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simple past or past perfect

English translation: don't need either

20:23 Apr 24, 2013
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - History / Perón
English term or phrase: simple past or past perfect
Is this sentence ok? or it would be better to use past simple in the last part?

On the other hand, Brazil could continue with the project and today exports those planes that had been dreamt of in Cordoba.

Or is it better to say

On the other hand, Brazil could continue with the project and today exports those planes that once were dreamt of in Cordoba.

The idea is that Argentina stopped investing money and Brazil continued.

Thanks!
susiq
Argentina
Local time: 21:29
Selected answer:don't need either
Explanation:
I think the use of 'could' is the main problem with this sentence. I would reword it like this:

On the other hand, Brazil was able to proceed with the project and nowadays exports the planes once dreamt of in Cordoba.
Selected response from:

Lindsay Spratt
France
Local time: 02:29
Grading comment
Thanksss
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +7don't need either
Lindsay Spratt
4past perfect but the sentence has to be reworded
Darius Saczuk


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
past perfect but the sentence has to be reworded


Explanation:
P

Darius Saczuk
United States
Local time: 20:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish, Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Dariusz. Why do you think it should be reworded. Is a subject missing?

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
don't need either


Explanation:
I think the use of 'could' is the main problem with this sentence. I would reword it like this:

On the other hand, Brazil was able to proceed with the project and nowadays exports the planes once dreamt of in Cordoba.

Lindsay Spratt
France
Local time: 02:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanksss

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jessica Noyes: yes
2 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  Armorel Young: Well spotted - that "could" (which I understood in the sense of "might") had me completely confused.
16 mins
  -> Thanks! I've found this 'could' thing tricky to explain as an ESL teacher in the past!
agree  Veronika McLaren
43 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  Charles Davis
57 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: exactly what I thought too - was able to
3 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Darius Saczuk: Yes, "definitely" was able to + leaving just the participle. Don't you think the sentence would read better if we put a comma before "and" and "it" before "exports"?
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Dariusz! I wouldn't add any more commas.
agree  Jim Tucker (X)
10 hrs
  -> Thanks!
neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: I don't find "that once were dreamt of" a very good phrase. But none of the original is. Clear is that Argentina invested, but in what exactly? And how far did the "dream" go? / Yes, and thanks for your reply. :)
21 hrs
  -> We need more context to know if 'once dreamt of' is the right expression. The part which jars with me is the beginning with 'on the other hand'. I often try to avoid that.
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