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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
was watching or had been watching?
Before you telephoned I was watching tv
instead of :
Before you telephoned I had been watching tv?
I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense. But I came across the first line in a quiz. Then is it ok to use it like the first one? How?
instead of :
Before you telephoned I had been watching tv?
I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense. But I came across the first line in a quiz. Then is it ok to use it like the first one? How?
Top answer
Hi, Before you telephoned I was watching tv instead of : Before you telephoned I had been watching tv? I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense. <<< You need to tell them more than this.
- Hi, Before you telephoned I was watching tv instead of : Before you telephoned I had been watching tv?
- I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense.
- <<< You need to tell them more than this.
- But I came across the first line in a quiz.
- Then is it ok to use it like the first one?
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Before you telephoned I was watching tv
instead of :
Before you telephoned I had been watching tv?
I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense. <<< You need to tel
Before you telephoned I was watching tv
instead of :
Before you telephoned I had been watching tv?
I always tell students that in sequential actions, we use past perfect tense for the actions take place before past tense. <<< You need to tel
00
Hi Clive,
What's wrong with 'I had called him before he watched TV''?
What's wrong with 'I had called him before he watched TV''?
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Hi,
What's wrong with 'I had called him before he watched TV''? Nothing's wrong with it but, unless your context shows a need for Past Perfect (eg for emphasis), there is no reason why you can't simply say
'I called him before he watched TV.'
Here, 'before' makes the sequence of events clear without
What's wrong with 'I had called him before he watched TV''? Nothing's wrong with it but, unless your context shows a need for Past Perfect (eg for emphasis), there is no reason why you can't simply say
'I called him before he watched TV.'
Here, 'before' makes the sequence of events clear without
00
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