Could I use perfect tenses instead of simpe?
I'm doing grammar excercises and my answer is different from a book answer. Are both alternatives correct, or is my variant wrong?
My answer:
While both the household and government net wealth dropped significantly in 2008, the government`s net worth (had been falling) so much that it actually (had gone) into negative figures in 2010.
Book answer:
While both the household and government net wealth dropped significantly in 2008, the government`s net worth (fell) so much that it actually (went) into negative figures in 2010.
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Answers · 5
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Now I can see that the book is absolutely right while my answer was wrong. First of all, we could simplify sentence by removing first part. Now we have "The government`s net worth ... so much that it actually ... into negative figures in 2010." As I understand, we have not lost any sense. In this sentense the key is "in 2010". I mean, we have emphasizing of specific time. So, we can't use any perfect tenses and can use only past simpe for both gaps.
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The first part could possibly work either way, although the simple past would usually make more sense. I’m afraid that the last part, “it actually (had gone) into negative figures in 2010”, is definitely wrong. For one thing, 2010 is the latest time mentioned, and is *after* 2008, so we should definitely *not* use the past perfect. For another, when we list events in the same sequence they took place in, we using the past perfect would generally be optional, even when it is appropriate.
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Both answers are correct. Your answer describes a continuous action during a specific time frame, while the book's answer describes a completed action in the moment.
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I agree with the book. The 'fell' is referring to one specific event that began and ended in the past, so the past simple is appropriate here. This is also the case for 'went'.
The past perfect, 'had been falling' could be correct if what came after it was different than what is there. For example, "... the government`s net worth had been falling for a much longer period of time."
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Remember past perfect is only used to talk about an action that ocurred before another past action. But in this situation, the net worth falling didn't occur before the government's net wealth dropping.
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