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[stellamira]

Okay, this might sound like bitching disguised as a question, but I'm really not sure anymore: If you write a story in present tense and something happened before, it's still correct to use the whatever-the-name-of-the-tense-is with "did" and "has done", right? Because I read so many stories where the author jumps back two tenses instead of one and

Comments

[benitle]

Yes, it should be "ate" and not "had eaten". "Had eaten" (= past perfect) implies that an action had already been finished before another action (in the past) you're referring to. For example "when I wanted to do the laundry, I saw that someone had already done it". But in your example this is not the case.

[stellamira]

See, that's what I thought (and learned in school). But apparently a lot of people (and a lot of native speakers, too!) just don't seem to get that.

Oh, and because I just remember it: Congratulations on going to New York!

[puszysty]

Actually, I think had eaten would be correct in that case.

[puszysty]

Ok, maybe not. But American schools often don't even teach grammar beyond the basics. Everything I ever learned about grammar, I learned in German class.

[stellamira]

I'm not an expert for German grammar rules, either (or I would've answered your question about the passive, but I actually have no idea). I think it's always like that, you learn more grammar of a foreign language than your own. It's still sad. And very annoying when you read a story.

[geneli4]

the past perfect verb tense is a little more flexible than lots of people think, but not as flexible as that, no. still, sometimes people just make mistakes. *shrugs* i make mistakes all the time.

i even made some here. yay editing tool! :)

[stellamira]

Hee. I make mistakes, too. But sometimes I think I write/speak better English than some native speakers, and that's just not right.

[geneli4]

i wish everyone could afford a decent education, especially in this country, but it's just not the case. most families can't afford private school, and since our government doesn't even provide all of its citizens with basic shelter from the elements, ensuring our entire population is able to use the past perfect verb tense properly is pretty low on the priority list. :/

[stellamira]

That's sad, and I know I shouldn't be so hard on people sometimes. For what it's worth, I don't care how anybody talks or writes in their posts. But if someone wants me to read their story, I expect them to use proper grammar, or get someone to help them, or at least not get pissed if I told them to have someone check for things like that. Which, unfortunately, most people would, so I don't.

[enablelove]

I like that plot idea :D as long as it has the happy ending! haha

As for the 'questions' I have NO idea...lol

[stellamira]

Of course there will be a happy ending, I can't even bring myself to read the unhappy ones, much less write. :)