Difference Had been Twins and Were Twins












2














What is the meaning of below sentence ?



a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.



Does it mean



b) I asked if he and my father were twins.



If Yes , then when to use a) and when b) ?









share






















  • The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
    – Colin Fine
    29 mins ago


















2














What is the meaning of below sentence ?



a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.



Does it mean



b) I asked if he and my father were twins.



If Yes , then when to use a) and when b) ?









share






















  • The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
    – Colin Fine
    29 mins ago
















2












2








2







What is the meaning of below sentence ?



a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.



Does it mean



b) I asked if he and my father were twins.



If Yes , then when to use a) and when b) ?









share













What is the meaning of below sentence ?



a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.



Does it mean



b) I asked if he and my father were twins.



If Yes , then when to use a) and when b) ?







sentence-construction sentence-meaning





share












share










share



share










asked 1 hour ago









user4084

484165499




484165499












  • The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
    – Colin Fine
    29 mins ago




















  • The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
    – Colin Fine
    29 mins ago


















The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
– Colin Fine
29 mins ago






The past perfect is hardly ever compulsory. Most times it is a stylistic choice, that sets the temporal viewpoint at a time in the past later than the events being referred to. If that viewpoint is already set, or is irrelevant, the simple past will do just as well.
– Colin Fine
29 mins ago












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2














a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.




= I asked, "Were he and my father twins?"




b) I asked if he and my father were twins.




= I asked, "Are he and my father twins?"




Therefore,




If he and/or your father has passed away/ died, use (a).
Else, use (b).







share|improve this answer



















  • 1




    Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
    – Michael Harvey
    1 hour ago










  • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
    – Omega Krypton
    1 hour ago






  • 1




    Death comes to us all.
    – Michael Harvey
    57 mins ago










  • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
    – Omega Krypton
    56 mins ago












  • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
    – Michael Harvey
    54 mins ago



















1














If he and your father "had been" twins, then they are no longer, and the only way that can be is if either is, or both are, dead. The past progressive tense is used about an action or situation that was completed at some point in the past. It seems an unlikely situation - you have to ask if your father has (or had) a twin?






share|improve this answer





























    0














    I think that the topic is ambiguous. Suppose that "he" were twins with George, and "my father" were twins with Tom. You could answer "they both were twins." But the sentence doesn't have additional context asking if "he" and "my father" were the context of "twins".



    Suppose that "he" and "my father" were part of triplets, and that brother is now dead. The person being asked should answer "no" to the twins discussion, right?






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.




      = I asked, "Were he and my father twins?"




      b) I asked if he and my father were twins.




      = I asked, "Are he and my father twins?"




      Therefore,




      If he and/or your father has passed away/ died, use (a).
      Else, use (b).







      share|improve this answer



















      • 1




        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
        – Michael Harvey
        1 hour ago










      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
        – Omega Krypton
        1 hour ago






      • 1




        Death comes to us all.
        – Michael Harvey
        57 mins ago










      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
        – Omega Krypton
        56 mins ago












      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
        – Michael Harvey
        54 mins ago
















      2














      a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.




      = I asked, "Were he and my father twins?"




      b) I asked if he and my father were twins.




      = I asked, "Are he and my father twins?"




      Therefore,




      If he and/or your father has passed away/ died, use (a).
      Else, use (b).







      share|improve this answer



















      • 1




        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
        – Michael Harvey
        1 hour ago










      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
        – Omega Krypton
        1 hour ago






      • 1




        Death comes to us all.
        – Michael Harvey
        57 mins ago










      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
        – Omega Krypton
        56 mins ago












      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
        – Michael Harvey
        54 mins ago














      2












      2








      2






      a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.




      = I asked, "Were he and my father twins?"




      b) I asked if he and my father were twins.




      = I asked, "Are he and my father twins?"




      Therefore,




      If he and/or your father has passed away/ died, use (a).
      Else, use (b).







      share|improve this answer














      a) I asked if he and my father had been twins.




      = I asked, "Were he and my father twins?"




      b) I asked if he and my father were twins.




      = I asked, "Are he and my father twins?"




