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Jay J Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Can anyone check this,please

He had already paid the bill before she ______ to the table.

(A) has returned

(B) had returned

(C) was returning

(D) returned

Ans: Returned.

Please justify your answer. I need to understand the difference.

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

We have two related past events and need to identify to the reader which one happened first and which second. The past perfect is used to describe the one which is earlier in time (first). The context tells us that he paid the bill first, and she returned to the table second.

— Michael Chambers Teaching English

  • We have two related past events and need to identify to the reader which one happened first and which second.
  • The past perfect is used to describe the one which is earlier in time (first).
  • The context tells us that he paid the bill first, and she returned to the table second.
  • As her action - "return" - was an event which started and finished in the past, the past simple is used.
  • Kind regards, Michael
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3 Answers
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We have two related past events and need to identify to the reader which one happened first and which second. The past perfect is used to describe the one which is earlier in time (first). The context tells us that he paid the bill first, and she returned to the table second. As her action - "return" - was an event which started and finished in the past, the past simple is used. Kind regards, M
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You are great
This forum is really very good for learning Grammar
Thanks alot
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Jay JPlease justify your answer. Please explain your answer.
You say "Justify" only to people who you are treating as less knowledgeable than you are. It's a word that a teacher would say to a student, but not what a student would say to a teacher.

CJ
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