contingent on the prior completion of the other

Question

I wasn't going to xxxxxx because he had previously done yyyyyyyyyy. The first action, xxxx, is contingent on the prior completion of the other, yyyyyyy. The past perfect is appropriate for yyyyyyyyyy.

I know, contingent on = depending on; but I still cannot understand the highlighed parts.

Could you explain it?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I wasn't going to *** because he had previously done yyyyyyyyyy. The first action, ***, is contingent on the prior completion of the other, yyyyyyy. The past perfect is appropriate for yyyyyyyyyy.

I know, contingent on = depending on; but I still cannot understand the highlighed parts.

Action B is contingent on the prior completion of action A This means that action B depends on the completion of action A. A simpler way to say it is that action B can't occur until action A is completed.

Your example is hard to understand because the 'first action' seems to be a negative kind of action. In such a case, it's not clear to me what the writer means when he speaks of 'the first action'. In other words, I don't like the way your example is written. It seems unclear.

Best wishes, Clive

contingent on the prior completion of the other

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