Past perfect X simple past X past perfect continuous

1 2

Share on Facebook

MrPedantic

#309260 Sun, 31 Dec 06 11:48 PM

Hello Magic

1. While X, Y.

In this structure, when "while" has a temporal sense, Y takes place during X. So we can't imagine Y happening before X.

Thus sentence #2 doesn't make sense: if the reading happens before the coming, as the past perfect suggests, we can't use "while" (in a temporal sense).

So your initial instinct was correct: "While he was reading, his uncle came back" is the correct sentence.

All the best,

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,053)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...

Magic79

#309331 Mon, 01 Jan 07 07:09 AM

Pemmican wrote:

The Past Perfect Progressive is used to express an action that had been in progress (in the past) when another event in the past took place, so it expresses the background action:
While he had been reading the book, his uncle came back home.
While I had been doing my homework, it started to rain.

If I am wrong, then Pemmican is too!!!! And that is why I raised the red flag.

So is Pemmican wrong??? (no body said he was...and that is why I am Sad [:(] ((((((

Magic79

Joined on Sun, Jul 2 2006

Full Member (163)

Marius Hancu

#309421 Mon, 01 Jan 07 03:56 PM

Yes, I think that those examples by Penmican should have past perfect in both parts of the sentence, otherwise the "backgrounding" implemented by "while" isn't in synchronicity with the other action:

BBC NEWS | UK | Stalker had sophisticated cyber plan

He then notified the victim that while he had been browsing the internet he had come across her name in the chat room, all the while writing the information

BBC NEWS | In Depth | Tyson | Journeyman Lou gets his chance

While he had been able to withstand the blows of the ageing Foreman, he had been comprehensively destroyed by a journeyman pro. ...

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Australian Bible gets church backing

He added that while he had been paraphrasing, he had wanted to stay true to the version of history depicted in the original. ...

BBC News | UK Politics | Portillo begins comeback

Mr Portillo has insisted that "nothing of this sort" had happened while he had been in public life. He said: "When I was in public life I was dogged by ...

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Past perfect, Simple past

Magic79

#309517 Mon, 01 Jan 07 10:14 PM

Thanks a lot Marius!!!

You have nailed it! It is now clear- clearer than ever before!

I am more than grateful!

Magic79

Past perfect, Simple past

Anonymous

#466315 Sat, 19 Jan 08 07:55 PM

Anonymous

Past perfect, Simple past

Dreamdream

#466323 Sat, 19 Jan 08 08:16 PM

I WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONE IS CORRECT: WHILE HE WAS READING THE BOOK, HIS UNCLE CAME BACK.

WHILE HE HAD BEEN READING THE BOOK, HIS UNCLE CAME BACK.

AND TELL ME ANY WEBSITE WHERE I COULD POST MINE QUESTIONS REAGARDING ENGLISH .................AND I CAN GET THE ANSWERS OF THOSE QUICKLY............................

Magic79

I am not a native speaker of English...but I dont think I agree with your use of the past perfect progressive!!!!!!!!

1. While he had been reading the book, his uncle came back.

past perfect progressive + simple past

What do you think of the following sentence:

a. While he was reading the book, his uncle came back home.
past contiuous + simple past

I think the timeline for both sentences is the same:

__________***++++*** _______now____

*** = reading a book

++++ = came back

now = moment of speech utterance

I might be wrong after all since none of the members replied to this thread with my comment.

Dreamdream

Joined on Sat, Jan 19 2008

New Member (01)

Past perfect, Simple past, Past simple, Perfect progressive

Clive

#466338 Sat, 19 Jan 08 09:04 PM

Hi,

Please tell me also which one is correct : while he was reading the book, his uncle came back. <<< Say it this way.

while he had been reading the book, his uncle came back.

PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ and tell me any web site where i coiuld post mine question regarding english and can get the answers of those quickly........................ Here.

Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,191)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Past perfect, Simple past

Grammar Geek

#466354 Sat, 19 Jan 08 10:30 PM

Dreamdream,

Welcome to the forums. Make sure you click on REPLY and not on REPORT when you post. Your post when to the moderators' area. I reattached it here, but then saw that you has posted the same question anonymously. So next time, remember - REPLY.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,591)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Past perfect, Past simple

1 2