A Missing Past Perfect

rogersgeorge on November 2nd, 2021

Use the past perfect when something ends in the past, not merely happened in the past. This guy should have used the past perfect! Last panel.

https://comicskingdom.com/take-it-from-the-tinkersons/2021-09-27

“I wish I had known,” not “I wish I knew,” because the knowing could end in the past, and the simple past implies the knowing is still happening. Too late!

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Rogers George has been a technical writer for more than 20 years. He has written on subjects as diverse as outhouse assembly, restaurant reviews, software, information security, and scientific equipment. He has his own writing consultancy and is always happy to discuss writing and grammar. Drop him a line at curmudgeon@writing-rag.com.

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