had told

[katnoric32]

Hi,

"He hadn't even told his wife about it yet"

In a situation, he is dead. If so, if It says "He didn't even tell his wife about it yet",

Would there be a difference in meaning? I don't think so....

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Yet" doesn't work with a dead person.

 

[katnoric32]

But the actor used in the situation. And your saying doesn't answer to my question, but thanks!

 

[Rover_KE]

That's the scriptwriter's fault — not the actor's.

The word 'yet' implies that he will tell his wife at some future time. As he is dead, he clearly can't.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

The first version of the sentence, 'He hadn't even told his wife about it yet' does work if he's now dead. The second version doesn't work, as explained in posts #2 and #4.

 

[katnoric32]

Okay. Then, suppose he isn't dead. He is alive. Then..

He hadn't told his wife about it

he didn't tell his wife about it

what's the difference?

 

[emsr2d2]

Okay. Then (no comma here) suppose he isn't dead. He is alive. Then..

He hadn't told his wife about it.

He didn't tell his wife about it.

What's the difference?

If there is another event mentioned, then "He hadn't told his wife about it [yet]" would be correct. If not, "He didn't ..." is probably OK.

He had an affair in 2006. He didn't tell his wife.
He was planning a birthday party for his wife for May 2014 but she left him in April 2014. He hadn't [even] told his wife about the party when she left.

 

[katnoric32]

Thanks. If I say,

"He was planning a birthday party for his wife for May 2014 but she left him in April 2014. He didn't even told his wife about the party when she left."

Would it be wrong?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes. 'He hadn't even told his wife about the party...'

 

[katnoric32]

Thanks! Could you tell me the reason? I need a conceptual understanding...Sorry.

 

[Rover_KE]

'He didn't told' is ungrammatical.

 

[katnoric32]

Oh, sorry. Should be he didn't tell.

 

[Tarheel]

Oh, sorry. Should be he didn't tell.

That is simple past tense. However, you need to say:

He hadn't told her (before she left).

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