Mai-mult-ca-perfectul (Past Perfect Tense Simple)

Mai-mult-ca-perfectul (Past Perfect Tense Simple)

1. Definitie. Past Perfect este un timp folosit cand vorbitorul se plaseaza psihologic pe o axa a trecutului, pentru a desemna un eveniment anterior unui moment sau unui eveniment trecut, care este amintit in momentul vorbirii:

I had finished the book by ten o’clock yesterday.

by the time you came.

2. Forma. Mai-mult-ca-perfectul se formeaza din forma de Past Tense a verbului have + participiul trecut al verbului de conjugat:

I had finished the book before you came.

I’d finished the book before you came.

Terminasem cartea inainte sa vii tu.

He had already left by ten o’clock. El plecase deja la ora 10.

3. Intrebuintare. Mai-mult-ca-perfectul este intrebuintat pentru a exprima:

1) o actiune trecuta, incheiata inaintea unui moment trecut: I had finished my lessons by ten o’clock yesterday. Imi terminasem lectiile inainte de ora 10 ieri.

2) o actiune trecuta, incheiata inaintea altei actiuni trecute: When Doris got to the theatre, the show had (already) started. Cand a ajuns Doris la teatru spectacolul (deja) incepuse. Mother had cooked the dinner by the time father arrived home. Mama gatise deja cina cana a ajuns tata acasa.

3) o actiune trecuta, incheiata imediat inaintea unei alte actiuni trecute:

I had just got into the classroom when the bell rang. No sooner had I got into the classroom than the bell rang. Tocmai/de-abia intrasem in clasa cand a sunat clopotelul.

I had hardly got into the classroom when the bell rang. No sooner had I got into the classroom than the bell rang. Tocmai/de-abia intrasem in clasa cand a sunat clopotelul.

PROIECT: Absurdul - categorie estetico-literara derivata din cultivarea in fertilele PROIECT: INCEPUTURILE LITERATURII CULTE (primii scriitori „profesionisti”)

4) o actiune trecuta, savarsita intr-o perioada de timp anterioara unei alte actiuni trecute, dar ajungand pana la aceasta (cu compliniri adverbiale incepand cu for sau since): He had been in the classroom for two minutes when the teacher came in. Era in clasa de doua minute cand a intrat profesorul. He had lived in Bucharest since 1975 when I met him. Locuia in Bucuresti din 1975 cand l-am cunoscut.

Nota: 1. Mai-mult-ca-perfectul este un timp utilizat mai frecvent in limba engleza decat in limba romana pentru exprimarea anterioritatii. (In limba romana se foloseste adeseori perfectul compus cu valoare de mai-mult-ca-perfect: The passengers got out as soon as the train had stopped. Pasagerii au coborat indata ce s-a oprit trenul).

2. In limba engleza se poate folosi Past Tense in loc de Past Perfect in urmatoarele situatii:

a) dupa conjuctia after, care indica prin sensul ei raportul de anterioritate nemaifiind necesara si o forma verbala speciala: The driver started the car after he cheked the engine. Soferul porni masina dupa ce verifica motorul.

b) In propozitiile subordonate temporale transformate in vorbire indirecta cand verbul din principala este la un timp trecut: He told me had seen a bear when he was in the mountains. Mi-a spus ca a vazut un urs cand a fost la munte.

3. In propozitiile subordonate introduse de after sau until, folosirea mai-mult-ca-perfectului, prin contrast cu folosirea lui Past Tense, subliniaza raportul de anterioritate, faptul ca actiunea din principala nu a avut loc decat dupa ce actiunea din subordonata a fost incheiata: The pupil on duty left the classroom AFTER she had turned off the lights. Eleva de servici a parasit clasa (numai) dupa ce a stins lumina. The waiter didn’t take the plates away UNTIL they had finished their dinner. Chelnerul n-a strans farfuriile pana n-au terminat masa.

Mai-mult-ca-perfectul poate fi folosit: 5) in vorbirea indirecta, pentru a inlocui Present Perfect sau Past Tense, cand verbul din propozitia principala este la un timp trecut:

Tom: I have spoken to Mary about it.

I spoke to her last week.

Tom said he had spoken to Mary about it.

He added he had spoken to her the week before.