In Simple past^x, Commas^x

In A Practical English Grammar A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet say that the past perfect is used after when when we wish to emphasize that the first action was completed before the second one started: When he had shut the window we opened the door of the cage. Is it preferred to "When he shut...

Hi, Is it proper to write the past perfect here? I think it would be fine to write the simple past tense here. Just he collborated with Poland's secret police is fine. You can say it either way, because either way the sequence of events is clear. The collaboration came before the...

Thank you Ruslana.1) Can we also say, "I have lived here many times?"Taking your suggestion, by using the present perfect continuous, the person is still living here and has lived here for a continuous period of time. However, if he lived in that place on and off- say when he's vacationing- can...

I'd just use simple past: He just laughed and said, "Things like that happen." But if you DO want past perfect, "He had just laughed and said, " Generally, use a comma after the word "said" before you start the quote. Mary said, "Where is my lamb?" And yes, burglar. Note the other R. (Thanks...

Aperisic wrote:Isn’t it time that this program is going to squander far beyond our expectations? Is this program going to spend a lot of time to start and execute because it is so slow? OK, I've found another version which is closer to your formulation: Isn’t it time, what this program...

Hi, 1. Is “it” necessary after “watching” ? No, Either is OK2. It would be wrong to say “learn enjoying”, wouldn’t it ? Yes3. Do we need a comma before “who” here or should the relative clause be restrictive ? Put a comma, unless you had two mothers ( a stepmother?). ha-ha4. Is a comma needed...

Hi Hunamun, here is how I'd say/write it. 1. We would not be able to reach X on time, if we walked slowly. (You could say that sentence to somebody who is complaining about the speed you are walking toward a destination which you want to reach on time.) I am not sure about the comma there. 2....

Diamondrg wrote: Which do you think is correct? At the time Auguste Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty,_____________ .a- he took advice on the construction of the metal from Gustave Eiffel - YESb- a ferry from Battery Park takes people there every thirty minutes - The tense is...

Hi, 1) "In the late 80s a discussion took place between Julia Annas and Richard Bett over whether ontological moral skepticism is ‘local’ – that is to say, whether it does not call into question all beliefs, but arises from a contrast between morality and some other system of beliefs that cannot...

Simply stated, the continuous suggests the meeting activities and their duration; the speaker is thinking of each of those many meetings and their unsatisfactory outcomes. The simple past suggests the accomplished fact, the sum total of all those meetings; overall, the speaker is thinking, the...