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I had built up such hopes around you and felt so proud of yo

 
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Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 361

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:15 pm    Post subject: I had built up such hopes around you and felt so proud of yo Reply with quote

Which, #1 or #2, does �felt so proud of you� mean in the following letter?
1. I had felt so proud of you.
2. I felt so proud of you.

I thought it means #1, but some people around me chose #2.

    A boy did not do well at school. His mother was very upset when she received his reports and wrote him the following letter.

    Dear X,
    I have much to say to you, but I�m afraid it�s not good news. Look at your place in school! I�m sure you have a thousand excuses for not doing well--- but there the fact remains!
    My dear X, I love you, but you make us very unhappy---I had built up such hopes around you and felt so proud of you and now all is gone. If you make a plan of action for yourself and carry it out, I am sure you can do anything. Your brother Y, on the other hand, comes at the head of class every year.
    I will say no more now, but X, soon you will no longer be a child. You should think about your final two years and how important they are for your future life-Stop, think it out for yourself, and work hard before it is too late.
    Love,
    your very unhappy Mother
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CP



Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California

PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As written:

My dear X, I love you, but you make us very unhappy---I had built up such hopes around you and felt so proud of you and now all is gone.

The "had" for "had felt so proud" is implied. It is a case of parallel construction: I had built up and [I had] felt so proud.

The use of past perfect here means that, before the son did so poorly, the mother had felt proud, but not since then.
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