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Hi, I have another "hardly understandable" gap filling:

Before she has reached the market, she ............... at least ten people.

1) will have talked to

2) was talking to

3) would talk to

Why are the possibilities 2) and 3) not correct?

I would say: Before she reaches the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.

or: Before she has reached the market, she would talk to at least ten people.

Thanks for your patience with my weak points.

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

A) reaching the market seen as taking place in future time (not tense)

If reaching the market is considered here to be in future time, this could be expressed via present perfect or present tense:

Before she has reached the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.
Before she reaches the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.
Before reaching the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.

This eliminates 2) and 3) (which are reserved for past time).

B) reaching the market seen as taking place in past time (not tense)

These would be all acceptable, IMO:

Before she reached the market, she had talked to at least ten people.
Before reaching the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.

In terms of would talk to, this would be acceptable sentences such as:
After reaching the market, she would (usually) talk to many people.
When reaching the market, she would (usually) talk to many people.

As you can see:
Before reaching the market, she will have talked to at least ten people.
equally applies, in my opinion, to future and past time.

Milky · Answer

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