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Necrophagist Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

They inserted/had inserted the camera

My father and I were discussing a shark documentary we saw the other day. It was a recording of a shark's womb. (The conversation wasn't in English)

My dad: "The most disgusted I've ever been was when I saw what was going on in that shark's womb. One of the babies devoured its siblings. The researchers somehow inserted the camera into the shark so they could record that".


Is the past simple grammatically correct and natural here? I think there's no need to use the past perfect, but that it's also correct. I was told by a Scottish-English speaker that I had to use the past perfect because otherwise it would sound as if they had inserted the camera after the recording. To me, that doesn't make sense and it's perfectly clear when it happened even if I use the past simple; but I'm no native speaker so here I am! Thank you! Emotion: smile

  

Top answer

Is the past simple grammatically correct and natural here? Yes I think there's no need to use the past perfect, but that it's also correct. Yes

— Clive

  • Is the past simple grammatically correct and natural here?
  • Yes I think there's no need to use the past perfect, but that it's also correct.
  • Yes
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3 Answers
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Is the past simple grammatically correct and natural here? Yes

I think there's no need to use the past perfect, but that it's also correct. Yes

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You pretty well explained it yourself.

We often just use Simple Past if the sequence of events is clear.

You might like to consider these examples. >>>

When Tom came home at 6pm, Mary cooked dinner. This means she cooked it after 6pm.

When Tom came home at 6pm, Mary had cooked dinner. This means she cooked it before 6pm.

After Tom

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I agree. That's why I said 'You pretty well explained it yourself'.

You said this. To me, that doesn't make sense and it's perfectly clear when it happened even if I use the past simple.


You have to use some common sense. We say things like this all the time, without confusing anyone.

eg We buried Tom today. He died of a heart attack.

Is your

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