Verbal Ability - Selecting Words - Discussion

Both the actions are completed in the past. So, for any action that is completed in the past before another action in the past use past perfect.

As there are two actions given. And one of them occurred first, so the first action should come with "had"/ past perfect tense and the second action come up with simple past tense.

When two past sentences are discussing then one should past perfect (had+v3) and another one should be in simple past.

Why it is not in past continuous?

@Sundar you are right.

I think the easy way to understand is, "Past perfect tense is used before the past action".

This conversation started in past and end in past. So we use past perfect here had rung is right.

"I answered it" --> it is a past tense, and we are making it more perfect.

=> In order to write in 'Past Perfect Tense' we use 'had rung'.

=> Use 'has rung' if you want to make it 'Present Perfect Tense'.


Take a look the below sentences:

1. The telephone HAD rung several times before I answered it.
2. The telephone HAS rung several times before I answered it.

Both are grammaticality correct, but second one it not nice while comparing to first one.


Hi viewers, If I am wrong, please give your advice.

Thanks in advance.

With plural we use had instead of has so we can use has that's it.

Why "has rung " should not come. Pls help me out.