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SeekerOfPeace Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Correct sentence?

0 We 01b00rushed02b00 home before the rain began."02br
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00 I know the right answer is 01b00rushed02b00 but I can't explain it.02br
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00 A student asked me why the following was wrong:02br
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00 "We 01b00had rushed02b00 home before the rain began."02br
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00 To be quite honest, it doesn't sound very good but I can't really why it's wrong.02br
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00 Is it because rushed here must be used in the simple past form because we are talking about something that began and ended in the past?02br
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00 Why wouldn't the past perfect be an acceptable answer? 0-
  

Top answer

0To your question: no. Beginning and ending in the past is not what determines the use. Specific time is usually what determines whether or not we can us the simple past.

— Old Man Gordon

  • 0To your question: no.
  • Beginning and ending in the past is not what determines the use.
  • Specific time is usually what determines whether or not we can us the simple past.
  • 02br 02br 00However, the past perfect is acceptable if you view the meaning from a different angle.
  • If you want to stress the fact that you completed your rushing well before the later event of the beginning of the rain, you would use pp.
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2 Answers
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0To your question: no. Beginning and ending in the past is not what determines the use. Specific time is usually what determines whether or not we can us the simple past. Here the specific time is given (before the rain began), in my view of the meaning.02br
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00However, the past perfect is acceptable if you view the meaning from a different angle. If you want to stres
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0 You're right, before the rain began does give you an exact time as to when something happened, thus justifying the use of the simple past.02br
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00Thanks, that was a smart deduction!0-
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