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Question

In the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

During the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

Are they correct and natural?
Thanks

Yoong Liat · Accepted Answer

They mean the same to me.

New2grammar · Answer

In the first three months after 9/11, the US HAD captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

How about the above?

Yoong Liat · Answer

New2grammarIn the first three months ~~after~~ since 9/11, the US HAD captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

How about the above?

You've to use 'since'.

Skrej · Answer

Yoong Liat
New2grammarIn the first three months ~~after~~ since 9/11, the US HAD captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

How about the above?

You've to use 'since'.

That's not quite right. There's a conflict of time.

In the first three months after 9/11, the US had captured ....
In the first three months since 9/11, the US has captured...

Both of these are acceptable. The 2nd one implies that we're still in that 1st 3 month period.

As for the original sentences, both are acceptable.

In the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

During the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Skrej

If the capture is something that happened in the past and is no more ongoing, 'since' ... 'had' cannot be used. Is that what you mean?

Skrej · Answer

Well, it's not the captures that have stopped, but the first 3 months that have stopped.

But yes, if the event isn't ongoing, then 'since' and 'had' can't be used together. Here's why:

US has captured - present perfect (some time before now, time exact time isn't important, or duration from the past until now)

US had captured - past perfect (specific time in past)

Both the phrases "During the 3 months after 9/11" and "In the first 3 months after 9/11" both refer to a specific period of time in the past. When talking about a specific time in the past, you can either use past perfect (had captured) or just the simple past (captured).

Thus, all four variations are acceptable:

In the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil/ In the first three months after 9/11, the US had captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil

During the first three months after 9/11, the US captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil/In the first three months after 9/11, the US had captured 90 percent of the terrorists on US soil

However, 'since' can't be used with the past perfect, but it can be used with present perfect. (indicating duration from past until now)

In the first three months since 9/11, the US has captured..(We're still in that original 3 month period)

Hope that's clear.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Thanks, Skrej

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