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Jeffery216 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Difference between "you had left & you left"

May I ask what's the difference between two sentences, I am doing some exercises....

"When I got there, you had left"
"When I got there, you left"
  

Top answer

jeffery216 "When I got there, you had left" You weree no longer there when I arrived. You left before I arrived. jeffery216 "When I got there, you left" You were still there when I arrived.

— Fivejedjon

  • jeffery216 "When I got there, you had left" You weree no longer there when I arrived.
  • You left before I arrived.
  • jeffery216 "When I got there, you left" You were still there when I arrived.
  • You left as I arrived.
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5 Answers
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jeffery216"When I got there, you had left"
You weree no longer there when I arrived. You left before I arrived.
jeffery216"When I got there, you left"
You were still there when I arrived. You left as I arrived.
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Thanks fivejedjon, should I understand as below?

You weree no longer there when I arrived. You left before I arrived. (I have no chance to catch him up)
You were still there when I arrived. You left as I arrived.  (I still have chance to catch him up)
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jeffery216(I have no chance to catch him up) (I still have chance to catch him up)
You can'r assume that.
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Maybe it will help if you think of this way:
...you had left. -- You were not there at the same time.
... you left. -- You were there at the same time for a very short time. Perhaps you passed each other near the doorway.
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jeffery216When I got there, you had left
1. You left.
2. I got there.
jeffery216When I got there, you left
1. I got there.
2. You left.
______________

So the difference is the order in which the two events occurred.

CJ
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