Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Simple Past or Past Perfect



If I went to a place last night where I needed to show an id, but I forgot to have it on me. So if in the morning I was speaking to a friend(reporting on what happened), which one of the following would be correct:



I had heard that you needed an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary



I had heard that you need an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary.



I heard that you need an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary.




The first one seems correct to me, but I might be wrong. Ideas?



And which one of the following should I say in the context above:



Reporting on what had happened



Reporting on what has happened



Reporting on what happened


Answer




I had heard that you needed an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary.



This sentence is correct. It implies that you knew about the necessity of carrying an ID before the events of last night.



I had heard that you need an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary.



This is also correct, although some people might say that the use of Present Simple with need doesn't agree with the past perspective. I believe, however, you can use it because in this place the ID is a norm and it is still valid.



I heard that you need an ID, but I didn't know if it was absolutely necessary.




This is correct but not very clear. I heard doesn't show that you knew about the ID beforehand. I prefer the previous two examples.



You are reporting what happened since you have already mentioned that these events took place last night.


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