Back in 2014 I HAD just started the second part of ACCA.

[Ashraful Haque]

I was asked to talk about an incident when someone helped me. I said:

"Back in 2014 I had just started the second part of ACCA. The paper is called F4. It's about the corporate legal system. Admittedly, I was a below average student. I didn't know how to study the paper. I had no idea what to expect. I was desperate for some help. And coincidentally I met a guy called Amit Saha and he was a brilliant student."


My question is about the 'I had just started' part. I know that it would be wrong to say "Back in 2014 I just started the second...." because 'just started' is said when you started something just recently.

My questions:
1) Is the sentence correct?

2) I don't think it's only about the 'just' because if I remove it "Back in 2014 I started the second part of ACCA" it sounds to me like I'm answering the question 'when did you start the 2nd part?' When do we use this structure?

Please note that I said this sentence subconsciously so I don't actually know the rules behind it. I probably picked it up from somewhere.

 

[GoesStation]

Your sentence is correct and natural. You need "just". I'm sorry but I can't think of a way to explain why at the moment.

 

[teechar]

The past perfect is okay, because there are other past simple verbs (didn't know, had no idea, was desperate, met a guy, etc.) that follow (in time) after it.
I would make other changes to that text, including:
The paper was called F4.
I was a below-average student.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

The past perfect is okay, because there are other past simple verbs (didn't know, had no idea, was desperate, met a guy, etc.) that follow (in time) after it.
I would make other changes to that text, including:
The paper was called F4.
I was a below-average student.

Thank you so much. It was actually an IELTS speaking test question. I was confused between 'was' and 'is' but I thought since the paper is still called f4 I should go with 'is.'
I'll remember to backshift when talking about a past event whether it's still the case or not.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

One not very scientific way of looking at this is to put yourself back in 2014 at the time of your meeting Amit Saha. At that time, your thoughts/words were " I have just started ...". So, from the standpoint of today, you had just started at that time.

Thanks a lot. This makes sense.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

The past perfect is okay, because there are other past simple verbs (didn't know, had no idea, was desperate, met a guy, etc.) that follow (in time) after it.
I would make other changes to that text, including:
The paper was called F4.
I was a below-average student.

So it's like saying "I had lived in 5 different cities before I turned 10 years old." Two past events one after another.

 

[teechar]

Yes, but it's more natural to say "before I turned 10". Also, many popular style guides recommend writing out numbers ten and under.