past perfect as simple past

[constantinusphilo]

Strangely enough, the two boys had been better friends after that, for Ash was well aware of the heinousness of his offense and knew
that in former days he would have been strangled, or trampled to death by the Rajah's elephants.

The Far Pavilions, by Mary Kaye

The author continues to use the past perfect as if it were a simple past.

 

[5jj]

I doubt it, but we would need to read more to be able to confirm this.

 

[emsr2d2]

@constantinusphilo Which part of that quote are you referring to? I can't see a question in post #1, just a quote and a statement. Also, your thread title is a poor choice. We always ask that you use the relevant part of a quote/sentence as your title. If you'd done that, I wouldn't have had to ask my question at the start of this post.

 

[Rover_KE]

What is your question, constantinusphilo?

 

[constantinusphilo]

What is the reason for using the past perfect in this context?

 

[Barque]

Are you talking about this?

the two boys had been better friends

It's the past perfect continuous. The writer's talking of an ongoing situation in the past.

 

[constantinusphilo]

No, it is not. It is a past perfect.

 

[Barque]

It is the a past perfect.

Even if it is, my answer stands. It emphasises that the event began and went on in the past.

 

[5jj]

Continuous forms always have an -ing form.

As I said in post#2, constantinusphilo, we need to read more before we can answer your question.