HELP! Past simple or past perfect?

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > HELP! Past simple or past perfect?

HELP! Past simple or past perfect?

HELP! Past simple or past perfect?

Hello everyone: I bother you to ask for help about the answer to this sentence:

1. The Pilgrims only (reach) REACHED America after they (sail) SAILED the Atlantic for 66 days.

IIs it ok? Or the second part has to be completed by PAST PERFECT? I am in doubt!

Thanks in advance! Have a nice day!

Paola

21 Dec 2011

maryse pey�

Hi Paola,

I would say the same.

Chronologically the most ancient action is the sailing then the reaching America.

So : The Pilgrims only REACHED America after they HAD SAILED for 66 days.

Merry Christmas my friend !

Plenty of hugs.

Maryse.

21 Dec 2011

Nebal

Hiya,

The answer is:

The Pilgrims reached America after they had sailed the Atlantic for 66 days.

Action 1: past perfect S.
Action 2: Simple past

Butterfly

21 Dec 2011

Ch�re Maryse and Butterfly,

THANKS a lot for your help! I appreciate it a lot.

I wish you the best in these holidays.

Paola :)

21 Dec 2011

yanogator

Maryse and Butterfly are definitely correct on this. I refer to the past perfect as "the past of the past", because we use it for action that happened before the simple past action.

Bruce

21 Dec 2011