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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect correct?

Please tell me the past perfect tense is correctly used in the following example sentences in a made-up context. I think some uses of past perfect are discretionary, that is, one can either use or not use it and not be wrong. Thank you in advance for your help.

He headed home. After a few minutes, after stopping by his aunt's house along the way, he had come home. Once he is home, he went into his study.
  

Top answer

The past perfect is optional here. The "stop at his aunt's house" occurs before the arrival at his house. If you are going to use the past perfect, this is a good place because of the contrast of two completed events, one occurring before the other.

— AlpheccaStars

  • The past perfect is optional here.
  • The "stop at his aunt's house" occurs before the arrival at his house.
  • If you are going to use the past perfect, this is a good place because of the contrast of two completed events, one occurring before the other.
  • He headed home.
  • After a A few minutes later , after he had stopped by his aunt's house along the way, he arrived at his home.
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2 Answers
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The past perfect is optional here. The "stop at his aunt's house" occurs before the arrival at his house. If you are going to use the past perfect, this is a good place because of the contrast of two completed events, one occurring before the other.

He headed home. After a A few minutes later, after he had stopped by his aunt's house along the way, he
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AnonymousPlease tell me the past perfect tense is correctly used
Not really. It's not necessary. The past perfect is used more for those occasions when you are telling a story in a different order from the order in which it occurred. Here is a typical use, where the last sentence tells something that happened earlier in the story:

He headed home
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