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Careta Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

prevented vs had prevented

Which tense fits better the passage below? Why?

Suddenly the police showed up and caught Maria in a violent way; she made a sign trying to say something but the police officers _________(prevented/ had prevented) her from doing it. She was taken to the patrol car.

Thanks a million for your help.
  

Top answer

Which do you think Careta? What do you think putting it in the past perfect would do? What would putting in the simple past due?

— BarbaraPA

  • Which do you think Careta?
  • What do you think putting it in the past perfect would do?
  • What would putting in the simple past due?
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7 Answers
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Which do you think Careta? What do you think putting it in the past perfect would do? What would putting in the simple past due?
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SP is to where my vote goes.
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Ssshhh, Incho! Let her answer first Emotion: smile
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CaretaWhich tense fits better the passage below? Why?

Suddenly the police showed up and caught Maria in a violent way; she made a sign trying to say something but the police officers _________(prevented/ had prevented) her from doing it. She was taken to the patrol car.

Thanks a million for your help.

in the following even
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I think both are correct and I think that in a common life situation you would use had prevented more naturally. Am I right?
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Single past only. There's no time leading to her making the gesture

she made a sign trying to say something but the police officers _________(prevented/ had prevented) her from doing it.

because her gesture was sudden, spontaneous. One can't insert a past perfect there. It would mean that the policemen had prevented the gesture before seeing it.
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