Past perfect with "after"

Question

My question is a short one. Do I always have to use past perfect after the word after? (when talking in past tense)

Take this sentence as an example: After I had finished working, I did some shopping.

Could I say this: After I finished working, I did some shopping. Without any difference in meaning?

I suggest you rely on the guiding principle we called Fumblefingers' Perfect Truism: Don't use past perfect unless you really have to. The word 'after' is enough to indicate that one action took place before another in the past, so you don't have to employ past perfect. — Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini, Commented Aug 21, 2017 at 10:12

Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-21 10:06:21Z

2

Not necessarily:

After I finish working, I will go to the movies.

Perhaps with the past tense it is best to use the perfect to indicate the fact that the verb's action has been completed.

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answered Aug 21, 2017 at 10:00

Confused Soul

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