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perfectera
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:24 am Post subject: 'had' with 'before' |
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Hello.
I would like to know if this sentence is grammatically correct as I am not sure about the combination of past perfect form and 'before'.
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it had increased a week before."
I first wrote;
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it increased a week before."
but, someone who is not a native English speaker corrected this as the first one(with the past perfect).
Thanks for your help! |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:33 am Post subject: Re: 'had' with 'before' |
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| perfectera wrote: |
Hello.
I would like to know if this sentence is grammatically correct as I am not sure about the combination of past perfect form and 'before'.
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it had increased a week before."
I first wrote;
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it increased a week before."
but, someone who is not a native English speaker corrected this as the first one(with the past perfect).
Thanks for your help! |
I like your first one better, but I would say "the week before" because it is specific, instead of "a week before".
Some people would say the second one, but although the language is changing, I think the one with past perfect is the more educated version. Other native speakers, feel free to comment  |
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perfectera
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Hi Lorikeet
I understand.
Thanks for your help! |
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jumbonaut
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:39 am Post subject: |
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What is the sequence? Is the speaker talking about the patient's pain before or after is increased. That would determine if you should use the past perfect.
If the increase in pain occurred first:
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it had increased the week before."
If the increase in pain occurred after:
"The patient had a pain in her jaw and it increased a week before." or "a week ago."
If the patient still has the pain:
"The patient has a pain in her jaw and it increased a week before."
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Pat Mallon
www.englishnation.net |
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