[Grammar] Past perfect explanation

[TitoBr]

Hi there!

I prepared this short explanation about past perfect, trying to avoid too much grammar. Would you guys add/suggest something else?

I was researching the world 'indulgent', which is a positive adjective, and I found this sentence.


He had been a strict father but was indulgent to/towards his grandchildren.


This is a very good example of the use of past perfect. There are two facts being narrated in this sentence. Both happened in the past. But which one happened first?


You don't need to know grammar to say that being a father happened before than being a grandfather. This is the natural order of things. But whenever you wanna talk about 2 things in the past, you use the past perfect ('He had been...') for the the first fact and simple past ('...was...') for the second fact.

 

[Tarheel]

Re: Past participle explanation

I can't figure out what the question is (if there is one). However, I do have a comment.

You absolutely do need to know grammar in order to speak the language. Thankfully, however, you don't need to know how to talk about grammar in order to speak the language.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: Past participle explanation

Use the Edit Post button to change 'past participle' to 'past perfect' and your post will make more sense.

 

[TitoBr]

Re: Past participle explanation

Unfortunately the title cannot be edited. I've changed all other references to participle, though. Thank you!

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: Past participle explanation

I have changed the thread title in your first post. Unfortunately, for some reason, that hasn't changed the title on all the responses.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Wanna" is not acceptable English word. Please use "want to".