0
Wisdom27 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
was calling,called, had called
Dear all,
I saw sentence in a test which was:
He -------- the police after he saw a thief.
I think "was calling" because if it were like "he had seen a thief" it would be "called". some said "called" is correct in this sentence. I don't think this is correct according to grammar rule.
Edmond
Thank you
I saw sentence in a test which was:
He -------- the police after he saw a thief.
I think "was calling" because if it were like "he had seen a thief" it would be "called". some said "called" is correct in this sentence. I don't think this is correct according to grammar rule.
Edmond
Thank you
Top answer
Called is the best answer. What did he do after he saw the theft? He called the police.
- Called is the best answer.
- What did he do after he saw the theft?
- He called the police.
- (Past completed action) "Was calling" is only used when there is some other simultaneous action in the past.
- What was he doing when you saw him?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
Called is the best answer.
What did he do after he saw the theft?
He called the police. (Past completed action)
"Was calling" is only used when there is some other simultaneous action in the past.
What was he doing when you saw him?
He was calling the police. He had just witnessed a theft.
What did he do after he saw the theft?
He called the police. (Past completed action)
"Was calling" is only used when there is some other simultaneous action in the past.
What was he doing when you saw him?
He was calling the police. He had just witnessed a theft.
00
He called the police after he had seen a thief. Is it right? Thank you
00
wisdom27He called the police after he had seen a thief.It's fine.
He called the police after [he saw / he had seen / seeing] [a/the] thief.
He called the police when he saw [a/the] thief.
He called the police to report a theft he had seen.
The last one is a little better than the others. The thief is the person,
00
I had closed the door before I slept.
I closed the door before I slept.
The train had left before I reached the railway station.
The train left before I reached the railway station.
Are they both correct? I have studied if there are two past tense, one should be in past perfect.
Thank you
Edmond
I closed the door before I slept.
The train had left before I reached the railway station.
The train left before I reached the railway station.
Are they both correct? I have studied if there are two past tense, one should be in past perfect.
Thank you
Edmond
00
wisdom27Are they both correct?Yes, both are correct. The past perfect is mainly used to reduce a possible confusion in the time-order of two past events. It is not a "rule" that it must be used. It is primarily used in narratives (stories) about the past. It is often the writer's choice to use the past perfect or not.
Of course, it is required in co
0
Related Questions