But can we use the past perfect to describe just one action that happened in the past?-- No, not without some contextual reference to another past event: Rodel had been driving 120 miles per hour for thirty minutes when he hit the tree. And how

I actually already created a thread discussing the two meanings and the ambiguities within. Have you anything to add in reference to choosing the tense and aspect of the main clause? I was told when choosing the tense of the main clause, I make my

thanks, hmm... but in all of those sentences we could actually put pleasureS and it would be perfectly OK, right? Personally, I have my reservations in rigid rules in English grammar. Context must be considered in determining

Hi. Let us assume that we are looking at a Bible verse (or verses) and we need write or speak about the verse (or verses), and this is what is written. Do you find different tenses are used are correct? I feel the underlined part could be in the

Can it stand alone when the sentence doesn't have any reference to time ? All sentences have some reference to time because all sentences have verbs. Verbs must be expressed in one tense or another. Example sentences in dictionaries are

Grammar Geek, Thank you for your explanation. It answered another question I had about context. I was wondering if the two times had to be listed in a single sentence. Your context-comment makes it clear that the time could carry over from an

Hi Ducks, I think your instincts are right. In that first sentece, "had lived," I would assume that there was some context that makes the past perfect appropriate . Perhaps the sentence before talks about the war that broke out in the

Your explanation is nearly correct, CJ..however, this is the breakdown: would = subjunctive modal have had to = perfect tense of the modal replacement(or "semi-modal", if you prefer), " have to " have been eating= perfect

I have a question about your example "I dated him for more than a year". This suggests the relationship is over. So the question should be: A:How long had you dated him? B: I'd dated him for more than a year. A:How long did you date

Thanks, but the suggestion is in the past tense. I want to use the gerundive verb, which in the context of a heading. I'm having trouble finding a grammar reference, online.. Sorry, I misunderstood. 1. "Resuming the installation" –