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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Chronological order
Hi,
"Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the world governing body's congress than a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes of journalists in the hall." [The Independent.]
What is chronological order of actions in the sentence?
Is it:
1. "...delivering a keynote address..."
2."...had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down..."
3."...a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes...", or
1. "...delivering a keynote address..."
2. "...had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down..." and "...a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes..." occurring simultaneously?
Thank you.
"Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the world governing body's congress than a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes of journalists in the hall." [The Independent.]
What is chronological order of actions in the sentence?
Is it:
1. "...delivering a keynote address..."
2."...had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down..."
3."...a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes...", or
1. "...delivering a keynote address..."
2. "...had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down..." and "...a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes..." occurring simultaneously?
Thank you.
Top answer
The first one is the correct sequence of events, because he had sat down - the action was complete, but I find the usage of "than" instead of "before" or "when" troubling, and past progressive after past perfect is quite confusing temporally. Maybe: Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the congress of the world governing body, when a critical email from the European Clubs Association hit the inboxes of journalists in the hall.
- The first one is the correct sequence of events, because he had sat down - the action was complete, but I find the usage of "than" instead of "before" or "when" troubling, and past progressive after past perfect is quite confusing temporally.
- Maybe: Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the congress of the world governing body, when a critical email from the European Clubs Association hit the inboxes of journalists in the hall.
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2 Answers
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The first one is the correct sequence of events, because he had sat down - the action was complete,
but I find the usage of "than" instead of "before" or "when" troubling, and past progressive after past perfect is quite confusing temporally.
Maybe:
Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the congress of the world govern
but I find the usage of "than" instead of "before" or "when" troubling, and past progressive after past perfect is quite confusing temporally.
Maybe:
Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the congress of the world govern
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Anonymous"Barely had the Fifa president Sepp Blatter sat down after delivering a keynote address to the world governing body's congress than a critical email from the European Clubs Association was already hitting the inboxes of journalists in the hall." [The Independent.]1. Blatter delivered the ad
What is chronological order of actions in the sentence?
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