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Monseul Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
by the time + past perfect or simple past
Hey all,
I know that in the past form, if 'BEFORE' or 'AFTER' is used, then most commonly we use the simple past. Does that rule apply to 'BY THE TIME'? What is the difference in the sentences below:
She had already left by the time he had arrived.
She left by the time he arrived.
I know that in the past form, if 'BEFORE' or 'AFTER' is used, then most commonly we use the simple past. Does that rule apply to 'BY THE TIME'? What is the difference in the sentences below:
She had already left by the time he had arrived.
She left by the time he arrived.
Top answer
There may be occasions where it is necessary or desirable to use any one of the possible combinations of past and past perfect, so I would not call it a rule. Nevertheless, the "rule", such as it is, does apply equally to before , after , and by the time , in my opinion. Patterns in which both clauses are in the past perfect seem particularly awkward to me.
- There may be occasions where it is necessary or desirable to use any one of the possible combinations of past and past perfect, so I would not call it a rule.
- Nevertheless, the "rule", such as it is, does apply equally to before , after , and by the time , in my opinion.
- Patterns in which both clauses are in the past perfect seem particularly awkward to me.
- Patterns with the past in the main clause and the past perfect after before , after , or by the time seem less awkward, but less used than other possible combinations.
- The patterns with the main clause in either simple past or past perfect with the subordinate clause in the simple past seem to me to be the most useful patterns.
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7 Answers
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There may be occasions where it is necessary or desirable to use any one of the possible combinations of past and past perfect, so I would not call it a rule. Nevertheless, the "rule", such as it is, does apply equally to before, after, and by the time, in my opinion.
Patterns in which both clauses are in the past perfect seem particularly awkward to me.
Patterns in which both clauses are in the past perfect seem particularly awkward to me.
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CalifJim,
Thanks for your response.
What do you think about patterns with both clauses in simple past?
Examples:
1. Millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth, but they became extinct by the time humankind first appeared.
Thanks for your response.
What do you think about patterns with both clauses in simple past?
Examples:
1. Millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth, but they became extinct by the time humankind first appeared.
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I would prefer:
She had already left by the time he arrived.
You may want to read this current related thread:
and check Swan re tense simplification.
She had already left by the time he arrived.
You may want to read this current related thread:
and check Swan re tense simplification.
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You may find yourself quotations from literature involving "by the past" by performing a search at:
with:
site:literaturepost.com "by the time"
You will find enough examples even of past perfect/past perfect combinations, such as:
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The Silverado Squatters by Stevenson, Robert Louis - Chapter 9
with:
site:literaturepost.com "by the time"
You will find enough examples even of past perfect/past perfect combinations, such as:
------
The Silverado Squatters by Stevenson, Robert Louis - Chapter 9
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I took these as the most appealing ones:
She had left before he arrived.
She left after he had arrived.
She had left by the time he arrived. i.e. She had left no later than the time he arrived
She had left that city since he arrived there. i.e. She had left that city since the
She had left before he arrived.
She left after he had arrived.
She had left by the time he arrived. i.e. She had left no later than the time he arrived
She had left that city since he arrived there. i.e. She had left that city since the
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What do you think about patterns with both clauses in simple past?They are among the most useful, I think, and they sound quite natural. See previous post.
No. had already is common in that context, but just already is also fine in American English. Personally, I would have chosen had already.
I believe the British may hav
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In first sentense 1.event is leaving,then he arrive.this sentence can be used (before he arrived,she left.)...but in second sentence before she left ,he arrived.that is..
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