Simple past and Past Perfect

[RonBee]

Use the past perfect to talk about an event that occured before another event in the past, both events having occurred previous to the statement.

Example:

• I had eaten before Donna got home.

:)

[Tdol]

The past perfect can also be used when an action occurred before a certain time in the past:

I had never used a computer before 1990.

(Here the idea is that after 1990, things changed. You could also use the past simple here.)

[moonlite]

Yes, formally one would put it in; informally leave out. :)

[Tdol]

Informally in BE, we try to avoid unnecessary past perfects.

[dduck]

Use the past perfect to talk about an event that occured before another event in the past, both events having occurred previous to the statement.

Example:

• I had eaten before Donna got home.

:)

What about this one?

By the time he had found a parking space, he was already late for the show.

Iain

[RonBee]

Use the past perfect to talk about an event that occured before another event in the past, both events having occurred previous to the statement.

Example:

• I had eaten before Donna got home.

:)

What about this one?

By the time he had found a parking space, he was already late for the show.

Iain

That is good too. (You could also use simple past there.)

:)

[Tdol]

What about this one?

By the time he had found a parking space, he was already late for the show.

Iain

I take it that when he arrived the show had already started, then.