Present Continuous
Present Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Simple
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Continuous
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Continuous
PCC complex sentences
Submitted by Mark on Sun, 12/16/2007 - 21:20.
Hi
Hi Amyjane
Sorry for the delay. As you can see there are still few threads in this forum therefore I rarely visit it.
Anyways, your question is very interesting and difficult. I did have similar thoughts and doubts concerning this issue some time ago but before I can give you any good answer, I will have to have another look into it.
Hopefully, I will get back to you in a few days:)
Submitted by Mark on Sun, 01/13/2008 - 18:32.
Hi again, I believe you're
Hi again,
I believe you're using the Past Perfect incorrectly, or at least your examples are not altogether correct, because they do not show what the Past Perfect is really about.
The Past Perfect sentences usually come with the Past Simple. There's because we want to indicate that one action happened before the other. Note: the exception is when we talk about unreal past.
I wish I had taken my car keys.
Your examples:
He had never learned her name, yet she had somehow become much more.
He’d been shocked when she turned to face him moments before he attacked.
There is no reason to use the PP here.
In my opinion correct: He was shocked to see her face him, moments before he attacked.
I'm not a native speaker but I think if there's a logical sequence - as in telling a joke - you do not have to indicate what happened first. Especially if the actions happen nearly at the same moment.
I also would say that it is generally incorrect to use the Past Perfect too many times in a sentence.
This sentence sounds awkward: In the car there was a boy whom I had seen when he had been nine years old.
In the car there was a boy whom I had seen when he was nine years old. sounds much better to me.
I hope that was helpful.
Mark
I'm trying to write a story and am having a hard time with the Past Perfect Continuous. I understand how it works in a simple sentence, such as He had seen the TV show. But what about complex sentences. For instance when a person is remembering a past finite event about themselves and another person, now dead, and is recalling both of their actions.
For example:
He had never learned her name, yet she had somehow become much more.
The PPC is used for him, but is it necessary for her as well? I think this is correct considering shes dead.
However, this sounds correct as well: He’d been shocked when she turned to face him moments before he attacked. The PPC is used for him the first time, but not for her, or for himself when he recalls his second activity. (for some reason I can no longer use my return key) Here is another example: Had he looked at her because she had fought? I'm totally confused, and am unable to determine which is correct, or find any sense of consistancy in usage. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.