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when did you start acting,meslissa?a)guy asked melissa when she started acting.b)guy asked melissa when she had started acting.which one is true?can you explain that?

Johner · Accepted Answer

Hi hacer, welcome to the English forums.

It seems that nobody on this site have mercy on when it comes to the wrong used capital letters. At one point I find them right. Because this is not a chat room. If you want to learn English, you had better start from obeying the rules of it. Being lazy won't help you improve your English skills. So just remember this rule the next time you ask a question.

As for your question, I don't have any doubt about the option "b" is the grammatical correct one. However if you ask me I'll tell you "a" also can be used in a casual speech.

Let's hope a native speaker clarifies this issue.

Dave Phillips · Answer

You are correct Johner in pointing out the important use of capital letters and puctuation and your reasoning behind highlighting these. If we don't correct students, they may take the same slack attitude caused by habit into exams.

Both sentences are correct but in different tenses.

Guy asked Melissa when she started acting - past simple.

Guy asked Melissa when she had started acting - past perfect.

The second stresses that she started acting a long(ish) period in the past. I suggest you check these tenses out, (you will find lots on this site if you search), if you aren't familar with them and then you'll know which one to use in your context.

Johner · Answer

Hi Dave,

Dave PhillipsYou are correct Johner in pointing out the important use of capital letters and puctuation and your reasoning behind highlighting these.

Thanks for the support and the answer. I couldn't be sure about what I said as much as you could.

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