about 'soon'

[enydia]

Hi, Teachers.

I saw this sentence from a book: it ... really should have happened or been done sooner.

I wonder why the author use 'sooner' here. In my opinion, 'soon' is used to refer to sth happened in future. Can it also be used to talk about the past things?

Thanks in advance.

Enydia

[rj1948]

Originally Posted by enydia

Hi, Teachers.

I saw this sentence from a book: it ... really should have happened or been done sooner.

I wonder why the author use 'sooner' here. In my opinion, 'soon' is used to refer to sth happened in future. Can it also be used to talk about the past things?

Thanks in advance.

Enydia

Sooner than is a comparative construction.
Tdol,in one of his threads,used no sooner had...See the sentence below.
No sooner HAD I said it than I realised how stupid it was.
No sooner had he arrived than the telephone rang.:Free online dictionary.
Regards,
rj1948.

[2006]

Originally Posted by enydia

Hi, Teachers.

I saw this sentence from a book: it ... really should have happened or been done sooner.

I wonder why the author use 'sooner' here. In my opinion, 'soon' is used to refer to sth happened in future. Can it also be used to talk about the past things?

Thanks in advance.

Enydia

Both "soon" and "sooner" can be used for the past and the future. Of course "sooner" is comparative.

I didn't think it would happen so soon. It happened sooner than I thought it would.

I hope it happens soon. I hope it happens sooner than you think it will.

[enydia]

Originally Posted by 2006

Both "soon" and "sooner" can be used for the past and the future. Of course "sooner" is comparative.

I didn't think it would happen so soon. [Does 'soon' means 'not long after the time referred to'?] It happened sooner than I thought it would. [Does 'sooner' means 'earlier'?]

I hope it happens soon. I hope it happens sooner than you think it will.

Thank you, 2006

[2006]

There isn't necessarily a time referred to. "soon" means within a short period of time, but depending on what you are talking about, "soon" can range from seconds to many years.
Yes, "sooner" means earlier.

[enydia]

Originally Posted by 2006

There isn't necessarily a time referred to. "soon" means within a short period of time, but depending on what you are talking about, "soon" can range from seconds to many years.
Yes, "sooner" means earlier.

Thank you, 2006.

Can I say 'it really should have happened or been done 3 minutes ago'?

[2006]

Originally Posted by enydia

Thank you, 2006.

Can I say 'it really should have happened or been done 3 minutes ago'?

yes