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lunch with friendsPast Perfect 

Contrasting Earlier Events from Later Events

 

 

 

 

Past Tense vs. Past Perfect

Past Perfect Tense places emphasis on one event occurring before another.

PAST TENSE PAST PERFECT TENSE

Use the past tense for a series of events. The speaker reports the events that happened in sequence with no particular importance placed on timing.

Use the past perfect to contrast the timing of two events: earlier and later past.  The speaker places emphasis on the timing of the first event because of the effect it has on the second event.

I stopped at an ATM, then I took my friends out to lunch.

I had stopped at an ATM before I took my friends out to lunch. (I was able to pay for lunch.)

 

I had taken my friends out to lunch before I stopped at an ATM. (I borrowed some money.)

 

 

 

Placement of Adverbs

When using before and after, the speaker can optionally use past perfect to emphasize which action happened first.
 

ADVERB EARLIER EVENT ADVERB LATER EVENT

After

I had stopped at an ATM    (adverbial clause)

 

I took my friends out to lunch.    (main clause)

 

I had stopped at an ATM    (main clause)

before

I took my friends out to lunch.    (adverbial clause)

 

 

  EARLIER   LATER

 

I took my friends out to lunch    (main clause)

after

I had stopped at an ATM     (adverbial clause)

Before

I took my friends out to lunch    (adverbial clause)

 

I had stopped at an ATM     (main clause)

 

 

  EARLIER   LATER
 

I had just stopped at an ATM     (main clause)

when

my friends walked up to me.   (adverbial clause)
 

I had already stopped at an ATM     (main clause)

by the time

my friends walked up to me.   (adverbial clause)

 

 

 

 

Adverbs for Past vs. Past Perfect
PAST TENSE ADVERBS PAST PERFECT ADVERBS

These adverbs indicate hours that have passed in the  mind of the speaker.  

These adverbs contrast time events in two different clauses.
  • this morning...  (hours passed)
  • this week  (days have passed)
  • this year..
  • this decade.
  • last night
  • yesterday
  • last week
  • last year
  • January 10, 1999
  • in August 1960
  • 1992
  • May 5th, at 5:00 a.m. (if it has already passed)
     
  • already
  • by the time
  • ever
  • never
  • before
  • after
  • when    (different meaning from "when" - same time)

 

 

 

Common Mistake  — when

When has two meanings:  1) same time, 2) interruption

ERROR FIX

*My grandfather had lived in a small village in Italy when he was a child.

The adverb when indicates same time; however, the verb indicates an earlier time. 

My grandfather lived in a small village in Italy when he was a child.    (Use past tense because no time contrast is intended; when= same time)

My grandfather had been living in a small village in Italy when the war started. (Use past perfect to contrast earlier and later past; when= interruption of new activity)

 

 

 

 

 

babyPractice

 

 

  1. From each menu, select the tense from that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Use past tense if the sentence reports a series of events. 
  3. Use past perfect if the earlier event has an effect on the later event.
  4. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right. 
# YOUR RESPONSE ANSWER

1.

(when = same time)

 

 

2.

 

 
3. ,

 

 

4. ,

 

 

5. ,

 

 

6.

 

 
7. Last night, I was thankful that the baby fell asleep early. 

(when = interruption)

 

 
8. ,