past perfect

[ostap77]

"I do," the intiate had lied.


Why is it "had lied" not just "lied"?

 

[Rover_KE]

I for one need more context to answer this.

What happened before that?

Rover

 

[ostap77]

I for one need more context to answer this.

What happened before that?

Rover

It's from the book I'm reading.

" Do you seriously declare on your honor,uninfluenced by mercenary or any other unworthy motive,that you freely and voluntarily offer yourself as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of this brotherhood?"

"I do," the initiate had lied

 

[bhaisahab]

It's from the book I'm reading.

" Do you seriously declare on your honor,uninfluenced by mercenary or any other unworthy motive,that you freely and voluntarily offer yourself as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of this brotherhood?"

"I do," the initiate had lied

What comes before "Do you seriously declare...?"

 

[ostap77]

What comes before "Do you seriously declare...?"

On that night, in a ritual similar to this one, the Worshipful Master had blindfolded him with a velvet hoodwink and pressed a ceremonial dagger to his bare chest,demanding:


Why was the past perefct used here "had blindfolded him" not past simple?

 

[bhaisahab]

On that night, in a ritual similar to this one, the Worshipful Master had blindfolded him with a velvet hoodwink and pressed a ceremonial dagger to his bare chest,demanding:


Why was the past perfect used here "had blindfolded him" not past simple?

It's a style of writing, recounting something which had happened in the past. What don't you like about it?

 

[ostap77]

It's a style of writing, recounting something which had happened in the past. What don't you like about it?

I'm not saying that I don't like it. I'm just curious if it's possible to use the past simple in this context. Why did author use the past perfect? To put the stress on what he did?

 

[bhaisahab]

I'm not saying that I don't like it. I'm just curious if it's possible to use the past simple in this context. Why did author use the past perfect? To put the stress on what he did?

To lay emphasis on its being something from the past retold.

 

[ostap77]

To lay emphasis on its being something from the past retold.

Can we use that in conversation?
For example:

" Do you remember Frank?"

" Yes. It's to bad that he moved to another city. He had been an asset to our department.''

Just emphasize that he was a great worker?

 

[bhaisahab]

Can we use that in conversation?
For example:

" Do you remember Frank?"

" Yes. It's too bad that he moved to another city. He had been an asset to our department.''

Just emphasize that he was a great worker?

You could, but "was" is more likely.

 

[ostap77]

You could, but "was" is more likely.

So it's pretty much the past action and its importance to the speaker?

 

[bhaisahab]

So it's pretty much the past action and its importance to the speaker?

Yes, you could put it like that.