saw / had seen
As we strolled in the park, we _____ some children practising martial art.
a) saw (correct answer) b) had seen (my answer)
c) was seeing d) had been seeing
Why should I use past tense when there is no specific time mentioned (like yesterday, last week) in the sentence?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
2
What is the point of using Past Perfect here? Usually, Past Perfect is used to emphasize that something has happened BEFORE some another event in the past. However, it is not the case here: children were playing just at the same time as the speaker walked in the park; hence, they saw children while strolling.
1
Because the action in the gap and "strolled" are the same, they happened at the same time so the should be on the same form.
When you're not sure what tense to use, take a piece of paper, draw a timeline and put the actions on it, then you'll see better what and when happened.
1
Hi Maureen, I think "had seen" could be correct in some instances, but it implies that there is more to the thought. For example, you might say "as we walked through the park, we had seen the kids playing but when we returned later, the kids were gone". Even then, it may be technically correct, but it's a little more complicated than necessary. So "saw" is more common and would be more natural sounding.
0
strolled is a past tense hence saw
0
strolled is a past tense hence saw
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
