Tense?
I heard that at seven a.m., a bank robber had broken/broke into a bank.
The main verb in this sentence is “heard”, so grammatically, past perfect may be right, but I know that simple past is more likely to be used in this case. I wonder when I should use “past perfect” and when I should definitely use “simple part.” Is there any rule I should know?
Top answer
If the sequence of events is clear, we commonly Simple Past. eg Tom washed his hands before he ate dinner. The word 'before' makes the sequence clear.
- If the sequence of events is clear, we commonly Simple Past.
- eg Tom washed his hands before he ate dinner.
- The word 'before' makes the sequence clear.
- Clive
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If the sequence of events is clear, we commonly Simple Past.
eg Tom washed his hands before he ate dinner.
The word 'before' makes the sequence clear.
Clive
0kazupocketmonsterany rule I should know?
There are a large variety of guidelines that might be cited, but they are not so strong as to constitute rules, particularly because they sometimes contradict one another and they don't cover all possible cases.
I'd say that the past perfect is almost always correct even in cases where the substitution of a sim
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