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Thread: past perfect

  1. #1
    janepegs is offline Newbie
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    Default past perfect

    turned up at the modern art gallery before nine to avoid the queue, but there ____ already, in fact, a small crowd there.
    was
    had been
    Either could be used here.
    could you explain why this cannot be used in the past perfect please?

  2. #2
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: past perfect

    That would imply that they were no longer there when he arrived.

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