Multiple choice

[san2612]

1. London _________ a lot since we first _________ here
A had changed/came
B changed/ came
C changed/ had come
D had changed/ had come

It's a strange question to me. I don't know what to choose and why.

 

[emsr2d2]

1. London _________ a lot since we first _________ here
A had changed/came
B changed/ came
C changed/ had come
D had changed/ had come

It's a strange question to me. I don't know what to choose and why.

Why do you think it's a strange question? Have a go first - tell us which you think is correct and why and then we'll comment!

 

[san2612]

I think it's "has changed-came" but no answer's like it

 

[riquecohen]

I think it's "has changed-came" but no answer's like it

That would be my answer. None of those originally given seems correct.

 

[5jj]

It's "London had changed since we first came here". I think.

It seems strange, because the changing took place after the first coming. which seems to go against what we normally learn about the past perfect.

However, try this:

When we came here in 1999, London had changed (since our first visit in 1974).
London had changed since our first visit.
London had changed since we first came here

 

[riquecohen]

It's "London had changed since we first came here". I think.

It seems strange, because the changing took place after the first coming. which seems to go against what we normally learn about the past perfect.

However, try this:

When we came here in 1999, London had changed (since our first visit in 1974).
London had changed since our first visit.
London had changed since we first came here

All these possibilities make sense, given the antecedent action. My first reaction, though, was the same as san2612's. As you've frequently said, "What's the context?"

 

[5jj]

All these possibilities make sense, given the antecedent action. My first reaction, though, was the same as san2612's. As you've frequently said, "What's the context?"

My first reaction was the same. Then I wondered if I could dream up a context.

Actually, once you have seen it, it's not so weird, but I do think it's a little unfair, without more context, for a test question. If fairly experienced native speakers have problems with it, then why should we expect a learner to be able to deal with it?

 

[Tdol]

It's the kind of thing that gets into tests if they're written by a single person and not thoroughly checked and tested- it's OK, but not a very good question. Example crop up on the tests on the site where someone queries a question and when I look at it, I shudder. ;-)