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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
why is the past perfect?
Hi,
1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this:
The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stumbled on a line during his speech at the state arrival ceremony for the Queen, Monday, at the House. The president said that the Queen had dined with 10 U.S. presidents and had helped the United States "cerebrate its bicentennial in 17 ... ." Bush caught himself and corrected the date to 1976.
Why it has to be 'had help' when I think Queen is quite healthy? Preceding what event or time is it based on? Possibly Mr. Bush is thinking Queen's dining with former presidents occurred 'before today' and that is the reason for the use of the past perfect?
1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this:
The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stumbled on a line during his speech at the state arrival ceremony for the Queen, Monday, at the House. The president said that the Queen had dined with 10 U.S. presidents and had helped the United States "cerebrate its bicentennial in 17 ... ." Bush caught himself and corrected the date to 1976.
Why it has to be 'had help' when I think Queen is quite healthy? Preceding what event or time is it based on? Possibly Mr. Bush is thinking Queen's dining with former presidents occurred 'before today' and that is the reason for the use of the past perfect?
Top answer
Hi, 1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this: The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stumbled on a line during his speech at the state arrival ceremony for the Queen, Monday, at the House.
- Hi, 1.
- I saw two pictures of Mr.
- George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this: The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stumbled on a line during his speech at the state arrival ceremony for the Queen, Monday, at the House.
- S.
- presidents and had helped the United States "cerebrate its bicentennial in 17 ...
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7 Answers
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Hi,
1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this:
The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stum
1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this:
The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (left) and after the president stum
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Past perfect is a double past.
The Queen dined (and helped). Then the President said so. Then the newspaper reporter said that the President said so.
The Queen gave help; she did not receive help; so it has nothing to do with anybody's health.
CJ
The Queen dined (and helped). Then the President said so. Then the newspaper reporter said that the President said so.
The Queen gave help; she did not receive help; so it has nothing to do with anybody's health.
CJ
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Hi,
Why it has to be 'had help' when I think Queen is quite healthy?
Anonymous, are you saying that the Queen is 'not dead'? eg Tom died yesterday. He had dined with many presidents. No, that's not the reason the Past Perfect was used. It's as we have explained.
Please ask again if you still don't understand.
Best wishes, Cl
Why it has to be 'had help' when I think Queen is quite healthy?
Anonymous, are you saying that the Queen is 'not dead'? eg Tom died yesterday. He had dined with many presidents. No, that's not the reason the Past Perfect was used. It's as we have explained.
Please ask again if you still don't understand.
Best wishes, Cl
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Thank you, Clive.
Yes, that was what I had in mind when I used the phrase "quite healthy." Of course, she is doing wonderfully.
Anyway, I looked at your response and thought about it. I didn't quite got to the 'reporting speech' aspect of it but after reading your response, it kind of dawned on me that could and should be the case and the correct justification for the use of the
Yes, that was what I had in mind when I used the phrase "quite healthy." Of course, she is doing wonderfully.
Anyway, I looked at your response and thought about it. I didn't quite got to the 'reporting speech' aspect of it but after reading your response, it kind of dawned on me that could and should be the case and the correct justification for the use of the
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CliveHi,
1. I saw two pictures of Mr. George Bush with Queen Elizabeth II in the first page of the May 9th issue of the Korea Herald and the pictures were titled "SLIP OF THE TONGUE" and the rest of the writing went like this:
The two picture combo shows President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II, before (lef
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What should I do to make fast recovery of my intact (or dormant) knowledge? Should I keep read more? Do you feel a person would most likely not write well if he wasn't in possession of this kind of grammar knowledge?Hi,
What should I do to make fast recovery of my intact (or dormant) knowledge? Should I keep read more? Yes, definitely, definitely.
What should I do to make fast recovery of my intact (or dormant) knowledge? Should I keep read more? Yes, definitely, definitely.
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Hi,
Thank you, Clive. I forgot to ask you this question: Doing things this way, that is using the past perfect in a rather casual fashion (or way) as to make a time reference to before he/she speaks, is this done often? It's not at all unusual, although people with poor educatuion tend not to it. It's one of various indicators of reasonably educated speech.
Thank you, Clive. I forgot to ask you this question: Doing things this way, that is using the past perfect in a rather casual fashion (or way) as to make a time reference to before he/she speaks, is this done often? It's not at all unusual, although people with poor educatuion tend not to it. It's one of various indicators of reasonably educated speech.
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