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Hammerman1 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
By that time - simple past
1a) By that time, he was exhausted.
or
1b) By that time, he'd been exhausted.
2a) He finished his work by 7'o clock.
or
2b) He had finished his work by 7'o clock.
Why is 1a correct and not 1b, when in the 2nd example 2b is the correct one?
or
1b) By that time, he'd been exhausted.
2a) He finished his work by 7'o clock.
or
2b) He had finished his work by 7'o clock.
Why is 1a correct and not 1b, when in the 2nd example 2b is the correct one?
Top answer
These are OK: 1a) By that time, he was exhausted. 2a) He finished his work by 7 o'clock. -- No, 2a is correct, not 2b.
- These are OK: 1a) By that time, he was exhausted.
- 2a) He finished his work by 7 o'clock.
- -- No, 2a is correct, not 2b.
- Neither sentence refers to another, more recent past time, so past perfect is not appropriate.
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2 Answers
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These are OK:
1a) By that time, he was exhausted.
2a) He finished his work by 7 o'clock.
Why is 1a correct and not 1b, when in the 2nd example 2b is the correct one?-- No, 2a is correct, not 2b. Neither sentence refers to another, more recent past time, so past perfect is not appropriate.
1a) By that time, he was exhausted.
2a) He finished his work by 7 o'clock.
Why is 1a correct and not 1b, when in the 2nd example 2b is the correct one?-- No, 2a is correct, not 2b. Neither sentence refers to another, more recent past time, so past perfect is not appropriate.
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