[Grammar] Past Perfect and omission of "had"

[naweewra]

Hello,

Can "had" be omitted in the past perfect verb form when it follows "and" and the verb before it is also a past perfect form?

When they got back at 4.00, the news was not good...Martin had gone down to the town and asked at the taxis and bus stands, but again had found nothing.

Is "asked" really "had asked"? The reason I ask is because it is then followed by another past perfect form (had found) I think maybe all three verbs are in the past perfect since they had all occurred in succession before another past time reference (getting back at 4.00).

Thank you.

Nawee

 

[emsr2d2]

All but the first can be omitted.

He he had been to town, asked at the taxi and bus stands but found nothing.

 

[naweewra]

Thank you for the prompt reply.

Can it also be a past simple form?

The thing is that we are asked to underline examples of the past perfect and list all the events that took place before 4.00. "Asked" was not among the answers in the answer key. To me, it is a bit odd, because if finding nothing took place before 4, then the asking should too.

 

[5jj]

Can it also be a past simple form?

No