Brad,

 

Thank you for the catalog of examples of past perfects from Obama's
book.  However, I can't figure out why you consider any of the wrong or
ill-formed.  To take just your first example, "had gained" and "gained"
give the sentence two quite different meanings.  With "had gained" Obama
is saying that that gaining of control occurred before the end of the
two terms he spent in the minority.  If he had written just "gained,"
the change of control of the Illinois senate would have taken place
after those two terms were completed.  In other examples the meaning
differences are not as easy to explicate, but he had a choice between
simple past  and past perfect, and he legitimately chose past perfect.

 

So why do you consider them "bloopers"?

 

Herb 

 

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad Johnston
Sent: 2008-02-18 20:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: some examples of The Audacity of Barack Obama

 

Brad,


For those of us who don't have the book, why don't you give us a few
examples?

Craig.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

After two terms during which I labored in the minority, Democrats (had)
gained control of the state senate and I (had) subsequently passed a
slew of bills.

 

For the first time in my career, I began to experience the envy of
seeing younger politicians succeed where I (had) failed, moving into
higher offices, getting more things done.

 

It was an ill-considered race, and I lost badly -- the sort of drubbing
that awakens you to the fact that life is not obliged to work out as you
(had) planned.

 

But he still had unlimited money in his family, as well as a genuine
integrity that (had) earned him grudging respect from the voters.

 

I felt like working harder than I (had) ever worked in my life.

 

That's 5 of 34 had-before-past-tense items. Then there are the 'had
been's.

 

I (had) preserved my independence, my good name, and my marriage, all of
which (had been) were placed at risk the moment I set foot in the state
capitol.

 

I knew once again just why I (had gone) went into politics.

 

And the irregular verbs.

 

In me, one of those flaws (had proven) proved to be a chronic
restlessness.

 

I began to harbor doubts about the path I (had chosen) chose.

 

By my count, there are 56 such bloopers in the first 21 pages.

 

Others will look at it and tell us what count they get.

 

.brad.18feb08.

  

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