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Questions tagged [simple-past-vs-past-perfect]

For questions about choosing between the past simple and past perfect tenses.

85 questions
15
votes
4 answers

"You've come to the right place!" vs "You came to the right place!"

I have to write this on a website, which one is better? Are you looking for [...](description of our service)? You've come / You came to the right place!
the_nuts
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3
votes
4 answers

using past perfect in a 'by the time' clause instead of simple past

How would using past perfect in a 'by the time' clause affect the meaning differently from using the common formula (past simple in the 'by the time clause' plus past perfect in the main clause). For example, what could the following mean? By the…
niab
  • 321
2
votes
1 answer

Present Perfect or Past Simple in 'Where have you put / did you put the car keys?' Degrees of annoyance?

In such a question, what is most commonly done by native speakers of English: focus on the past action of you putting the car keys somewhere – somewhere not-too-logical-seeming? Where did you put the car keys? or focus on the present result of me…
user58319
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1
vote
3 answers

Past Perfect VS Past Simple: suffer

Is there any difference at all between these two sentences? Why would a native speaker choose one over the other? a) She had suffered from asthma when she was very young. b) She suffered from asthma when she was very young. Thank you. Nawee
user82673
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0
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1 answer

At the end of the WWII, the Cold War had begun

I've stumpled upon a peculiar usage of the Past Perfect Tense. At the end of the WWII, the Cold War had begun. The world would lay divided between two superpowers. This context seems suitable rather for the Past Simple Tense. I would be thankful for…
Taman
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-1
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1 answer

(Past Perfect and Simple past) What is the difference between these sentences?

In my point of view these two are the same and both talk about two actions that respectively was done in the past. But which one is correct and what is the difference between them if there is any? When we had finished dinner, we went out. When we…
a.toraby
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