is for questions about when to use the past tense versus the past perfect tense
Questions tagged [past-vs-past-perfect]
220 questions
6
votes
2 answers
When I was in Tokyo, I [saw] or [had seen] the movie three times?
I'm pretty confused here as to why [saw] is preferred in the sentences below.
When I was in Tokyo, I saw the movie three times.
When I was in Tokyo, I had seen the movie three times.
I'm not sure but my understanding is, saw is preferred because…
chipmonkey
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4
votes
1 answer
Why does a sentence start with Past Perfect but continue in Past Simple?
Please have a look at this extract from an interview, the question was:
What was it that made you want to choose the drums?
The Blind Baron asked me if I was interested in learning and I took him up on his offer. I had always secretly wanted to…
Yves Lefol
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4
votes
1 answer
A problem with mixing tenses
In The Cradle Will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark:
when he dropped her off that night he'd said,''you have the loveliest blue eyes I've ever had the pleasure of looking into.I don't
think a twelve-year age difference is too much,do you…
foreignLearner
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3
votes
1 answer
He had left before you came
He had left before you came.
He left before you came.
Are the timelines same?
user73963
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3
votes
2 answers
Past perfect or past simple with before
Example 1
I've lived here all my life, and I've been through quakes before. But this one felt different — not because of how big it was, but because of all the bad things that happened before.
Example 2
It was 8:30. My brother had arrived 3…
Yves Lefol
- 7,469
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- 49
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3
votes
1 answer
If Didn't vs hadn't
SOURCE (Fan fiction)
I was reading a novel and saw this sentence:
"If you did not question that, I wouldn't have picked you."
Why isn't it "If you had not questioned that, I wouldn't have picked you."
What's the difference ?
Nameless
- 31
- 1
2
votes
1 answer
When I had opened the door, children ran in
1. When I had opened the door, children ran in.
2. When I had written my letter, I did some gardening.
In the first sentence the usage of past perfect is not allegedly necessary. Why? Both sentences after all contain two actions one of which…
bart-leby
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2
votes
2 answers
I was happy because I (had) passed my final exam
Is this sentence correct:
I was happy because I passed my final exam.
Or is it better to use the Past Perfect:
I was happy because I had passed my final exam.
Helen
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2
votes
1 answer
Every time we (had) moved, we started from scratch
I'm not sure whether I use double past simple or past perfect + past simple in this sentence:
Every time we had moved, we started from scratch.
vs
Every time we moved, we started from scratch.
Thank you!
Ivan Demchenko
- 135
- 5
2
votes
2 answers
Use of tenses (Past Simple vs Past Perfect)
Getting ready for the test I found this task
The lucky coincidence allowed them to take a trip together and Angela loved traveling! More than that, she ________ (prepare) a list of the most desirable destinations. It was all written on her tablet…
Vladimir Nazarenko
- 555
- 5
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2
votes
2 answers
Should I include the second had in "Had he died like Nietzsche **had** declared?"
Even without a speck of cloud, I couldn’t spot God. Had he died like
Nietzsche had said/declared?
(This is first-person narration past tense. And Nietzsche, a dead philosopher, said that statement centuries ago.)
Do I need the second had? Why or…
alex
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2
votes
1 answer
"He had a gun." or "He has had a gun."
What is the difference between the sentences
He had a gun.
and
He has had a gun.
I think when you are saying about the past why don't you just say it as
"He had a gun" instead of "He has had a gun"?, this goes same with these below…
Rangu
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2
votes
2 answers
It had been a long time since + Past Perfect or Past Simple
I would like to know which one is correct when the structure refers to a past event.
Past Perfect + Past Simple -
It had been a long time since I met her.
Past Perfect + Past Perfect -
It had been a long time since I had met her.
doggo
1
vote
1 answer
Difference between 'How long have you learned' and 'How long ago did you learn'?
I read the following sentence in an English book :
How long have you learned Maths?
I wonder if the question below
How long ago did you learn Maths?
has the same meaning with the first sentence. If yes or no , would you mind explaining to me in…
Cinder Nguyen
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1
vote
2 answers
simple past vs past perfect
Scenario
I sent my person to our client's site but the client's office was closed. Two days later he called me to enquire about the visit.
Which tense should I use. Past perfect or simple past? Why?
E.g.
I sent my person to your office but it was…
user4084
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