Question with Past Perfect Tense

Question

Hi,If I was narrating about a problem in my previous job, would the last sentence of the below paragraph with past perfect be correct even without explicitly stating in the sentence a later past event, however, the context was clear that it happened before I left the job?I was a junior financial analyst with X company from 2005 and resigned in 2009.  One of the problems I encountered there was the system's glitch, but I managed to resolved the problem's root cause.  Since then, I had not come across a similar problem again.By the way, can 'since' and 'until' go together in a sentence like 'since I got promoted until the time I resigned'?Also, can 'since' and 'before' go together in a sentence like ' ever since I got promoted, but before I resigned'?I believe 'untill' (up to) and 'before' are synonimous, aren't they?Thank you in advance.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousSince then, I had not come across a similar problem again.

I would simply say, "After that, I did not come across a similar problem again."

Anonymouscan 'since' and 'until' go together

Not really. Use "from" with "until". Use "before" with "after".

from the time I got promoted until the time I resigned
after I got promoted but before I resigned

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, CJ.

Is it incorrect to use "Since then" instead of "After that" in the given example?
Is the past perfect "had not come across" also not possible since it is implied or understood in the context that it happened before another action, which is my resignation in 2009.

Does "from" with "until" always require the simple past?
Can we also use the present perfect with this pair? And the past pefect?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIs it incorrect to use "Since then" instead of "After that" in the given example?

Not really incorrect grammatically, but "since then" gives the impression that you mean "until now", "until the moment of my saying this", and that's not the impression you wanted to give.

AnonymousIs the past perfect "had not come across" also not possible since it is implied or understood in the context that it happened before another action, which is my resignation in 2009.

It's not completely impossible, but it seemed unidiomatic to my ear, so I changed it.

AnonymousDoes "from" with "until" always require the simple past?
Can we also use the present perfect with this pair? And the past pefect?

The present perfect won't work, because you can't use "from the time" with the present perfect. The present perfect shows indefinite time, so "the time", which shows a definite time, contradicts the present perfect. But other tenses are possible.

from the time I get up in the morning until/to the time I go to bed at night
from the time I had first met him until/to the time he (had) won the Nobel prize

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your explanation.

CalifJimCan we also use the present perfect with this pair? And the past pefect?

The present perfect won't work, because you can't use "from the time" with the present perfect. The present perfect shows indefinite time, so "the time", which shows a definite time, contradicts the present perfect. But other tenses are possible.

What about "until" or "up to" alone, can it work with the present perfect?

He has not given his testimony until/up to now.
I have answered the questions until the investigation is done.

CalifJimfrom the time I had first met him until/to the time he (had) won the Nobel prize

Is 'had met' used here because it happened before a past reference point of winning of the Nobel prize?
Why is there an optional 'had' before the word 'won'? If this was used, what could be the earlier past reference point?

Question with Past Perfect Tense

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