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|improve this question




















  • 1





    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
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:50


















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|improve this question




















  • 1





    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
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:50
















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|improve this question
















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 reported-speech






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 28 '18 at 19:31









Omega Krypton

21226




21226










asked Dec 28 '18 at 16:04









user4084user4084

489165499




489165499








  • 1





    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
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:50
















  • 1





    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
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:50










1




1





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
Dec 28 '18 at 16:50







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
Dec 28 '18 at 16:50












4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















6














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





















  • 2





    Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

    – Michael Harvey
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:18











  • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

    – Omega Krypton
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:19






  • 2





    Death comes to us all.

    – Michael Harvey
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:23











  • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

    – Omega Krypton
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:24













  • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

    – Michael Harvey
    Dec 28 '18 at 16:25



















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
























  • Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

    – jmoreno
    Dec 29 '18 at 3:07



















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































    -1














    You can still use the "were" construction even if one (or indeed both) are dead. Family relationships aren't somehow cancelled.



    It sounds clumsy and odd to say "King George VI had been George V's son", you'd just say that he was.



    "Had been" implies something else afterwards, like "My uncle had been a Regimental Sergeant-Major for ten years before he was a florist".






    share|improve this answer























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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      6














      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





















      • 2





        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:18











      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:19






      • 2





        Death comes to us all.

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:23











      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:24













      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:25
















      6














      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





















      • 2





        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:18











      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:19






      • 2





        Death comes to us all.

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:23











      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:24













      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:25














      6












      6








      6







      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 Dec 28 '18 at 16:18

























      answered Dec 28 '18 at 16:08









      Omega KryptonOmega Krypton

      21226




      21226








      • 2





        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:18











      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:19






      • 2





        Death comes to us all.

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:23











      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:24













      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:25














      • 2





        Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:18











      • thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:19






      • 2





        Death comes to us all.

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:23











      • True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

        – Omega Krypton
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:24













      • It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

        – Michael Harvey
        Dec 28 '18 at 16:25








      2




      2





      Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:18





      Note for ELLers: "passed away" means "died".

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:18













      thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

      – Omega Krypton
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:19





      thanks, edited! @MichaelHarvey, was afraid of it being in any sense offensive, nvm, thanks!

      – Omega Krypton
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:19




      2




      2





      Death comes to us all.

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:23





      Death comes to us all.

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:23













      True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

      – Omega Krypton
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:24







      True, but we'd better stop here since this is kinda off-topic. thanks anyway!

      – Omega Krypton
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:24















      It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:25





      It is a matter of usage, and therefore on-topic, in a wider sense, surely?

      – Michael Harvey
      Dec 28 '18 at 16:25













      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
























      • Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

        – jmoreno
        Dec 29 '18 at 3:07
















      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
























      • Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

        – jmoreno
        Dec 29 '18 at 3:07














      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 Dec 28 '18 at 16:24









      Michael HarveyMichael Harvey

      12.8k11330




      12.8k11330













      • Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

        – jmoreno
        Dec 29 '18 at 3:07



















      • Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

        – jmoreno
        Dec 29 '18 at 3:07

















      Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

      – jmoreno
      Dec 29 '18 at 3:07





      Being twins does not require either twin to be alive, “had been” is thus inappropriate under all circumstances.

      – jmoreno
      Dec 29 '18 at 3:07











      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




























        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


























          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













          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












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Dec 28 '18 at 16:52









          Jerome P MrozakJerome P Mrozak

          101




          101























              -1














              You can still use the "were" construction even if one (or indeed both) are dead. Family relationships aren't somehow cancelled.



              It sounds clumsy and odd to say "King George VI had been George V's son", you'd just say that he was.



              "Had been" implies something else afterwards, like "My uncle had been a Regimental Sergeant-Major for ten years before he was a florist".






              share|improve this answer




























                -1














                You can still use the "were" construction even if one (or indeed both) are dead. Family relationships aren't somehow cancelled.



                It sounds clumsy and odd to say "King George VI had been George V's son", you'd just say that he was.



                "Had been" implies something else afterwards, like "My uncle had been a Regimental Sergeant-Major for ten years before he was a florist".






                share|improve this answer


























                  -1












                  -1








                  -1







                  You can still use the "were" construction even if one (or indeed both) are dead. Family relationships aren't somehow cancelled.



                  It sounds clumsy and odd to say "King George VI had been George V's son", you'd just say that he was.



                  "Had been" implies something else afterwards, like "My uncle had been a Regimental Sergeant-Major for ten years before he was a florist".






                  share|improve this answer













                  You can still use the "were" construction even if one (or indeed both) are dead. Family relationships aren't somehow cancelled.



                  It sounds clumsy and odd to say "King George VI had been George V's son", you'd just say that he was.



                  "Had been" implies something else afterwards, like "My uncle had been a Regimental Sergeant-Major for ten years before he was a florist".







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 28 '18 at 23:34









                  Bloke Down The PubBloke Down The Pub

                  1




                  1






























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