In English 125, you learned how to use the past perfect to show that something happened before another past event.
- We sold the condo we had owned for five years.
- When I woke up, I saw that it had rained.
This lesson will look at the use of the past perfect in more detail.
Time Expressions
Time Clauses with Before and After
As shown in English 125, if you use time clauses with the conjunctions before or after, it is not necessary to use the past perfect because these conjunctions already clearly show the sequence of events. Instead, the past simple can be used in both clauses with the same meaning.
- After Janie had been fired, Steven realized that he wanted to change his lifestyle. = After Janie was fired, Steven realized that he wanted to change his lifestyle.
- The game had started before they arrived at the stadium. = The game started before they arrived at the stadium.
Generally speaking, English speakers use the past simple with before and after in everyday, informal situations while they use the past perfect in more formal situations and academic writing. English speakers might also choose to use the past perfect in informal situations where they want to emphasize the sequence or the fact that the two actions are separate and not dependent on each other.
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