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Cup cake Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect continuous 3

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about the following sentence:

Jane had been driving around with her husband before being stopped by a policeman.


Do we really need the past perfect continuous here based on the fact that we see the word 'before?'

Thanks
CC.
  

Top answer

It would be okay to use "was driving" instead of "had been driving" in the sentence. I prefer "had been driving," but "was driving" is correct, too.

— Englishmaven

  • It would be okay to use "was driving" instead of "had been driving" in the sentence.
  • I prefer "had been driving," but "was driving" is correct, too.
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5 Answers
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It would be okay to use "was driving" instead of "had been driving" in the sentence. I prefer "had been driving," but "was driving" is correct, too.
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Thanks very much Englishmaven.

Yes, I agree with you. I actually know the answer, but I'm always checking to see how best to answer a student who I KNOW will ask the very same question that I have asked here.

I'm always looking to 'perfect' my explanations. I don't think there is anywhere better to do that than in this forum.
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Cup cakeJane had been driving around with her husband before being stopped by a policeman.
Fine. Explicit time sequence. 'before'

Also:

Jane was driving around with her husband when she was stopped by a policeman.

Fine. Implicit time sequence. 'when' We interpret 'when' as 'and then' in this sentence.
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Phew...I just got back from teaching having told my students exactly what you have just said.

It's about 'hearing' the patterns.

Too true!

Thanks CJ.
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Cup cakeI just got back from teaching having told my students exactly what you have just said.
Great minds run in the same channel?
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