Brian,
I think I needed to say that "perfect aspect may not be necessary." In this sense there is a certain redundancy. If the perfect is selected then the speaker may be inviting the listener to infer that the present effects could have been from some event or situation that she is unable to relate. Let's put it in a context. Someone asks, "Why are you crying?" By the first sentence the narrator tells us that what happened explains the reason. By the second sentence the narrator tells us further (invites us to infer) that the happening concluded with the inception of the bout of sobs. If formal register is indicated and the sequence of events is an important part of the narration, then certainly the past perfect is appropriate. Some English teachers want students to be precise, formal, and avoid colloquialisms and sloppiness. Careful thinking leads to careful writing. I think sometimes context makes for a delicate balance between the two poles in a continuum of expressive means.
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of O'Sullivan, Brian P
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 6:15 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What does this mean?
Bruce,
I found your take on this illuminating. Since reading it, though, I've been trying to figure out why the implication that "the event led to her emotional state and hence, its effects are still being felt" means that "perfect aspect may not be appropriate." If an action stopped occurring prior to a certain point, then isn't perfect aspect appropriate even if the action had ongoing consequences beyond that point? For instance, let's say that "what happened" is that she had an accident an hour ago. Though she's still upset, "what happened" ended before the moment she tells the story, so isn't past perfect appropriate?
Also, might the past perfect be used if the author or narrator is insinuating (or at least leaving open the possibility) that the tearful subject of the sentence is holding back some portion of the story that is still going on? In the recent movie The Informant, for example, there were moments when Matt Damon's character came clean about "what had happened" (price-fixing schemes in which he had been involved) but held back what was still happening (his continued involvement in financial crime).
(Brad, just to give you my version of the "straight answer" you want:
1. "She took a deep breath and, between sobs, related what happened" means that she emotionally told the story of some occurrence that had happened or, conceivably, was still continuously or recurrently happening.
2."She took a deep breath and, between sobs, related what happened" means that she emotionally told the story of something that had happened sometime up to the moment that she took her deep breath but was no longer happening as she told the story.)
Brian
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bruce Despain [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What does this mean?
The author of these two sentences has been very careful to ensure that the subject of the verbs is portrayed as deeply and emotionally involved in the event being related as happening (to her). It is implied that the event led to her emotional state and hence, its effects are still being felt. This then suggests that the unless it is important to emphasize that the event is separate and distinct from the present condition (perfect aspect). I suppose that the event that she needs to relate may be thought to have nothing to do with her present state. In this case her detachment from it could be brought out, possibly by a therapy counselor, or a psycho-analytic author using the perfect aspect.
There is a similar strangeness of a historical present: (?) "She takes a deep breath and, between sobs, relates what has happened." (present perfect)
The curious might also ask what the following means: (?) "She takes a deep breath and, between sobs, relates what happens." (habitual present)
The more natural situation would seem to dictate: "She takes a deep breath and, between sobs, relates what happened." (simple past)
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad Johnston
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 7:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What does this mean?
What does this sentence mean: She took a deep breath and, between sobs, related what happened?
What does this sentence mean: She took a deep breath and, between sobs, related what had happened?
.brad.04nov09.
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