[Grammar] Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

[feedthebear]

I saw this sentence pattern somewhere, and I'm wondering if it is correct.

After I got to the train station, the train had already left.

For me, I will go for:
When I got to the train station, the train had already left.
or
I got to the train station after the train had already left.

Whoever clears this up for me, thanks a lot

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

The first is incorrect and makes no sense. My preference is for your first suggestion - "When I got to the train station, ..." but there is nothing wrong with your second suggestion.

 

[BobK]

Re: Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

:up: ...but you could make the first sentence meaningful by supplying a simple past verb that the 'already left' could be 'paster' than: 'After I got to the train station, I discovered that the train had already left.'

b

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

I'd omit the first 'train'. The second part of the sentence confirms what kind of station it was.

In the UK at least, we take 'station' to mean 'railway station' unless it's prefaced by 'bus', 'police', 'fire', 'radio', 'filling' or 'petrol'.

 

[BobK]

Re: Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

:up: Well spotted!

b

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Is "After I got to the train station, the train had already left." correct?

When you use "after", the past perfect becomes less important. You could say "I got to the station after the train left."