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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Past perfect verb
Hi, My name is Laine and a Turkish friend had sent me this question.
Which should I use and why:
I had to clean the floor because my cats had knocked over the flower pots.
I had to clean the floor because my cats knocked over the flower pots.
I can't find a simple answer that I understand much less explain it to him as he is trying to learn English.
Thank you for any help.
Which should I use and why:
I had to clean the floor because my cats had knocked over the flower pots.
I had to clean the floor because my cats knocked over the flower pots.
I can't find a simple answer that I understand much less explain it to him as he is trying to learn English.
Thank you for any help.
Top answer
There is no need to clean the floor unless the cat has already previously knocked over the flower pots. Therefore it is not necessary to use a past perfect ( had knocked ) to clarify the time sequence. I would use the past; however, it is not wrong to use the past perfect.
- There is no need to clean the floor unless the cat has already previously knocked over the flower pots.
- Therefore it is not necessary to use a past perfect ( had knocked ) to clarify the time sequence.
- I would use the past; however, it is not wrong to use the past perfect.
- CJ
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1 Answers
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There is no need to clean the floor unless the cat has already previously knocked over the flower pots.
Therefore it is not necessary to use a past perfect (had knocked) to clarify the time sequence.
I would use the past; however, it is not wrong to use the past perfect.
CJ
Therefore it is not necessary to use a past perfect (had knocked) to clarify the time sequence.
I would use the past; however, it is not wrong to use the past perfect.
CJ
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