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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Unclear usage of past perfect

Hello guys. I was studying from English Grammar in Use when i came across a sentence where past perfect must be used yet I have no idea why.Here is the sentence<it is the first one>+ a other sentences.

Last night I ___ (just/go) to bed and ____ (read) a book when suddenly I ____ (hear) a noise. I ____ (get) up to see what it was, but I ____ (not/see) anything, so I ___ (go) back to bed.

Could you please explain why do I have to use past perfect and not just past simple since for me it look`s just like an ordinary story. Please show me grammar rule and give me some examples.

Thank you in very much
  

Top answer

You have a series of simple actions that will need the simple past tense. Before them you have a "scene-setting" action that describes something going on that was interrupted by the other actions. And even before that, you have an action that preceded all the others which needs the past perfect.

— Philip

  • You have a series of simple actions that will need the simple past tense.
  • Before them you have a "scene-setting" action that describes something going on that was interrupted by the other actions.
  • And even before that, you have an action that preceded all the others which needs the past perfect.
  • If this isn't enough to help you fill in the blanks, let me know.
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7 Answers
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You have a series of simple actions that will need the simple past tense. Before them you have a "scene-setting" action that describes something going on that was interrupted by the other actions. And even before that, you have an action that preceded all the others which needs the past perfect. If this isn't enough to help you fill in the blanks, let me know.
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Sorry i still don't get it. For example there is another exercise where past simple was the correct option(Again in the 1st sentence). And i don't see a big difference betwen the sentences i wrote a few minutes ago and these sentences:

Yesterday afternoon Sarah___ (go) to the station to meet Paul. When she ____ (get) there,Paul ____ (already/wait) for her. HIS train ___ (arrive)
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Btw thank you very much for your time Emotion: smile
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Yes, it is a simple narrative, but the actions all have a time reference. Your tenses are correct. Take another look at my first explanation. That explanation fits here, except that the past perfect (the action before all the others in a series) is mentioned at the end of the "story".
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Oh yees! I finaly get it. I just checked 2 other exercises(with stories) and there was indeed one past perfect in each. I am so happy now
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Btw can you please reccomend any other grammatic book for me? I feel like Grammar in Use isn't enough
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Anonymouscame across a sentence where past perfect must be used yet I have no idea why
There are two clues.

1. "just"
2. "when suddenly"

Actually, three clues, because the two together form a characteristic pattern:

3. ... had just ... when (suddenly) ...

"just" usually triggers a perfect tense (has, have,
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