? Where was the "later past action" that you need in order to use past perfect? The sentence reads naturally, but again I don't know why.
Thanks.
"The issue was simply too divisive to be raised, let alone resolved. However, the fault lines of inconsistency and prejudice only widened over time, and in just four score and seven years they had torn the nation apart."
Why did the writer use past perfect at the end there? Where was the "later past action" that you need in order to use past perfect? The sentence reads naturally, but again I don't know why.
Thanks.
Top answer
Lunchbox Hi, "The issue was simply too divisive to be raised, let alone resolved. " Thanks. Because the tearing apart of the nation itwas foreseen, predictable, bound to occur.
- Lunchbox Hi, "The issue was simply too divisive to be raised, let alone resolved.
- " Thanks.
- Because the tearing apart of the nation itwas foreseen, predictable, bound to occur.
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11 Answers
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LunchboxHi,Because the tearing apart of the nation itwas foreseen, predictable, bound to occur.
"The issue was simply too divisive to be raised, let alone resolved. However, the fault lines of inconsistency and prejudice only widened over time, and in just four score and seven years they had torn the nation apart."
Thanks.
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Hi,
Try thinking of it in this way. Sometime during the period of 47 years, the 'tearing process' happened. So at the end of 47 years, people had the result of the 'tearing process', ie a divided nation.
Best wishes, Clive
Try thinking of it in this way. Sometime during the period of 47 years, the 'tearing process' happened. So at the end of 47 years, people had the result of the 'tearing process', ie a divided nation.
Best wishes, Clive
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in just .... years could also be read "after ..... years" - which is why the past perfect is used. This may not be a particularly good answer but it is the only way I can think of explaining the use of the past perfect (as used here) to you.
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Great! I think I understand now.
So by the end of the 47 years, the tearing of the nation had already occured (ie it was a finished action), hence the use of the past perfect? Thanks again!
So by the end of the 47 years, the tearing of the nation had already occured (ie it was a finished action), hence the use of the past perfect? Thanks again!
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1) The typical use of the past perfect is this:
................... Event A ............... NOW
(in the past)
the past perfect is describing events leading to A
2) A less typical use of the past perfect is the one in this thread:
................... Event A ..... 87 years pass ... Event B ....... NOW
(both events are in the past)
................... Event A ............... NOW
(in the past)
the past perfect is describing events leading to A
2) A less typical use of the past perfect is the one in this thread:
................... Event A ..... 87 years pass ... Event B ....... NOW
(both events are in the past)
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AnonymousGreat! I think I understand now.Yes, exactly.
So by the end of the 47 years, the tearing of the nation had already occured (ie it was a finished action), hence the use of the past perfect? Thanks again!
By the way, four score and seven years = 87 years, not 47. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the American
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Don't feel bad. I'm sure I'd ***** up anything that required thinking about how many pounds were in a stone. (Is that still used? I come across it in novels.)
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Grammar GeekDon't feel bad. I'm sure I'd ***** up anything that required thinking about how many pounds were in a stone. (Is that still used? I come across it in novels.)You have many choices:
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