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Newguest Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

had/before

Hi

There's the sentence: It was hard, but I had thought it would be even harder.

If I put "before" do I still should use the past perfect tense, i.e.: It was hard, but I thought before that it would be even harder

thanks
  

Top answer

Hi, There's the sentence: It was hard, but I had thought it would be even harder. : It was hard, but I thought before that it would be even harder To me, the word 'before' does not seem to fit well here. ' Your sentence makes me do a little too much work in my head.

— Clive

  • Hi, There's the sentence: It was hard, but I had thought it would be even harder.
  • : It was hard, but I thought before that it would be even harder To me, the word 'before' does not seem to fit well here.
  • ' Your sentence makes me do a little too much work in my head.
  • I'd prefer the more explicit It was hard, but I thought before I did it that it would be even harder.
  • However, this word sounds OK to me.
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5 Answers
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Hi,

There's the sentence: It was hard, but I had thought it would be even harder.

If I put "before" do I still should use the past perfect tense, i.e.: It was hard, but I thought before that it would be even harder

To me, the word 'before' does not seem to fit well here. I find myself thinking 'before what?' Your sentence makes me do a little too much work in my head.
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CliveHi,

There's the sentence: It was hard, but I had thought it would be even harder.

If I put "before" do I still should use the past perfect tense, i.e.: It was hard, but I thought before that it would be even harder

To me, the word 'before' does not seem to fit well here. I find myself thinking 'before what?' Your sentence makes me do a lit
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Hi,

OK, but my original sentence with "had" is also correct? Yes. Except that, as I said, I don't like the use of 'before' by itself.

However if I add "earlier" or "before I did it" then "had" is superfluous? Yes.

Clive
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I would use "beforehand": It was hard, but [here] I thought [or here] that it would be even harder.
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