Can someone help me with SAt writing section: past perfect

Test Preparation
1

<p>We worked busily for the remainder of the laboratory period when the assignment had been given to us by our lab instructor.</p>

<p>Apparently, this is because because 'had been' is completed past tense. But isn't it correct because it is past perfect tense?</p>

<p>----assignment given ----- worked -------> time line</p>

<p>The assignment was given before in the 'past-past' so it's correct to say 'had been' right?</p>

<p>The mark scheme says 'completed past tense inappropriate'</p>

<p>Can someone explain?</p>

<p>P.S we never use the 'perfect' tense (had/has/have + past participle) when the time period is clarified. In other words, when it happened in the past. </p>

<p>E.g. In 1972 .... Bla bla bla --> we wouldn't use the present tenses</p>

2

<p>I think it should be “We worked busily for the remainder of the laboratory period when the assignment was given to us by our lab instructor.”</p>

<p>Yes, you use the perfect tense when you have something “out of order” in your timeline of events, but nothing’s out of order here. It might be easier to understand if you reverse the two clauses: “When the assignment was given to us by our lab instructor, we worked busily for the remainder of the laboratory period.”</p>