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Cat navy 425 Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

It was transporting vs It has been transporting

Dear all,

A Sales Tax officer has just intercepted a lorry at the check post for carrying some illegal goods. Now the lorry is parked in front of him. If he has to enter these details in his book now, please tell me which of the following sentences is correct. One of my friends told me that since this is a past incidence the first sentence "I intercepted a lorry. It was transporting some illegal goods" is apt. I think that the interception of the lorry is a past incident. But it hasn't released yet. It is still under his custody. So it is pertinent in the present. So I feel that "I have intercepted a lorry. It has been transporting some illegal goods" is more apt in this context. I'd like to get your opinion on this. If all are incorrect, please correct them.

1) I intercepted a lorry. It was transporting some illegal goods.

2) I have intercepted a lorry. It has been transporting some illegal goods.

  

Top answer

cat navy 425 1) I intercepted a lorry. It was transporting some illegal goods. There were illegal items in the lorry.

— AlpheccaStars

  • cat navy 425 1) I intercepted a lorry.
  • It was transporting some illegal goods.
  • There were illegal items in the lorry.
  • cat navy 425 2) I have intercepted a lorry.
  • It has been transporting some illegal goods.
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2 Answers
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cat navy 4251) I intercepted a lorry. It was transporting some illegal goods.

There were illegal items in the lorry.

cat navy 4252) I have intercepted a lorry. It has been transporting some illegal goods.

The lorry has been involved in smuggling operations for several months. We intercepted it. Maybe this time th

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Time - - - - - - - - - - > > > > >

[ one incident ] - - - [report of the incident]
I intercepted a lorry; it was transporting illegal goods.
~ I intercepted a lorry which contained illegal goods.

[X] = one incident such as the one described above

Time - - - - - - - - - - > > > > >

{[X] - [X] - - [X] - - - [X]

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