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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Both past perfect and past in subordinate clause

Hi. What should we look for when there is a tense that is different than the other in a subordinate clause in a sentence, as in the case below -- a past perfect and a past tense? I think, for the example sentence below, the part that has more obvious need to note the time sequence is in past perfect, whereas the one that lacks the need (or the need is less obvious) is in past.

He continued to tap the door and when they had opened and saw him, they were glad.
  

Top answer

Past perfect is used to refer to an event which preceded a past event. Example: She had read the letter when her father reached home. However when there is almost no time gap between the first and second one, the use of past perfect is not required.

— Vsuresh

  • Past perfect is used to refer to an event which preceded a past event.
  • Example: She had read the letter when her father reached home.
  • However when there is almost no time gap between the first and second one, the use of past perfect is not required.
  • Hence your setence should read as, He continued to tap the door and when they opened and saw him, they were glad.
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1 Answers
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Past perfect is used to refer to an event which preceded a past event.

Example: She had read the letter when her father reached home.

However when there is almost no time gap between the first and second one, the use of past perfect is not required.

Hence your setence should read as,



He continued to tap the door and when they opened and saw him, th
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