Problems with the Past Perfect Tense

Vareok asks:
I have a problem:

Eliza remembers everything exactly as if it ______ yesterday.
A. was happening B. happens
C. had happened D. happened

I think C is right,but the suggested answer is D. I just don't know why it should be D. What's your idea about it?

I agree with you. Eliza remembers events from a long time ago, but they seem fresh and recent. So we are talking about two points in the past: long ago, and yesterday. This is when we need the past perfect tense: When he called me, I had already left (before he called).

In casual conversation, we might say “as if it happened yesterday,” but in formal speech or writing, I would say “as if it had happened yesterday.”

Comments

[Brett]

Right answer, but wrong analysis! The matrix verb is 'remembers'. that's present tense, so you need one shift back. But the the 'if' clause is presenting something that isn't true, thus the need for the "double past".

[michael murphy]

Use the past perfect to indicate an action that occurred in the past but prior to another action that also occurred in the past.

[Jeckert55]

Right answer, wrong analysis to all. It is the subjunctive mood (contrary to fact), and that's why it calls for "had happened." Same as "Had I known, I would have ..."