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Emithebomber96 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past perfect+since+ past simple or past perfect?

It's been a while since I saw for the first time this construction. I've read in a book this sentence "It had been 30 days since I had seen my parents" and I don't understand why did she use past perfect in the second part instead of past simple. So my question is if with since I have to use past simple or past perfect. And how to understand when to use both of them.
  

Top answer

Emithebomber96 I don't understand why did she use d past perfect ... The past perfect is the past (backshift) of the past. was > had been; saw > had seen The past perfect is also the past (backshift) of the present perfect.

— CalifJim

  • Emithebomber96 I don't understand why did she use d past perfect ...
  • The past perfect is the past (backshift) of the past.
  • was > had been; saw > had seen The past perfect is also the past (backshift) of the present perfect.
  • has been > had been; has seen > had seen Therefore, It has been 30 days since I saw my parents.
  • when backshifted, becomes I had been 30 days since I had seen my parents.
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12 Answers
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Emithebomber96I don't understand why did she used past perfect ...
The past perfect is the past (backshift) of the past. was > had been; saw > had seen
The past perfect is also the past (backshift) of the present perfect. has been > had been; has seen > had seen
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CalifJim could you please give me some examples like the first way and then some examples of the past of the present perfect
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Emithebomber96 examples like the first way
It has been a month since I spoke to her.
It's been a week since they moved to Chicago.
It's been a year since she graduated from high school.
Emithebomber96examples of the past of the present perfect
Peter has passed the exam. > Peter had passed the exam.
Tom has m
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CalifJim in conclusion.. With past perfect after since I have to put the past perfect again?
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Emithebomber96With past perfect after since I have to put the past perfect again?
No. It's a common pattern, and it's correct to use the past perfect twice like that, but you can substitute the simple past after since.

It had been three years since they (had) played tennis.

CJ
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So i can decide which one is better for me.. Is it one more American and the other more British or not?
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Emithebomber96one more American and the other more British or not
Not. I'm not aware of any difference between AmE and BrE in this respect.

CJ
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But I can decide which one is better for me, I mean, I can say:
it had been a year since the last time I saw her.
or
it had been a year since the last time I had seen her?
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CalifJim could you please answer my question. Thanks so much.
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Emithebomber96I can say:it had been a year since the last time I saw her.orit had been a year since the last time I had seen her?
Yes, you can.

CJ
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