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8.1.3. The subjunctive past perfect
The subjunctive past perfect expresses the unreal past event. It can be considered the past form of the past subjunctive mood which was explained in the previous subsection.
It is certain that the event was not occurred. It often co-occur with the if clause. See the following examples.

(8)
a. If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
b. The soccer game might have been played if the hurricane had not been approaching us.
c. If I had arrived 10 minutes earlier, I would have been able to see her before leaving.
d. If I had known you were so busy, I would not have called on you.

(8a) means the speaker did not go there because s/he did not know it. (8b) means the game was canceled. (3c) means s/he did not met her and (8d) means s/he visited it. These time representation is as follows.

(9)
a.


b.


It is exceptional like the past subjunctive mood, since both of them express unreal. In view of the form, it is parallel to (9a), but in view of the meaning, it is parallel to (9b).
(E) is put temporary which is derived from the speaker's mind, because of the further remoteness.

Although the form is the past perfect form, but the meanings are the past form of the past subjunctive mood which means the present.


Time feeling






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