1

In reality I completed my graduation in 2008. Which line is correct?

I have completed graduation in 2008

or

I had completed graduation in 2008

Improve this question
8
  • 3
    Occam's Razor (don't complicate things unnecessarily) applies here. Just stick to simple past I completed graduation in 2008 and you won't have a problem. Even more straightforward, and much more likely, I graduated in 2008.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 23, 2015 at 16:22
  • @FumbleFingers if i say "I graduated in bachelor of arts in 2008". is this correct
    – user122708
    Commented May 23, 2015 at 16:32
  • No - that would normally be I graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 2008 (where the as a Bachelor of Arts bit is optional/parenthetical). In normal speech the full form is a bit stiff/formal. Most people would just use BA (pronounced Bee-Ay), and they'd probably be most likely to say I got my BA in 2008 (if you want to be more formal, obtained my BA).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 23, 2015 at 16:38
  • 2
    There's nothing remotely "informal" about abbreviating Bachelor of Arts to BA, so you can forget that constraint. Your best bet, as per my first comment, is simply I graduated from ABC University in 2008. I don't think it would ever be natural to speak (or write) of obtaining graduation.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 23, 2015 at 16:54
  • 1
    If you are describing your accomplishments, "I earned a BA in XYZ from ABC University in 2008" might work better. It subtly highlights the work you did to graduate.
    – Jason Patterson
    Commented May 23, 2015 at 21:42

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

I have completed graduation in 2008 is wrong. You can't use present perfect with specific time expressions, and "in 2008" is specific.

As @FumbleFingers says, graduated is a much better term here. The above still applies.

Furthermore, note that the past perfect, versus simple perfect, is optional here for a couple of reasons (read this.), specifically

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

So I graduated in 2008 is the simplest way to say it, but I had graduated in 2008 is not wrong.

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    To me, I had graduated… implies you're talking about two or more events in the past, for example, I had graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2008 when my brother got married. Both events were in the past, but you're emphasizing that one had already completed when the other happened.
    – Gossar
    Commented May 24, 2015 at 21:58

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .