By Conversations, Past perfect

CalifJim wrote:The sentence is perfectly normal.Think about it, and I believe you can answer your own question about what happened first!The Times is a newspaper. If they "say" something it means they write it in the newspaper. They reported something.Generally speaking, first the event...

Hi guys, Yogi asked for opinions from others, so I'll stand back a bit. However, let me just add this comment first. Yogi said According To Clive, they both mean the same but what I actually said was 'Essentially', yes, meaning without splitting hairs. What I meant by that was this. Sure, we...

Thank you very much ranchhand! I have one more question. RH: You're very welcome, Infinity. Ask as many as you'd like. ================== Infinity wrote: When you report what someone said, for instance, Tuesday, Kate said this: “I have been too busy to do anything for my kids lately, so I...

It is more formal to use the past perfect in reported speech, speaking of a previous event. I would suggest you use it in essay-writing, but not worry about it in conversation, as either is acceptable, and 'came' is probably the more common.

Dear Pieanne, My mind is just spinning at looking to your conversation with Lang.Lover. Let me introduce myself briefly : I don't know anything about past perfect tense,past perfect,bla..bla.... I just need clarification in SIMPLER terms without the usage of the above terms. By seeing your...

I do completely agree with you, Mav. BUT I saw a line on the forum saying that in cases like this, past perfect & simple past could be used with the same value. So my first choice would be "as if I were going...", which I'm dead sure of, and I think "as if I had been going ..." is acceptable, yet...

'Through rehab' is new to me. In BrE, you would probably say: 'Where have you been? I haven't seen you around here for a while.' 'Oh, I've been in rehab.' (On those numerous occasions when this conversation occurs.) Sorry, Casi, I missed your earlier question. Yes, I would expect a present...

And a good day to you, Mr P. I see your point. But they are different situations. It's not logical to suggest that one grammar pattern can extend to all situations; there are obvious semantic considerations. Allow me to explain and then please point out where you feel I’ve erred. As I’ve often...

Hello, Mr Pedantic. May I call you Mr P? Of course you may, JTT. {Please don't ever take my direct manner in these discussions as any type of personal attack. I only want to address the facts. If I believe you or anyone to be in err, I'll plainly say so and I hope you and others will do the same...

How would he feel if they tried the same thing with him, and he had an opportunity to assist the authorities, to bring these criminals into justice, and he did nothing about it? This is just a normal (present time) "second conditional" to me. The question asks how this person ("he") would feel...