simpe past tense vs past perfect tense

[aysaa]

Hi,

I would like to know whether we need to use past perfect tense or not.

One day last year I came home an hour earlier than expected.

Or

One day last year I had come home an hour earlier than expected.

Thanks...

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

I wouldn't say that the past perfect is necessary here. Semantically, both sentences are the same. However, the second sentence feels like it's leading up to something.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,

I would like to know whether we need to use past perfect tense or not.

One day last year I came home an hour earlier than expected.

Or

One day last year I had come home an hour earlier than expected.

Thanks...

The past perfect is only correct if something else follows.

 

[Barb_D]

Hi,

I would like to know whether we need to use past perfect tense or not.

One day last year I came home an hour earlier than expected.

Or

One day last year I had come home an hour earlier than expected.

Thanks...

There is no need for the past perfect here, unless there is another event that came after that, and you need to stress that you'd already come home before that.

I had come home earlier than expected and was horrified to find a strange man in my kitchen.

 

[5jj]

You might find these useful:

The Past Perfect

Problems with the Past Perfect & Past Simple