      Therefore,




      If he and/or your father has passed away/ died, use (a).
      Else, use (b).








      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 1 hour ago

























      answered 1 hour ago









      Omega Krypton

      17016




      17016








      • 1




        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
        – Michael Harvey
        1 hour ago










      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
        – Omega Krypton
        1 hour ago






      • 1




        Death comes to us all.
        – Michael Harvey
        57 mins ago










      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
        – Omega Krypton
        56 mins ago












      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
        – Michael Harvey
        54 mins ago














      • 1




        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
        – Michael Harvey
        1 hour ago










      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
        – Omega Krypton
        1 hour ago






      • 1




        Death comes to us all.
        – Michael Harvey
        57 mins ago










      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
        – Omega Krypton
        56 mins ago












      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
        – Michael Harvey
        54 mins ago








      1




      1




      Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
      – Michael Harvey
      1 hour ago




      Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".
      – Michael Harvey
      1 hour ago












      thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
      – Omega Krypton
      1 hour ago




      thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!
      – Omega Krypton
      1 hour ago




      1




      1




      Death comes to us all.
      – Michael Harvey
      57 mins ago




      Death comes to us all.
      – Michael Harvey
      57 mins ago












      True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
      – Omega Krypton
      56 mins ago






      True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!
      – Omega Krypton
      56 mins ago














      It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
      – Michael Harvey
      54 mins ago




      It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?
      – Michael Harvey
      54 mins ago













      1














      If he and your father "had been" twins, then they are no longer, and the only way that can be is if either is, or both are, dead. The past progressive tense is used about an action or situation that was completed at some point in the past. It seems an unlikely situation - you have to ask if your father has (or had) a twin?






      share|improve this answer


























        1














        If he and your father "had been" twins, then they are no longer, and the only way that can be is if either is, or both are, dead. The past progressive tense is used about an action or situation that was completed at some point in the past. It seems an unlikely situation - you have to ask if your father has (or had) a twin?






        share|improve this answer
























          1












          1








          1






          If he and your father "had been" twins, then they are no longer, and the only way that can be is if either is, or both are, dead. The past progressive tense is used about an action or situation that was completed at some point in the past. It seems an unlikely situation - you have to ask if your father has (or had) a twin?






          share|improve this answer












          If he and your father "had been" twins, then they are no longer, and the only way that can be is if either is, or both are, dead. The past progressive tense is used about an action or situation that was completed at some point in the past. It seems an unlikely situation - you have to ask if your father has (or had) a twin?







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 55 mins ago









          Michael Harvey

          12.1k11228




          12.1k11228























              0














              I think that the topic is ambiguous. Suppose that "he" were twins with George, and "my father" were twins with Tom. You could answer "they both were twins." But the sentence doesn't have additional context asking if "he" and "my father" were the context of "twins".



              Suppose that "he" and "my father" were part of triplets, and that brother is now dead. The person being asked should answer "no" to the twins discussion, right?






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.























                0














                I think that the topic is ambiguous. Suppose that "he" were twins with George, and "my father" were twins with Tom. You could answer "they both were twins." But the sentence doesn't have additional context asking if "he" and "my father" were the context of "twins".



                Suppose that "he" and "my father" were part of triplets, and that brother is now dead. The person being asked should answer "no" to the twins discussion, right?






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                  0












                  0








                  0






                  I think that the topic is ambiguous. Suppose that "he" were twins with George, and "my father" were twins with Tom. You could answer "they both were twins." But the sentence doesn't have additional context asking if "he" and "my father" were the context of "twins".



                  Suppose that "he" and "my father" were part of triplets, and that brother is now dead. The person being asked should answer "no" to the twins discussion, right?






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  I think that the topic is ambiguous. Suppose that "he" were twins with George, and "my father" were twins with Tom. You could answer "they both were twins." But the sentence doesn't have additional context asking if "he" and "my father" were the context of "twins".



                  Suppose that "he" and "my father" were part of triplets, and that brother is now dead. The person being asked should answer "no" to the twins discussion, right?







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 28 mins ago









                  Jerome P Mrozak

                  101




                  101




                  New contributor




                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Jerome P Mrozak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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