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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
past perfect?
1. When the police arrived, the thieves had run away.
(By the time the police arrived, the thieves had run away.)
2. The thieves had run away when the police arrived.
(The thieves had run away at the time when the police had arrived.)
Having read this, I can't see any difference between 1 and 2.
(By the time the police arrived, the thieves had run away.)
2. The thieves had run away when the police arrived.
(The thieves had run away at the time when the police had arrived.)
Having read this, I can't see any difference between 1 and 2.
Top answer
Fine.
- Fine.
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6 Answers
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AnonymousI can't see any difference between 1 and 2There isn't any difference except that the clauses are presented in a different order.
When X, Y.
Y when X.
CJ
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CalifJimexcept that the clauses are presented in a different order.CJ, I'd like you to tell me about the ordering difference in more detail.
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AnonymousCJ, I'd like you to tell me about the ordering difference in more detail.There isn't much detail to tell about.
Clause 1: when the police arrived
Clause 2: the thieves had run away
Sentence 1 = Clause 1 + Clause 2
When the police arrived the thieves had run away.
Sentence 2 = Clause 2 + Clause 1
The t
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AnonymousShouldn't it be "had ran"?No.
AnonymousWhy is it "had run"?Because 'run' is the past participle of the verb 'run'.
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