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SeroMack Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Why Past Perfect?

Why did the author use Past Perfect in the last sentence?

It was not long, however, before a development occurred that revolutionized Virginia’s economy. In 1612 John Rolfe began cross-breeding imported tobacco seed from the West Indies with native plants and produced a new variety that was pleasing to European taste. The first shipment of this tobacco reached London in 1614. Within a decade it had become Virginia’s chief source of revenue.
  

Top answer

You need three things for the past perfect -- past action, a past reference point, and action before the reference point. Everything in your paragraph happened in the 1600s, a long time ago. You have a past reference point of 1624, and the period in question is the preceding decade 1614-1624, the decade when Virginia started to make money from tobacco.

— Deadrat

  • You need three things for the past perfect -- past action, a past reference point, and action before the reference point.
  • Everything in your paragraph happened in the 1600s, a long time ago.
  • You have a past reference point of 1624, and the period in question is the preceding decade 1614-1624, the decade when Virginia started to make money from tobacco.
  • Action in that time preceding the reference point is placed in the past perfect tense.
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14 Answers
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You need three things for the past perfect -- past action, a past reference point, and action before the reference point. Everything in your paragraph happened in the 1600s, a long time ago. You have a past reference point of 1624, and the period in question is the preceding decade 1614-1624, the decade when Virginia started to make money from tobacco. Action in that time preceding the referenc
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The past reference point being the conclusion of the first (topic) sentence?
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No, the past actions are all given by the simple past tenses, including the one in the topic sentence. That's how we know grammatically that we're talking about the past. The particular past reference point is 1624. The time between 1614 and 1624 is governed by the past perfect.
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seroMackWithin a decade it had become Virginia’s chief source of revenue.
Just to throw a wrench (spanner) into the works: It could just as easily have been written:

Within a decade it would become Virginia's chief source of revenue.

Thus, the past perfect was not absolutely necessary.

CJ
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deadratNo, the past actions are all given by the simple past tenses, including the one in the topic sentence. That's how we know grammatically that we're talking about the past. The particular past reference point is 1624. The time between 1614 and 1624 is governed by the past perfect.
Thank you. However, I know the general rules governing the usage of Past Pe
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From the text. It says that tobacco was first planted in 1614 and within a decade something happened. 1614+10 = 1624, so from that reference point, the previous decade is governed by the past perfect.
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CalifJim seroMackWithin a decade it had become Virginia’s chief source of revenue.Just to throw a wrench (spanner) into the works: It could just as easily have been written:Within a decade it would become Virginia's chief source of revenue.Thus, the past perfect was not absolutely necessary.CJ
CalifJim,
Certainly. The problem is, I find it difficult to es
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seroMack I find it difficult to establish the reference point, that is 1624 - the background that would explain the usage of Past Perfect Tense away.
The first shipment of this tobacco reached London in 1614. Within a decade it had become Virginia’s chief source
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deadratFrom the text. It says that tobacco was first planted in 1614 and within a decade something happened. 1614+10 = 1624, so from that reference point, the previous decade is governed by the past perfect.
Yes, I tried it this way but it seemed a bit clumsy to me. You know, if I tell you today that within 10 years I had bought ten black cars, you will autimat
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fivejedjon seroMack I find it difficult to establish the reference point, that is 1624 - the background that would explain the usage of Past Perfect Tense away.The first shipment of this tobacco reached London in 1614. Within a decade it had become Virginia’s chief source of revenue.'Within a decade' - 'Within ten years' - 'By 1624'.
Thank you very much, you m
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