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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Past Perfect--2 Sentences

I had just eaten before I searched the fridge for food to take away on holiday, so I couldn't find anything desirable.

We don't usually need the past perfect when we use the conj. 'before.' But why does it seem necessary/sound awkward to me without it in this sentence? Is the adverb 'just' to blame? Why?

I hadn't seen him since 1980, and he had aged a lot in the intervening years.

Do we need further context to justify the past perfect here?

Thank you for your time Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

I had just eaten before I searched the fridge for food to take away on holiday, so I couldn't find anything desirable. We don't usually need the past perfect when we use the conj. ' But why does it seem necessary/sound awkward to me without it in this sentence?

— Mister Micawber

  • I had just eaten before I searched the fridge for food to take away on holiday, so I couldn't find anything desirable.
  • We don't usually need the past perfect when we use the conj.
  • ' But why does it seem necessary/sound awkward to me without it in this sentence?
  • Is the adverb 'just' to blame?
  • -- 'I just ate' sounds OK to me.
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5 Answers
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I had just eaten before I searched the fridge for food to take away on holiday, so I couldn't find anything desirable.
We don't usually need the past perfect when we use the conj. 'before.' But why does it seem necessary/sound awkward to me without it in this sentence? Is the adverb 'just' to blame? Why?-- 'I just ate' sounds OK to me.

I hadn't seen him since 1980, and he had
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Mister MicawberWe presume there is more, yes.

Thanks, MM. "I just ate" I think sounds Ok to me too on second thought.
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We (or I) talk a lot here about past perfect not being required, but I am aware that many people use it in such situations. I don't think we can call that wrong; just unnecessary.

When we ran into each other in that Arizona diner in late 1996, I hadn't seen him since 1980, and he had aged a lot in the intervening years.
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Mister MicawberWe (or I) talk a lot here about past perfect not being required, but I am aware that many people use it in such situations. I don't think we can call that wrong; just unnecessary.

such situations being my 2nd sentence in the original post, right?

Thanks. Your way certainly makes it simpler, doesn't it.
Mister Micaw
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such situations being my 2nd sentence in the original post, right?-- Yes, if there is indeed no further context.

"When we ran into each other in that Arizona diner in late 1996, I hadn't seen him since 1980, and he had aged a lot in the intervening years." Thanks. So would you include the past perfect in this example, but not the original? Or leave it out here too?-- No, t
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