Past Perfect / Simple Past

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you share with me your considered comment concerning the following two sentences?

When I came to the station the train had left.

Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea and called to the Mermaid, and she rose out of the water and sang to him. (Oscar Wilde)

V.

[5jj]

Would you share with me your considered comment concerning the following two sentences?

When I came to the station the train had left.

Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea and called to the Mermaid, and she rose out of the water and sang to him. (Oscar Wilde)

V.

I assume from the title of your thread that you want comments on the tenses. They appear perfectly natural to me. Did you think there was something unusual about them?

[vil]

Hi fivejedjon,

Thank you again for your kindness.

They appear perfectly natural to me. Did you think there was something unusual about them?

Just the contrary, who am I to bring works of Oscar Wild in question? There is no doubt about that the sentences in question are perfect.

I expected from you a reasonable explanation why it turned out to be impossible usage of Past Perfect in the second sentence the way it is in the first one. Probably you might to suggest that there are enumerated a few independent action which involves the usage of Simple Past.

V.

[5jj]

Vil, I am puzzled by your enquiry. If you knew the answer you wanted to receive, why did you post the question?

[vil]

Hi fivejedjon,

Vil, I am puzzled by your enquiry. If you knew the answer you wanted to receive, why did you post the question?

You may rely that I know many different things so I won’t ask you about them. That has nothing to do with English language. More often than not when I put my thoughts in English words I am in doubt whether I am right or not. So I take advantage of the opportunity, due to the present forum, to get a confirmation or rejection of my speculation and guesswork.

By the same token, I hope, that the posts in the present forum are a pleasant reading likewise for many other which are not as wise and fussy as you.

V

[5jj]

I don't claim to be wise, and I hope I am not over-fussy about unimportant things. However, If I write, in response to a request of yours for comment on sentences, that I think that they are perfectly natural, and am then told by you that you know that there is no doubt that they are perfect, then I do not think my being puzzled is particularly surprising.