Question

I thought they would make an offer and was not surprised when they did that. A. when they did that. B. when they had done so. C. when they did it. D. when they did so. E. when they did.

Short answer

E. when they did.

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Sentence

Read the sentence completely: 'I thought they would make an offer and was not surprised when they did that.' It involves a past prediction and a past event.

- Identify the Time Reference

The sentence indicates something happening after a prediction, so ensure the verb tense matches an action that has already completed.

- Evaluate Each Choice

Analyze each choice to see which fits the context of 'when they made the offer.' Discard choices that seem redundant or needlessly convoluted.

- Eliminate Incorrect Choices

Option A 'when they did that' is redundant and informal. Option B 'when they had done so' unnecessarily complicates the past perfect usage. Option C 'when they did it' is vague. Option D 'when they did so' is clear and concise. Option E 'when they did' is correct and simplifies the sentence without losing meaning.

- Select the Best Option

Considering clarity and simplicity, Option E 'when they did' correctly conveys the meaning without redundancy.

Key concepts

Verb Tense

Verb tense is crucial in determining the correct timing of actions in a sentence. In the exercise, we are talking about a past prediction and a subsequent past event. Ensure that both verbs reflect their appropriate tenses.
**Past Predictions and Events:**
A past prediction uses the past simple or past continuous tense.

• Example: 'I thought they would make an offer '

The subsequent event, which must match the completed action, uses the simple past tense.

• Example: 'when they did.'

Maintaining consistency in verb tense not only clarifies timing but also makes your sentences more coherent.

Eliminating Redundancy

Redundancy occurs when unnecessary words repeat the same idea, making the sentence less clear and more cumbersome. In the original sentence, 'when they did that,' the word 'that' is redundant.
**Removing Redundant Words:**

• Original: 'when they did that.'
• Improved: 'when they did.'

Simplifying the sentence removes redundancy while retaining the essential meaning, making it more concise and easier to understand. Avoiding redundancy helps streamline your thoughts and deliver clear, precise communication.

Clarity in Sentence Structure

Clarity ensures that your sentence's structure makes the intended meaning clear to the reader. Examining the sentence leads us to prefer structures that are straightforward and unambiguous.
**Choosing Clarity:**

• Confusing: 'when they had done so'
• Clear: 'when they did so'

Use clear and direct expressions instead of complex or convoluted ones. Clear sentence structures allow readers to comprehend the message without confusion or misinterpretation.

Correct Usage of Past Events

When discussing past events, it's essential to use the appropriate mode of expression that matches the context. The original sentence deals with a specific time frame, involving a past event predicted earlier.
**Accurate Reflection of Past Events:**

• Incorrect: 'when they had done so' unnecessarily uses past perfect, implying an action completed before another past action.
• Correct: 'when they did' properly reflects a simple past action occurring as expected.

Use the simple past to indicate straightforward past events that follow another past action. Correct usage helps maintain clear timelines and proper sequencing in your narrative.