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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
When past perfect is needed?
Hi. I think my friend told me that for something like the number 1 sentence the past perfect is needed, whereas for something like the number 2 sentence, it is not needed but optional. Could you tell me why he could have said what he said (if you could)? The "XXXX" (two of them are here) denotes one particular year (any year could be good, I think).
1. He had had the bike for some time before it was sold in a garage sale in XXXX.
2. He had played tennis before he went to Japan for a visit in XXXX.
1. He had had the bike for some time before it was sold in a garage sale in XXXX.
2. He had played tennis before he went to Japan for a visit in XXXX.
Top answer
Neither requires the past perfect, since the order of past events is clear without it; 'before' makes this order clear: 1-- He had the bike before he sold it. 2-- He played tennis before he went to Japan. However, past perfect can be used in both if the writer wishes to stress the precedence of the bike ownership and the tennis-playing.
- Neither requires the past perfect, since the order of past events is clear without it; 'before' makes this order clear: 1-- He had the bike before he sold it.
- 2-- He played tennis before he went to Japan.
- However, past perfect can be used in both if the writer wishes to stress the precedence of the bike ownership and the tennis-playing.
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1 Answers
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Neither requires the past perfect, since the order of past events is clear without it; 'before' makes this order clear:
1-- He had the bike before he sold it.
2-- He played tennis before he went to Japan.
However, past perfect can be used in both if the writer wishes to stress the precedence of the bike ownership and the tennis-playing.
1-- He had the bike before he sold it.
2-- He played tennis before he went to Japan.
However, past perfect can be used in both if the writer wishes to stress the precedence of the bike ownership and the tennis-playing.
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