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14-Jan-2007, 18:54
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| |  had now had
"Boxer, who had now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: [...]" (George Orwell, "Animal Farm")
It's hard for me to accept the use of now with the past perfect here. It looks as if he had had time to think things over before he voiced the general feeling. Why, then, it's now there?
Nyggus  |
14-Jan-2007, 20:11
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| |  Re: had now had
"who had now had"
That is a lovely little sentence construction.
The sentence is telling us that Boxer had finally had enough time
Now is not being used as a reference to the presant tense, as you may expect, instead it is telling us that a time had been reached when he had had enough time.
That wasn't terribly clear. But i hope it helps. If not, i will rephrase. |
14-Jan-2007, 22:13
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| | Re: had now had
Very good Niall...  |
15-Jan-2007, 05:39
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| | Re: had now had
Niall, thanks, it was very clear, though I can't say I understand the construction. Should I always understand now in past perfect in such a way, or just in this particular sentence it has this meaning? Now (in its classical meaning ), this sentence looks to me as though it had been written by a magician! (Well, we could say G. Orwell was a magician, couldn't we?) |
15-Jan-2007, 07:43
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| | Re: had now had
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyggus  Niall, thanks, it was very clear, though I can't say I understand the construction. Should I always understand now in past perfect in such a way, or just in this particular sentence it has this meaning? Now (in its classical meaning ), this sentence looks to me as though it had been written by a magician! (Well, we could say G. Orwell was a magician, couldn't we?) | Hi,
I think now in the past context only means at that time, moment. It doesn't necessarily go with the Past Perfect. It does if it means by that time, which is the case in your sentence. John found a good job. Now he could afford to go out with a girl-friend.
Regards |
15-Jan-2007, 10:28
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| | Re: had now had
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humble Hi,
I think now in the past context only means at that time, moment. It doesn't necessarily go with the Past Perfect. It does if it means by that time, which is the case in your sentence. John found a good job. Now he could afford to go out with a girl-friend.
Regards | 
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