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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

start

I know perfect tense has been discussed for thousand times, but please look at the following sentences.

1. The game started before I got to the stadium.

2. The game had started before I got to the stadium.

Sentence one talks about a regular truth and sentence 2 focuses on the order of the things happened. Please correct me if I am wrong.

LC
  

Top answer

I don't see them with that difference, LC (though I am not sure what you mean by 'regular truth'). For me, number 2 anchors the beginning of the game more firmly and slightly farther in the past; normally I don't think I would bother to use it.

— Mister Micawber

  • I don't see them with that difference, LC (though I am not sure what you mean by 'regular truth').
  • For me, number 2 anchors the beginning of the game more firmly and slightly farther in the past; normally I don't think I would bother to use it.
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4 Answers
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I don't see them with that difference, LC (though I am not sure what you mean by 'regular truth'). For me, number 2 anchors the beginning of the game more firmly and slightly farther in the past; normally I don't think I would bother to use it.
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2 is more rigorous in defining the time sequence.
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1. The game started before I got to the stadium.

2. The game had started before I got to the stadium.

Sentence one talks about a regular truth and sentence 2 focuses on the order of the things happened. Please correct me if I am wrong.

LC

You're right. The word 'had' in s
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Mister MicawberI don't see them with that difference, LC (though I am not sure what you mean by 'regular truth'). For me, number 2 anchors the beginning of the game more firmly and slightly farther in the past; normally I don't think I would bother to use it.

Regular truth...I just made it up myself. [:-D]
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