Past Perfect Tense

[JCrawf]

We have a bit of confusion on the use of the past perfect tense. Please help by filling in the blanks with the verbs indicated and give the rule(s) used:

Betty ________ her keys in the car, and when she _____ she _______ that a thief ____________ it. (leave, return, find, steal)

Thanks.

[queenbu]

We have a bit of confusion on the use of the past perfect tense. Please help by filling in the blanks with the verbs indicated and give the rule(s) used:

Betty ________ her keys in the car, and when she _____ she _______ that a thief ____________ it. (leave, return, find, steal)

Thanks.

Betty had left her keys in the car, and when she returned she found that a thief had stolen it.

All actions are in the past but the action of leaving the keys came before the actionof returning, and the action of stealing the car came before the action of returning.
That's my modest opinion.

[JCrawf]

Thanks for the quick response. Another question:
Would your reply be the same if we substituted a period for the conjunction (i.e., make two sentences)?

[queenbu]

Betty had left her keys in the car, and when she returned she found that a thief had stolen it.
All actions are in the past but the action of leaving the keys came before the actionof returning, and the action of stealing the car came before the action of returning.
That's my modest opinion.

Good question.

Betty left her keys in the car.When she returned she found that a thief had stolen it.

Betty had left her keys in the car. When she returned she found that a thief had stolen it.

I prefer the first one.