Question

My new co-workers (had been, were) very friendly to me until they learned my salary was considerably higher than theirs.

Short answer

The correct sentence is: 'My new co-workers were very friendly to me until they learned my salary was considerably higher than theirs.'

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Time Indicators in the Sentence

The sentence does not provide explicit time indicators, such as dates or specific moments. The only time-related information given is 'until', showing there is a change in the situation at some point.

Analyze the Sequence of Events

The co-workers' friendliness shifted upon the revelation about the salary. Therefore, first, they were friendly, and then they learned about the salary and changed their behavior.

Select the Correct Tense

Considering the sequence of events and as the change happened at a specific moment in the past, the past simple 'were' is the correct verb form to use in this context.

Key concepts

Sequence of Events

Understanding the sequence of events in a sentence is crucial for selecting the correct verb tense. It allows us to comprehend the timing of each action or occurrence. In our example, the key to solving the exercise lies in identifying the shift in friendliness that occurs at a particular point. Initially, the co-workers were friendly, and this friendliness persisted until they learned about the difference in salary. This indicates two distinct actions occurring one after the other.

• First, co-workers displayed their initial behavior: friendliness.
• Second, there was a change: they learned about the salary.

Understanding this order helps in choosing the appropriate tense, in this case, emphasizing that two separate events occurred one after another in the past.

Past Simple Tense

The past simple tense is used for actions completed at a definite time in the past. In our exercise, it helps clarify when the co-workers were friendly and when their behavior changed.

• The use of 'were' in "were very friendly" positions this action in the past.
• "Learned" also triggers the past simple, suggesting a definite point when the second action happened.

This tense is particularly handy for succinctly expressing finished actions or a sequence like the one in this example. It adds clarity by documenting both past occurrences without unpacking any unnecessary continuous or habitual connotations.

Sentence Structure Analysis

Analyzing sentence structure helps dissect and understand the relationships between different parts of a sentence. It involves looking at verb placement, how clauses are connected, and the overall flow of the sentence. For the given sentence: "My new co-workers (had been, were) very friendly to me until they learned my salary was considerably higher than theirs." Let's break it down:

• The subject: "My new co-workers" initiates what the sentence is about.
• The verb options "(had been, were)" introduce the action associated with the subject. Solving the tense choice relies heavily on recognizing that this friendliness happened before the learning event.
• "Very friendly to me" is where the predicate of the first clause indicates the action or state of being.
• The conjunction "until" serves to connect the main clause with the resulting action, providing a natural flow into the change caused by them learning about the salary.

This structural breakdown assists in making informed grammatical choices while emphasizing clarity and coherence in the sentence.