We had waited for the taxi longer than you had.

[tufguy]

1) We had waited for the taxi longer than you had.

2) We had been waiting for the taxi longer than you had.

Do we need to use "had" at the end of these when we are using "had been waiting" or "had waited" in the first part?

 

[teechar]

Were both parties waiting for the same taxi, and if so, why?

 

[GoesStation]

1) We had waited for the taxi longer than you had.

2) We had been waiting for the taxi longer than you had.

Do we need to use "had" at the end of these when we are using "had been waiting" or "had waited" in the first part?

No, it's optional. "Had" is such a short word that it doesn't add much weight to a sentence. Including it doesn't make the sentences overly wordy.

 

[Tarheel]

1) We had waited for the taxi longer than you had.

2) We had been waiting for the taxi longer than you had.

Do we need to use "had" at the end of these when we are using "had been waiting" or "had waited" in the first part?

I would probably keep "had" there. On the other hand, in the actual situation I might dispense with it. Perhaps:

I've been waiting for the taxi longer than you.

 

[Tdol]

How about:

We were waiting before you.

 

[tufguy]

Were both parties waiting for the same taxi, and if so, why?

Yes, because there weren't a lot of taxis available there.

 

[tufguy]

No, it's optional. "Had" is such a short word that it doesn't add much weight to a sentence. Including it doesn't make the sentences overly wordy.

So, what is the correct way? Which word should be used at the end if "had" can't be used there? Is it correct to say "we have been waiting for the taxi longer than you have" or "we have waited for the taxi longer than you have"?

 

[GoesStation]

So, what is the correct way? Which word should be used at the end if "had" can't be used there? Is it correct to say "we have been waiting for the taxi longer than you have" or "we have waited for the taxi longer than you have"?

Let's stick with your original sentences and a simple variation of each. The second sentence in each pair means the same as the first.

We had waited for the taxi longer than you had.:tick:

We had waited for the taxi longer than you. :tick:

2) We had been waiting for the taxi longer than you had. :tick:

We had been waiting for the taxi longer than you. :tick:

 

[teechar]

That still implies one taxi is involved. I find that quite unusual.

 

[Tarheel]

It happens.

 

[teechar]

How often?

 

[Tarheel]

How often does it happen? Who knows? But tufguy did say that both people had been waiting for the same taxi (I think).

 

[Tdol]

That still implies one taxi is involved. I find that quite unusual.

It would work if someone tried to push in front.

 

[emsr2d2]

It could also happen if two sets of people were waiting for a taxi, one turned up and it was clear that there wouldn't be another one for quite a long time. The people might agree to share that taxi. The people who had been waiting longer could insist that the taxi take them to their destination first because they had been waiting longer.