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Shubham Soni Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Confusion about past perfect tense

"Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well."

These are the lines from the famous novel Harry Potter and philosopher's stone

I just want to know why the writer didn't use past perfect tense in " your father left this in my possession before he died." This line.

  

Top answer

The sequence of events is clear, there's no need for the past perfect. First your father left this in my possession, then he died. Compare: When I got home, they went to bed.

  • The sequence of events is clear, there's no need for the past perfect.
  • First your father left this in my possession, then he died.
  • Compare: When I got home, they went to bed.
  • (First I got home, then they went to bed) When I got home, they had gone to bed.
  • (First they went to bed, then I got home)
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2 Answers
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The sequence of events is clear, there's no need for the past perfect. First your father left this in my possession, then he died.

Compare:

When I got home, they went to bed. (First I got home, then they went to bed)

When I got home, they had gone to bed. (First they went to bed, then I got home)

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Shubham Soni

"Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well."

These are the lines from the famous novel Harry Potter and philosopher's stone

I just want to know why the writer didn't use past perfect tense in " your father left this in my possession before he died." This line.

You mig

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