Do we backshift from past simple to past perfect talking about STATES?
Hello. I'm sorry for a boring question, but do we backshift from past simple to past perfect talking about states? I need to understand why I my brain refuses to use "had been able" instead of "were able" in the sentence (it's from an English test): "The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people were able to build boats that could cross oceans"
"Were able" is a state, right?
I know that when the sequence of events is clear, we are free not to use backshifting from past simple to past perfect. We can still use past perfect, though, - it's optional in writing. But I don't think it's possible in this example. I think, it would be possible if the sentence was: "The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people (had) built boats that could cross oceans", because here it's an event (built boats), not a statement. Am I right or wrong? Thank you =)

P.S. The thing is that "were able" is the only correct answer in the test.

Question

Do we backshift from past simple to past perfect talking about STATES?
Hello. I'm sorry for a boring question, but do we backshift from past simple to past perfect talking about states? I need to understand why I my brain refuses to use "had been able" instead of "were able" in the sentence (it's from an English test): "The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people were able to build boats that could cross oceans"
"Were able" is a state, right?
I know that when the sequence of events is clear, we are free not to use backshifting from past simple to past perfect. We can still use past perfect, though, - it's optional in writing. But I don't think it's possible in this example. I think, it would be possible if the sentence was: "The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people (had) built boats that could cross oceans", because here it's an event (built boats), not a statement. Am I right or wrong? Thank you =)

P.S. The thing is that "were able" is the only correct answer in the test.

Answer

"The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people (had been able to) build boats that could cross oceans"

Had = past of have in the test sentence were is correct. The ancient people were in the past able to build ='had built' in the past boats able to cross oceans. It is like Benjamin's comment the ancient people and their past ability died out together in the past. No back shifting is needed.

Had been able to build boats = correct. They were able to in the past. 
"had built boats in the past" = ? I think you may be onto something. 
They had in the past built boats, able to cross oceans.

There are many exercise books that give exercises that are not very helpful.
This is a common problem with textbooks and grammar test books that are looking for correct answers on only one specific grammar point, and are not concentrating on a complete teaching/ training/understanding of the language being taught. With no contextual alternate examples of how to use the language or how it was used nor how it is currently used.

It is what I call a clash of teaching styles.

Answer

Did the test state what tense you were to use to answer the test questions..? Often learners including myself make this mistake when answering questions in a test involving a foreign language. We blindly carry on answering and filling in gaps in the wrong tense. Only to be disappointed when we do not give the correct answers.

Answer

The 'Ancient People' no longer exist.  their existence coincided at the same time as their ability to built boats. Both ceased at the same time. No backshift. So - were able

Answers · 6

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