[Grammar] Jane said that she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.

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Son Ho

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Could you please tell me which one is correct, sentence 2 or 3? I think sentence 2 is correct because we mustn't change the tenses in this situation.


  1. " I was waiting for the bus when he arrived", said Jane.
  2. Jane said that she was waiting for the bus when he arrived.
  3. Jane said that she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.
 

Tarheel

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They are all OK.
 

tedmc

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I think both are correct though 2 is better.
2 refers to the waiting prior to his arrival.
3 refers to the waiting at the time of his arrival.
They amount to the same thing.
 

Tarheel

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Could you please tell me which one is correct, sentence 2 or 3? I think sentence 2 is correct because we mustn't change the tenses in this situation.


  1. " I was waiting for the bus when he arrived," said Jane.
  2. Jane said that she was waiting for the bus when he arrived.
  3. Jane said that she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.

Put the comma inside the quote marks.
 

Rover_KE

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Who said you mustn't change the tenses in this situation?
 
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