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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Past perfect
"Until a few years ago , no one had heard about him."
I understand the use of past perfect few years ago is past : past of the past is pastt perfect.
But look at this other example
"In the last years of the 19th century , Buffalo was growing in North America.
No white people came to this remote part of North America until 1880"
Why it is not past perfect had come
1880 is past, past of the past is past perfect same as in the first example
Please let me know why this difference
Many thanks
I understand the use of past perfect few years ago is past : past of the past is pastt perfect.
But look at this other example
"In the last years of the 19th century , Buffalo was growing in North America.
No white people came to this remote part of North America until 1880"
Why it is not past perfect had come
1880 is past, past of the past is past perfect same as in the first example
Please let me know why this difference
Many thanks
Top answer
Past perfect comes into play when two past actions are considered. The actions have taken place one after the other and past perfect is used to denote the first one. Last evening, when she returned form work her mother had already gone to bed.
- Past perfect comes into play when two past actions are considered.
- The actions have taken place one after the other and past perfect is used to denote the first one.
- Last evening, when she returned form work her mother had already gone to bed.
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13 Answers
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Past perfect comes into play when two past actions are considered. The actions have taken place one after the other and past perfect is used to denote the first one.
Last evening, when she returned form work her mother had already gone to bed.
Last evening, when she returned form work her mother had already gone to bed.
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vsureshPast perfect comes into play when two past actions are considered. The actions have taken place one after the other and past perfect is used to denote the first one.Last evening, when she returned form work her mother had already gone to bed.Not always.
He refused to go till he had seen all the pictures.
He did not wait till we h
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Sorry but you did not answer to my question
I already knew what you explained
but I would like to know why in second example "No white people came to this remote part of North America until 1880 " this not past perfect " had come " why the author chose past simple ,there must be one reason
thanks a lot
I already knew what you explained
but I would like to know why in second example "No white people came to this remote part of North America until 1880 " this not past perfect " had come " why the author chose past simple ,there must be one reason
thanks a lot
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AnonymousNot always.Yes, I agree. I just want to reiterate that past perfect is usually used when two past actions which happened, or were to happen or likely to happen one after another.
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AnonymousWhy it is not past perfect had come 1880 is past, past of the past is past perfect same as in the first examplePlease let me know why this differenceIt is the writer's choice. Both are grammatically correct.
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Anonymousbut I would like to know why in second example "No white people came to this remote part of North America until 1880 " this not past perfect " had come " why the author chose past simple ,there must be one reasonI think it is probably because of the presence of until which demarcates the order of events.
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vsureshI think it is probably because of the presence of until which demarcates the order of events.However, "until" is also in the "no one had heard about him" sentence, which does require the past perfect, so I don't see how this explanation works.
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Hi Alphecca Stars
Please tell me if this is OK.
Randall did not buy any book last year. She bought/had bought only four before that.
By the time I was 15, I had visited/visited four countries.
Please tell me if this is OK.
Randall did not buy any book last year. She bought/had bought only four before that.
By the time I was 15, I had visited/visited four countries.
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Randall did not buy any books last year (2013).
The closer the connection /or contrast between the two events or points in time, the more natural the past perfect becomes. That point is somewhat arbitrary since degrees of connection are gradable.
She bought four in 2012. (No connection)
She bought four the year before. (Slight connection)
She (had) bought four before
The closer the connection /or contrast between the two events or points in time, the more natural the past perfect becomes. That point is somewhat arbitrary since degrees of connection are gradable.
She bought four in 2012. (No connection)
She bought four the year before. (Slight connection)
She (had) bought four before
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GPYHowever, "until" is also in the "no one had heard about him" sentence, which does require the past perfect, so I don't see how this explanation works.I agree with you GPY.
In fact I do use past perfect with until, just as you will see in the sentences I have posted for AlpheccaStars to check, I guessed it is probably because of 'until' as i
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