the past perfect tense or the past tense

[lisa666]

Hello,everyone
Could you help me with the answer to the following question? Which answer is correct? Tell me, please. Thank you.

Emma hurried to her table in the school lunchroom because her mom _______ her about a special surprise for lunch before school.
(A) told (B) had told

[bhaisahab]

Hello,everyone
Could you help me with the answer to the following question? Which answer is correct? Tell me, please. Thank you.

Emma hurried to her table in the school lunchroom because her mom _______ her about a special surprise for lunch before school.
(A) told (B) had told

Which would you choose?

[Tdol]

We don't give answers- we'll discuss them, but we don't provide answers to tasks.

[lisa666]

Hello,everyone
Could you help me with the answer to the following question? Which answer is correct? Tell me, please. Thank you.

Emma hurried to her table in the school lunchroom because her mom _______ her about a special surprise for lunch before school.
(A) told (B) had told

Actually, I'm not sure. Answer B seems correct, but Answer A looks OK, too. They puzzle me. Would you tell me which is correct, please? Thank you.

[bhaisahab]

Actually, I'm not sure. Answer B seems correct, but Answer A looks OK, too. They puzzle me. Would you tell me which is correct, please? Thank you.

Is this for homework?

[Tdol]

I'd use B, but A doesn't strike me as wrong.

[5jj]

I'd use B, but A doesn't strike me as wrong.

I agree.

As I have noted in other posts, native speakers do not always use the past perfect when the grammar books suggest they should. I would advise learners to use the past perfect here. 'Before lunch' makes it clear that the telling happened before the 'hurrying', but some teachers and exam writers insist that the past perfect be used in such situations.