http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aFormal+letters+tag%3aSimple+pastSearch results for 'tag:Formal letters tag:Simple past' matching tags 'Formal letters' and 'Simple past'en-USCSMOD (Build: 3256.36449)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoDaysAgo/nbrd/post.htm#64161Thu, 30 Dec 2004 00:55:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64161Mister MicawberMorning, Non Con-- <br /> <br />'Better'? I would probably use the past perfect here if I were writing a thesis, a careful formal letter, or a piece of literature (and I think I would be overconservative in doing so). What would I say if I were talking about my wierd friend, Jack? 'Jack sang in the park again this morning-- he did it yesterday too-- and the day before!' Or something like that. I think the neutral use sits with the simple past. <br /> <br />Points to consider: <br /> <br />(1) there is a noun phrase clearly indicating the past in the past ('the two previous days') <br />(2) there is, however, no conjunction indicating the temporal relationship ('as'?) <br />(3) the pragmatic reason for the clause is to indicate the continuity of his singing habit; it is not to make clear that he had finished singing on the 27th and 28th when he began on the 29th. <br /> <br />(1) and (3) point to the use of the simple past; (2) would encourage the use of the past perfect.