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Nakool Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
The enthusiastic voters ___ outside the polling station since morning.
a) had queued up
b) had been queuing up
Answer is (a) according to my book. I believe it should be (b). Please tell me the difference between the two options.
a) had queued up
b) had been queuing up
Answer is (a) according to my book. I believe it should be (b). Please tell me the difference between the two options.
Top answer
Nakool the difference a) sounds to me like the queue had completely formed and no one else was joining the queue. b) sounds to me like the queue was continuously growing longer as time passed. The use of "since morning" indicates the passage of time from morning until now (the time this was said).
- Nakool the difference a) sounds to me like the queue had completely formed and no one else was joining the queue.
- b) sounds to me like the queue was continuously growing longer as time passed.
- The use of "since morning" indicates the passage of time from morning until now (the time this was said).
- I, too, would choose b).
- 'had been' seems to go better with 'since'.
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5 Answers
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Nakoolthe differencea) sounds to me like the queue had completely formed and no one else was joining the queue.
b) sounds to me like the queue was continuously growing longer as time passed.
The use of "since morning" indicates the passage of time from morning until now (the time this was said).
I, too, would choose b). 'had been' seems
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CalifJim The use of "since morning" indicates the passage of time from morning until now (the time this was said).Do you mean until some other point in the past (prior to the time that was said)?
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teechrDo you mean until some other point in the past (prior to the time that was said)?Hmm. I think I don't understand your question. If I do, I think the answer is "no".
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teechr CalifJim The use of "since morning" indicates the passage of time from morning until now (the time this was said).Do you mean until some other point in the past (prior to the time that was said)?AH! I just figured out what you meant. YES! I messed it up by answering as if it were "have" instead of "had".
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