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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Past Perfect + until
Hi!
I know that #1 and #2 sentence are correct; however, what is the difference them? Does it have anything to do with emphasizing the completion of "leaving"?
Is the sentence #3 possible to use, and if it is, what is the meaning of it, what situation is it?
If you can, please tell me the same about the rest of the sentences.
Thanks!
1. We waited until they left.
2. We waited until they had left.
3. We had waited until they left.
4. Whe hadn't waited until they left.
5. We didn't wait until they had left.
6. We didn't wait until they left.
I know that #1 and #2 sentence are correct; however, what is the difference them? Does it have anything to do with emphasizing the completion of "leaving"?
Is the sentence #3 possible to use, and if it is, what is the meaning of it, what situation is it?
If you can, please tell me the same about the rest of the sentences.
Thanks!
1. We waited until they left.
2. We waited until they had left.
3. We had waited until they left.
4. Whe hadn't waited until they left.
5. We didn't wait until they had left.
6. We didn't wait until they left.
Top answer
I know that #1 and #2 sentence are correct; however, what is the difference them? -- Yes, precisely! -- It can only be used if there is a 3rd past action following the waiting and you wish to emphasize the waiting's completion.
- I know that #1 and #2 sentence are correct; however, what is the difference them?
- -- Yes, precisely!
- -- It can only be used if there is a 3rd past action following the waiting and you wish to emphasize the waiting's completion.
- The same comments apply to the negative sentences.
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7 Answers
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I know that #1 and #2 sentence are correct; however, what is the difference them? Does it have anything to do with emphasizing the completion of "leaving"?-- Yes, precisely!
Is the sentence #3 possible to use, and if it is, what is the meaning of it, what situation is it?-- It can only be used if there is a 3rd past action following the waiting and you wish to emphasize the wai
Is the sentence #3 possible to use, and if it is, what is the meaning of it, what situation is it?-- It can only be used if there is a 3rd past action following the waiting and you wish to emphasize the wai
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Thank you!
Are these sentences correct then?
2a. We waited until they had left, and we cleaned up the place.
3a. We had waited until they left, and we cleaned up the place.
4a. Whe hadn't waited until they left, we just cleaned up the place.
5a. We didn't wait until they had left, we just cleaned up the place.
6a. We didn't wait until they left, we
Are these sentences correct then?
2a. We waited until they had left, and we cleaned up the place.
3a. We had waited until they left, and we cleaned up the place.
4a. Whe hadn't waited until they left, we just cleaned up the place.
5a. We didn't wait until they had left, we just cleaned up the place.
6a. We didn't wait until they left, we
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#4 requires further context indicating another past event postdating the waiting.
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Could you please expand the 4th sentence according to what you wrote?
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When I phoned you, we hadn't waited until they left, we just cleaned up the place.
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Does the sequence of events in this sentence is: 1st "hadn't waited until they left", 2nd "I phoned you", and 3rd "we just cleaned up the place", or is it different?
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The sentence I have created is not a very good one: I did it only to demonstrate. However, in real time sequence:
1 - we hadn't waited until they left,
2 - we just cleaned up the place.
3 - When I phoned you,
1 - we hadn't waited until they left,
2 - we just cleaned up the place.
3 - When I phoned you,
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