Copy to ATEG of a recent off-list message -- for the a-musement or b-musement, or even edification, of many among the silent majority.
 
~~~~~ 
 
The 'default' is the past tense, i.e., if it works without 'had', if it says what you mean to say without it, leave it, let it go.
 
But, note that ...
 
The bird had flown away.
The bird (had) flown away.
The bird flown away.
That doesn't work. It's gotta be 'had flown'.
No, it's gotta be 'flew', which is the past tense of 'to fly'.
The bird flew away ...
 
... which complies with the default rule.
 
.brad.thur.15oct09.


      

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