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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

(past simple/present perfect) + past perfect

0 Hi,02br
00 1) i have a problem with a sentence like that:02br
01i00 "After entering the flat, we noticed that somebody had broken in."02br
02br
02i00 could it be:02br
01i00 "After entering the flat, we've noteiced that sb had broken in." 02i00?02br
02br
00 if not - why not?02br
00 2) another thing:02br
01i00"After entering the flat, we noticed that we 01u00have/had02u00 been robbed"02br
02i00which should it be? past perfect (cause the robbery took place BEFORE they entered the flat)02br
00 or present perfect (cause technically speaking - they still are robbed)?02br
02br
00 thanks for Your advise,02br
00 przemek.0-
  

Top answer

'' 02font 01font 00'We have noticed' places the time as 'the present'. The Past Perfect does not fit with this 'present time' viewpoint. 02font 02br 02br 01font 002) another thing:02br 02font 01font 01i 00"After entering the flat, we noticed that we 01u 00have/had02u 00 been robbed"02br 02i 00which should it be?

— Clive

  • '' 02font 01font 00'We have noticed' places the time as 'the present'.
  • The Past Perfect does not fit with this 'present time' viewpoint.
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 002) another thing:02br 02font 01font 01i 00"After entering the flat, we noticed that we 01u 00have/had02u 00 been robbed"02br 02i 00which should it be?
  • past perfect (cause the robbery took place BEFORE they entered the flat)01font 00 Yes02font 02br 02font 02br 02br 01font 00or present perfect (cause technically speaking - they still are robbed)?
  • 02font 01font 00When you say 'we have been robbed', the focus is on it as an active event, rather than a static description.
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5 Answers
0
1font00Hi,02font02br
02br
01font001) i have a problem with a sentence like that:02br
02font01font01i00 "After entering the flat, we noticed that somebody had broken in."02i01font01i00 02i00Fine02f
0
0
0 thanks. that was very helpful. 0-
0
0
1font001) i have a problem with a sentence like that:02br
02font01font01i00 "After entering the flat, we noticed that somebody had broken in."02i01font01i00 02i00Fine02font02br
00 could it be:02br
01i00 "Aft
0
0
0Hi,02br
02br
01font001) i have a problem with a sentence like that:02br
01i00 "After entering the flat, we noticed that somebody had broken in."02i02font01font01font01i00 02i00Fine02font02br
00 could it be:0
0
0
0 So you didn't notice the typo and I didn't notice the past perfect.0-
0

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