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Szappala Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
the first time + pluperfect or simple past
(1) I know that it’s correct to say the following with the pluperfect:
I was in Paris in 1984. That was the first time I had been there.
I ate snails at the party. That was the first time I had eaten snails.
Such sentences seem correct for “first,” “second,” etc., but not “last.” Am I right?
In other words, “that was the last time I ate snails.”
(2) Also, what is the difference in usage between:
“that was the first time” + pluperfect and “that was the first time” + simple past
In other words, if the point of reference is the time when I was seeing someone,
“That was the first time I had seen her.” vs “That was the first time I saw her.”
I was in Paris in 1984. That was the first time I had been there.
I ate snails at the party. That was the first time I had eaten snails.
Such sentences seem correct for “first,” “second,” etc., but not “last.” Am I right?
In other words, “that was the last time I ate snails.”
(2) Also, what is the difference in usage between:
“that was the first time” + pluperfect and “that was the first time” + simple past
In other words, if the point of reference is the time when I was seeing someone,
“That was the first time I had seen her.” vs “That was the first time I saw her.”
Top answer
szappala I was in Paris in 1984. That was the first time I had been there. I ate snails at the party.
- szappala I was in Paris in 1984.
- That was the first time I had been there.
- I ate snails at the party.
- ” The simple past is OK and common in all three of your examples.
- ” —this sentence posits further context and another past event.
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1 Answers
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szappalaI was in Paris in 1984. That was the first time I had been there. I ate snails at the party. That was the first time I had eaten snails.Such sentences seem correct for “first,” “second,” etc., but not “last.” Am I right?In other words, “that was the last time I ate snails.”The simple past is OK and common in all three of your examples.
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