Submitted by amyjane1000 on Tue, 12/11/2007 - 03:05
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.
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.