| 释义 |
Past perfect simple or past simple?
Past perfect simple: I had seen Past simple: I saw The past perfect simple is used to sequence events in the past to show which event happened first.
Compare
The music started when the curtains opened.
| Past simple + past simple: the music started at the same time as the curtains opened. | The music had (already) started when the curtains opened.
| Past perfect simple + past simple: the music started and then the curtains opened. |
The past simple often suggests a stronger connection between the time of the two events.
Compare
When she came through the door, everyone shouted, ‘Surprise! Happy Birthday!’.
| Past simple + past simple: this sentence shows that as she came through the door, everyone immediately shouted ‘Surprise!’. | When she had read all the greetings cards, she made a short thank-you speech.
| Past perfect simple + past simple: this sentence emphasises that she had finished reading the cards before she made her speech. |
See also:
Past perfect simple (I had worked)
Past simple (I worked)
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