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Necrophagist Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect vs past simple

Not even five minutes had passed/ passed when I was called back in.

Which one and why?

  

Top answer

Necrophagist Not even five minutes had passed/ passed when I was called back in. Which one and why? had passed , because it happened before I was called.

— CalifJim

  • Necrophagist Not even five minutes had passed/ passed when I was called back in.
  • Which one and why?
  • had passed , because it happened before I was called.
  • That is, some number of minutes less than five had passed first; then I was called back in.
  • The past perfect is almost formulaic in this pattern, which reminds me of the "no sooner ...
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1 Answers
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Necrophagist

Not even five minutes had passed/ passed when I was called back in.

Which one and why?

had passed, because it happened before I was called. That is, some number of minutes less than five had passed first; then I was called back in.

The past perfect is almost formulaic in this pattern, which reminds me of th

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