0
Handtalk Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
verb tense: simple past vs past perfect
Hi, I have a question.
Are these sentences below grammatically correct? Is there difference in meaning?
1a) I visited that ramen restaurant several times when/while I was in Japan.
1b) When/While I was in Japan, I visited that ramen restaurant several times.
2a) I had visited that ramen restaurant several times when/while I was in Japan.
2b) When/While I was in Japan, I had visited that ramen restaurant several times.
Thnaks you in advance.
ht
Are these sentences below grammatically correct? Is there difference in meaning?
1a) I visited that ramen restaurant several times when/while I was in Japan.
1b) When/While I was in Japan, I visited that ramen restaurant several times.
2a) I had visited that ramen restaurant several times when/while I was in Japan.
2b) When/While I was in Japan, I had visited that ramen restaurant several times.
Thnaks you in advance.
ht
Top answer
#2 are just wrong unless there is another later past event stated in the context.
- #2 are just wrong unless there is another later past event stated in the context.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
#2 are just wrong unless there is another later past event stated in the context.
00
Thank you for the reply.
So, #2 could be possible if used in a context like below?
The speaker lived in Japan for two years as a foreign exchange student while back, and now he is talking about his last year's short trip to Japan. Then, he might say;
"The visit to that famous ramen restaurant wasn't my first time. In fact, I had visited there several times while I was in Japan."
So, #2 could be possible if used in a context like below?
The speaker lived in Japan for two years as a foreign exchange student while back, and now he is talking about his last year's short trip to Japan. Then, he might say;
"The visit to that famous ramen restaurant wasn't my first time. In fact, I had visited there several times while I was in Japan."
00
handtalk"The visit to that famous ramen restaurant wasn't my first time. In fact, I had visited there several times while I was in Japan.No, simple past is adequate there, too.
When I got food poisoning, I had visited that ramen restaurant several times in Japan.
00
I understand your example. Thank you.
On the other hand, "while I was in Japan" in my attempt was meant to mean "while I was in Japan as an exchange student." If so, would the sentence work, or still doesn't work?
ht
On the other hand, "while I was in Japan" in my attempt was meant to mean "while I was in Japan as an exchange student." If so, would the sentence work, or still doesn't work?
ht
00
handtalk "while I was in Japan" in my attempt was meant to mean "while I was in Japan as an exchange student."That's fine in your original, but the collection of verbs together makes the reader a little dizzy. That information is just as clear in my version, since neither indicates that you were an exchange student.
00
Related Questions