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Bamtori Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Why is the verb "keep" in the past simple tense?

"Thirty seconds later, Fache was packing up and preparing to leave Chateau Villette. He had just learned that Teabing kept a private jet nearby at Le Bourge Airfield and that the plane had taken off about a half houf ago."

Teachers, this is from Da Vinci Code. I'm so confused about this sentence's time sequence. Please help.Emotion: cryingWhy is the verb "keep" in the past simple tense?
  

Top answer

I can't see why it should be otherwise, Batmori. What is important is that all the finite forms (the first verbs of the predicates) in the sentence are Past tense. Now, change the tense of all the finite forms for Present and you will understand why 'kept' is Indefinite rather than Perfect.

— Schetin

  • I can't see why it should be otherwise, Batmori.
  • What is important is that all the finite forms (the first verbs of the predicates) in the sentence are Past tense.
  • Now, change the tense of all the finite forms for Present and you will understand why 'kept' is Indefinite rather than Perfect.
  • Slava
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2 Answers
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I can't see why it should be otherwise, Batmori. What is important is that all the finite forms (the first verbs of the predicates) in the sentence are Past tense. Now, change the tense of all the finite forms for Present and you will understand why 'kept' is Indefinite rather than Perfect.

Slava
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He has just learned (point in time very recent to this moment now) that Teabing keeps (habitually, now) a private jet ...

He had just leaned (point in time very recent to that moment then) that Teabing kept (habitually, then) a private jet ...

CJ
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