Past Perfect and Past Simple Flashcards
Events in chronological order use PAST SIMPLE. To say an event happened before the other, use PAST PERFECT.
Gave present, wrote email, made mistake, realised mistake.
wrote email, had given present (out of order), realised mistake, had made the mistake (out of order).
I wrote Clara an email about the present she had given to me last week. I realised I had made a mistake and sent it to her sister instead.
When it is clear that we are talking about events before another event in the past, we don’t need to continue to use Past Perfect.
We bought a new car last month. We had driven my parent’s old car for years, but it started to fall apart. We put a new engine in it, but it didn’t solve the problems we were having.
If the order of the events is clear by the context, we can use either Past Present or SIMPLE.
After Ivan had finished the reading, he put out the light. (or Ivan finished).
Past Perfect is used to report what was said in the present perfect or past simple.
I was sure I had met him before. (not met him).
She admitted she had stolen the watch. (not stole the watch).
USE PAST perfect or Simple for things we intended to do but didn’t.
Aron planned to retire at 60, but we have persuaded him to stay for a few more years. (or Aron had planned, Aron was planning, Aron had been planned).
