Brad,

 

This is my example:

 

"I HAD BEEN READING [ Past Perfect Tense Progressive Aspect] your rumblings for too long before I DECIDED  [ Absolute Simple Past Tense ] that they were not worth my time."

 

This is a proper use of the Progressive Past Perfect Tense (Aspect) and of the (Absolute) Simple Past Tense on the time axis. See Quirk et al. in "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language," and Comrie in "Aspect." 

 

 

Eduard

----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 15:16
Subject: Re: Bruce Despain, Mastering the Challenge
To: [log in to unmask]

> Hutsell? hogwash? to you? future? Qu'est-ce qui se passe?
>  
> At first glance, I thought it was Despain dodging but he seemed
> confident, so
> I'm sure he'll be along i.d.c.
>
> Let's see, Ralph, while you're on the line, can you either find
> or create a
> reasonable sentence using the "past perfect progressive"?  I'm
> trying to either
> confirm or discount the assertion that there is no such thing.
>
> .brad.21dec10.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: RALPH HUTSELL <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 1:02:06 PM
> Subject: Re: Bruce Despain, Mastering the Challenge
>
>
> If I were to believe all the hogwash he dishes out to me
> about the future, I
> shall have been being taken for a ride.
> ----- Original Message -----
> >From: Brad Johnston
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:56 AM
> >Subject: Bruce Despain, Mastering the Challenge
> >
> >
> >Bruce Despain wrote: It is easy to make up such examples. 
> > 
> >OK, show us one.
> > 
> >~~~~~
> >
> >Brad had written:)  It is written that there is no such thing
> as a correct
> >(i.e., reasonable) past perfect progressive. I challenge you to
> find one. I'll
> >bet you can't do it.
> > 
> >.brad.21dec10. (Winter Solstice)
> >
>
>
>      
>
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