until he had seen vs. until he saw

[Gellas]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #92 "Tenses (3)", question 5

He refused to go until he ......... seen all the paintings.

(a) had
(b) was
(c) is
(d) has

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #92 "Tenses (3)", answer 5

He refused to go until he had seen all the paintings.

Correct answer: (a) had
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why had seen?

Gella

[Alan]

Hi Gella,

The best way I can explain this is by saying that the refusing to go (the non going if you like) was after the seeing. His actual words were: I refuse to go until I have seen and this converts in reported speech as: He refused to go until he had seen. Another way is to say: He didn't go until he had seen ..

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Aiken]

Dear teachers,

Can I say "He refused to go until he saw all the paintings."
Thanks in advance.

Aiken
_________________
Man proposes; God disposes

[Alan]

Hi Aiken,

'Saw' and 'had seen' would both work here.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Maddy]

[Alan]

Hi Maddy,

Glad you liked it!

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Alan]

Hi Maddy,

Glad you liked it!

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Prepositions

[Saneta]

The Past Perfect can be use with till/until and before to emphasize the complection or expected complection of an action. For till/untill the simple past action may precede the past perfect action. So can it be that:
first he refused to go, and later saw all the paintings? I think so. But Mr Alan said completely different/opposite, so how to differ which action was the first and the second?

many,many thanks

[Saneta]

The Past Perfect can be use with till/until and before to emphasize the complection or expected complection of an action. For till/untill the simple past action may precede the past perfect action. So can it be that:
first he refused to go, and later saw all the paintings? I think so. But Mr Alan said completely different/opposite, so how to differ which action was the first and the second?

many,many thanks

[Saneta]

The Past Perfect can be used with till/until and before to emphasize the complection or expected complection of an action. For till/untill the simple past action may precede the past perfect action. So can it be that:
first he refused to go, and later saw all the paintings? I think so. But Mr Alan said completely different/opposite, so how to differ which action was the first and the second?

many,many thanks