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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
past perfect
Hi,
little question:
I know I can use the simple past instead of the the present perfect with some adverbs, like "already", "just", ect. What about using the simple past instead of the past perfect? That's common, but I don't kow if it is still common when some adverbs are used. Examples:
I (have) already finished my homework, and now I have nothing to do. <--- ok, in the present
I (had) already finished my homework, and I had nothing to do.<--- this is in the past, can I leave out "had" and use the simple past?
I (have) just finished my homework, and now I have nothing to do.<--- ok, in the present
I (had) just finished my homework, and I had nothing to do.<--- this is in the past, can I leave out "had" and use the simple past?
Thanks
little question:
I know I can use the simple past instead of the the present perfect with some adverbs, like "already", "just", ect. What about using the simple past instead of the past perfect? That's common, but I don't kow if it is still common when some adverbs are used. Examples:
I (have) already finished my homework, and now I have nothing to do. <--- ok, in the present
I (had) already finished my homework, and I had nothing to do.<--- this is in the past, can I leave out "had" and use the simple past?
I (have) just finished my homework, and now I have nothing to do.<--- ok, in the present
I (had) just finished my homework, and I had nothing to do.<--- this is in the past, can I leave out "had" and use the simple past?
Thanks
Top answer
We can clarify the sentence by adding a time phrase in front of it: Yesterday around this time, I had (just) finished my homework and (after that) I had nothing (left) to do. The past perfect signifies some action or situation that was completed (finishing your homework) before another one started (having nothing to do anymore). You may want to simply rephrase your sentence: After I had finished my homework.
- We can clarify the sentence by adding a time phrase in front of it: Yesterday around this time, I had (just) finished my homework and (after that) I had nothing (left) to do.
- The past perfect signifies some action or situation that was completed (finishing your homework) before another one started (having nothing to do anymore).
- You may want to simply rephrase your sentence: After I had finished my homework.
- I had nothing (left) to do.
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3 Answers
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We can clarify the sentence by adding a time phrase in front of it: Yesterday around this time, I had (just) finished my homework and (after that) I had nothing (left) to do.
The past perfect signifies some action or situation that was completed (finishing your homework) before another one started (having nothing to do anymore).
You may want to simply rephrase your sentenc
The past perfect signifies some action or situation that was completed (finishing your homework) before another one started (having nothing to do anymore).
You may want to simply rephrase your sentenc
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Hi Kooyeen
I don't like either of the second sentences (in the pairs) without the past perfect. In the second pair, if you omit 'had' in your second sentence, it sounds as though you intend a different meaning for the word 'just' (i.e. just = only, merely).
I don't like either of the second sentences (in the pairs) without the past perfect. In the second pair, if you omit 'had' in your second sentence, it sounds as though you intend a different meaning for the word 'just' (i.e. just = only, merely).
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