caught/had caught last week

[Tan Elaine]

1. Last night, my mother cooked the fish which my brother caught / had caught last week.

2. My brother caught a fish last week.

I remember learning that when a time element is mentioned, a past tense verb should be used, as in the second sentence. However, does this apply to the first sentence, which means that the verb that should be used is 'caught'?

Thanks.

 

[Barb_D]

You can use "had caught" but there is no need to, since it's clear that the catching of the fish occurred prior to the cooking of the fish. Usually, I think you'd see "had caught the week before" instead of "had caught last week."

(I hope it was later in the week - fish doesn't keep that well.)

 

[Tdol]

You can use "had caught" but there is no need to, since it's clear that the catching of the fish occurred prior to the cooking of the fish.

The same is true of BrE.

Usually, I think you'd see "has caught the week before" instead of "had caught last week."

I'm sure there is a typo here and it should read had caught the week before.