past or past perfect

[edmondjanet]

Hello everyone,
I was not here when he came to see me.
I had not been here when he came to see me.
I left when he came.
I had left when he came. I had asked this type of questions before. But, even now I am not clear whether past or past perfect has to be used.
Thank you.

 

[5jj]

I was not here when he came to see me. Fine
I had not been here when he came to see me. No
I left when he came. Fine. The two actions happened at the same time.
I had left when he came. Fine. The leaving happened before the coming

I [STRIKE]had[/STRIKE] asked this type of question[STRIKE]s[/STRIKE] before.

5

 

[peng huang]

“

I was not here when he came to see me.​

” correct.
"

I had not been here when he came to see me.​

" strange. I don't think it is necessary to use past perfect in this case.
"

I left when he came.​

" incorrect. There are two actions happened in the past stated in the sentence, one of which occurred earlier than the other. In this case, you must use past perfect to describe the one happened earlier.
"

I had left when he came.​

" correct.

Those are my understanding on the question and they may be wrong. I am waiting for others to give their input.

 

[bhaisahab]

“

I was not here when he came to see me.​

” correct.
"

I had not been here when he came to see me.​

" strange. I don't think it is necessary to use past perfect in this case.
"

I left when he came.​

" incorrect. There are two actions happened in the past stated in the sentence, one of which occurred earlier than the other. In this case, you must use past perfect to describe the one happened earlier.
"

I had left when he came.​

" correct.

Those are my understanding on the question and they may be wrong. I am waiting for others to give their input.

Did you read 5jj's response before you posted?

 

[Tdol]

I left when he came.​

" incorrect. There are two actions happened in the past stated in the sentence, one of which occurred earlier than the other. In this case, you must use past perfect to describe the one happened earlier.

This is not true. The sentence is correct.

 

[peng huang]

It depends on the actual situation. If A occurs before B, you should say, "I had left when he came." If A and B happened at the same time, you may say, "I was leaving when he came."

"I left when he came" is OK in day to day conversation, but I doubt your English teacher would approve it in formal writing.

Please advice.

 

[peng huang]

Sorry, I only read 5jj's post after I had clicked on the reply button. (is it correct to use past perfect here?);-)

 

[edmondjanet]

5

regarding this, I have one more doubt
I was not here for a long time.
I was not here since 2000 to 2010.
I had not been here for a long time.
I had not been here since 2000 to 2010. Which of these sentences are correct?
Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

regarding this, I have one more doubt
I was not here for a long time.
I was not here since 2000 to 2010.
I had not been here for a long time.
I had not been here since 2000 to 2010. Which of these sentences are correct?
Thank you.

They are all unnatural.

 

[edmondjanet]

They are all unnatural.

Sir,
I couldn't understand your answer. I was working in Kuwait since 2006 to 2010. Four years I was not in my home country. So, can't I say?
I was not here for a long time, or I was not here since 2006 to 2010.
Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Sir,
I couldn't understand your answer. I was working in Kuwait since 2006 to 2010. Four years I was not in my home country. So, can't I say?
I was not here for a long time, or I was not here since 2006 to 2010.
Thank you.

No, you could say "I was away for a long time", "I wasn't here from 2006 to 2010", "I was in Kuwait from 2006 to 2010".