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Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect

I'd never heard of it until I met her. - Is past perfect necessary here? I think the sequence of the events is clear.
  

Top answer

Hi, No. Yes, it's clear. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, No.
  • Yes, it's clear.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,

No.

Yes, it's clear.

Clive
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Thank you. Why do loads of native speakers use past perfect even when a meaning is clear?
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Dunno. I do, to.

'Why' is always the toughest question.

Clive
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Just because the past perfect isn't essential doesn't necessarily mean it's best to leave it out.

I never heard of it until I met her.

Without the past perfect, the sentence sounds awkward to me, unrefined, even.
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Ha. This is very confusing and frustrating at the same time. One of the volunteers on here said that he advocated his students not to use past perfect when it wasn't necessary. So I asked his if he used it when it's not necessary and he said he didn't. I'll keep using it the way I've been so far.
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