Questions tagged [past-vs-past-perfect]

is for questions about when to use the past tense versus the past perfect tense

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Proper use of Past Perfect Vs Past Simple [duplicate]

English is my second language. I've learned all tense rule. Problem is every day I'm facing a huge confusion between Past simple and Past Perfect. According to grammar rule, we can you use Past ...
Rashedul Alam's user avatar
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Is the sentence grammatically correct? (Concerned with tense usage)

Since I can understand the English dialogue without much difficulty, there’s no reason not to enjoy the films in the way the film-makers intended. I'm not sure whether I should use "intended" or "...
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I had done when you had come by the evening

We have "A" and B moments in the past. "A" happened first, "B" happened second. "A" should be in Perfect. Example: I had done when you came I had done - "A" When you came - "B" "A" happened before ...
Michael Azarenko's user avatar
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Who had always wanted to do it

We have such a sentence: I found some people who always wanted to walk in the forests. Is it correct? I mean the second part has to be in Past Simple or Past Perfect like: I found some people ...
Michael Azarenko's user avatar
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How is "had been" used in English sentences? [duplicate]

In writing a paragraph, how can we use "had been" sometimes, but on other occasions we can use "was" rather than "had been"? So, how do I decide which to use?
Samreen Nazia's user avatar
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Correct use of tense for interview questions?

Q) How did you manage your studies? Ans (a) I did not study hard. I had prepared one timetable and followed it. Ans (b) I did not study hard. I prepared one timetable and followed it. Which one ...
user4084's user avatar
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Money was handed over / money had been handed over

The money was handed over to driver by this morning Money had been handed over to driver this morning What is the difference between these sentences?
Suren's user avatar
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Does using the third conditional make this argument circular?

I was wondering which conditional would be appropriate in the following argument. There's no evidence to support the opposition's claim that a black hole resulted from the supernova. Furthermore, ...
CDM's user avatar
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How & When to change tense in Reporting Speech?

From the Times of India: Father of a 16-year-old girl has alleged that her daughter was raped and impregnated by Chandankumar Yadav of Ramol who promised to marry her. It is not clear from this ...
user4084's user avatar
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What did you eat or what have you eat?

If I am asking someone what he got for his birthday, would it be "What did you get?" or "What have you got?"
Tonny's user avatar
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Using the Past Simple with the "in the last" expression

Almost half of the people who bought a vinyl record in the last 12 months did so after hearing on a streaming site Since the expression "in the last 12 months" includes the current moment of time,...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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"Joe told me how he spent time at a birthday party." "He told me how he had spent time at a birthday party." [duplicate]

My friend (let's say he's named Joe) is telling me how he spent time at a birthday party. Two days later I want to talk about that to my other friend (let's say Ryan). What's the right way? Joe told ...
Bambi's user avatar
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Confusing Usage of Perfect Tenses

Actually, as you may guess, I'm not a native English speaker, in fact it's third language that I've leaned. Persian and Azari Turkish are my mother tongues. By the way, I have to get an IELTS cert and ...
Mehdi Abbassi's user avatar
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"I would do anything you asked me to"

What exactly does it mean? What is the difference between: I would do anything you asked me to! I would have done anything you had asked me to!
J.J.'s user avatar
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He "left" a comment on website this morning vs "had left"

I'm confusing the past simple and the past perfect, particularly in following case; I don't know which one do I have to use. Ms. Koo, one of our regular customers, (left / had left) a question ...
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Choice of tense and meaning in "My friend considered going to an event where X came (had come?)" [duplicate]

My friend considered going to an event to see X. Now if I wanted to convey a similar meaning, which of the sentences below would you suggest I use? And what's the difference between the two? My ...
lekon chekon's user avatar
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There are two different times so isn't it necessary to use past perfect instead of past simple with 'use'

Capital expenditure of their company in the year 2001 was clearly below the spending in the year 2000 when they used about half the investments for the concept conversion. There are two years 2000 ...
mustafa atmaca's user avatar
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After she had completed her home work, she went to bed

After she had completed her home work, she went to bed. Is the sentence correct or not? Is it had completed or have completed?
user103675's user avatar
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What is the difference between the two similar sentences? [closed]

(1) I brought the book that I {bought} on the previous day. (2) I brought the book that I {had bought} on the previous day. I think the two sentences are the same in their meanings. If not, could ...
DeborahJeong's user avatar
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past perfect tense usage -- I had called you yesterday before leaving

Is the sentence below correct? I had called you yesterday before leaving.
Namita Ojha's user avatar

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