simple past and past perfect tense

[aysaa]

Hi,

He took a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

vs

He had taken a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

Do we need to use past perfect tense in the first sentence?

Thank you...

[Barb_D]

Hi,

He took a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

vs

He had taken a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

Do we need to use past perfect tense in the first sentence?

Thank you...

No, and in addition, it's wrong in the second one as well, unless you are about to add more information about something else, something that was after the shower but before right now.

He had taken a shower to hours after he ran 2 kilometers, so he was nice and relaxed when Jenny arrived an hour later.

[shannico]

[QUOTE=aysaa;843645]Hi,

He took a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

vs

He had taken a shower two hours after he ran 2 kilometres.

In sentence n.2 I wouldn't use the past perfect there. If anything I'd use it in the second clause, since first he ran (previous action) and then he took a shower.

He took a shower after he had run 2 km

However you could also say

He took a shower after he ran 2km

Here you could use the simple past very easily since after is a time marker and tells you exactly what action happens first.

Alternatively

You could simply use the past simple as it is a sequence of actions you are talking about.

He ran two kilometres. Then two hours later he took a shower.


Hope it helps.

[5jj]

Similar questions are discussed here: Problems with the Past Perfect & Past Simple

You might also find this helpful: The Past Perfect