0
Yoong Liat Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

verb

In the following sentence, should 'finished' be used instead of 'had finished'?

He had finished the book last night before John came in. [I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense. Instead we use the simple past tense] as in the following sentence.

A stray dog killed my kitten last night.

  

Top answer

Hi, should 'finished' be used instead of 'had finished'? Yes, in this example. I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense.

— Clive

  • Hi, should 'finished' be used instead of 'had finished'?
  • Yes, in this example.
  • I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense.
  • In other contexts, I'd hesitate to agree with this very general statement.
  • eg Last night , when I arrived at John's apartment, he had taken 20 sleeping pills.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

15 Answers
0
Hi,

should 'finished' be used instead of 'had finished'? Yes, in this example.



I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense. In other contexts, I'd hesitate to agree with this very general statement.

eg
0
0
<<I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense.>>
No. You mean present perfect tense.
The same does not apply to the past perfect tense.

CJ
0
0
CalifJim<<I know that when time is stated (in this case 'last night'), we should not use the past perfect tense.>>
No. You mean present perfect tense.
The same does not apply to the past perfect tense.

CJ
He had finished the book last night before John came in. (The past perfect tense refers to this sente
0
0
He finished the book last night before John came in.
Here I would not use had because the conjunction before already establishes the sequence.
If we change to when, then we need the past perfect, otherwise it might seem that he finished the book in the same instant as John came in, or even as a result of John's return. So:
He had finished the
0
0
Thanks, Lewis, for the lucid explanation.
0
0
You'll be hard pressed to prove that main clauses never contain the past perfect when a before-clause is also present. In other words, it happens all the time. Why is that if before already establishes the time reference? Are all those writers wrong?

CJ
0
0
CJ, I think you're fighting imaginary enemies! I only expressed what sounds right to me, and why, in this particular sentence. I don't want to proclaim any universal rules. You say I'd be hard-pressed to prove etc: I wouldn't even try!
He had finished the book last night before John came in is not an abomination, but from my point of view as t
0
0
fighting imaginary enemies
No! It was more like teasing! I suppose I should have put a smiley after that post.
0
0
Yes, you're right; with already you'd need the past perfect, at least to my British ear.
0
0
J LewisHe finished the book last night before John came in.
Here I would not use had because the conjunction before already establishes the sequence.
If we change to when, then we need the past perfect, otherwise it might seem that he finished the book in the same instant as John came in, or even as a result of John's return. So:
0

Related Questions