I agree that writers should not write "had not hold up," although I wouldn't object to "had not holed up."

Herb

Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN  47306
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad Johnston [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: December 5, 2009 3:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Looking Back

------Original Message------
From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]<[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">http:[log in to unmask]>>

Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chapter 1, page 1.

Few people shared my walk, an activity I <had undertaken> undertook to clear my head. That <had been> was a mistake.

My business partner and girlfriend <had not> did not hold up her end of the festivities. We <had agreed> agreed to split everything fifty-fifty, but she claimed her single glass from the bottle <had been> was enough.

page 2.

I <had lost> lost a leg in Iraq ..

Now I <had planted> planted both feet in my adopted community.

She <had parked> parked her car near the Cafe' where we <had eaten> ate, and when I <had declined> declined a ride home, she did ... whatever

Geraldine probably <had come> came back to help me.

Before you write another book, you might want to find a copy editor who paid attention in 6th grade.

.brad.sat.05dec09.

~~~~~

Brad,
Sorry my tense choice put you off.  My first person tone was supposed to be conversational in the storytelling past tense with past perfect for events preceding the time of his evening walk.  My copy editor is quite good and has done hundreds of books.  I'll pass your comments along.

~~~~~

Let's see if I can get the hang of it.

a.)  Here I am at my 20th reunion talking to my old friends. I love these guys. We were all in the class of 1988.

b.)  Here I am at my 20th reunion talking to my old friends. I love these guys. We had all been in the class of 1988.

a.)  I went to my 20th reunion last year and talked to my old friends. I loved those guys. We were all in the class of 1988.

b.)  I went to my 20th reunion last year and talked to my old friends. I loved those guys. We had all been in the class of 1988.

I don't think we talk that way. In fact, I know we don't talk that way. Why would we write that way? The two a.)'s are correct. To get to the two b.)'s, he must be following a back-shifting rule that makes no sense when you consider what the words mean. I'd love to know what he says.

.brad.05dec09.


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