The Past Simple gives a chronological (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) order of events to a story:
- John finished work and got into his car to head home. After he left the parking lot in his brand-new Honda, John turned onto Main Street. Suddenly, his cell phone rang, and John started arguing with his wife. He became distracted and didn't notice a stop sign. Another car crashed into the side of John's car and pushed it onto the side of the street.
When using the Past Perfect (had + pp), the story can be told in a different order. The Past Perfect explains a finished event before another past time.
When writing or speaking, we first introduce the past time:
- John was in pain but managed to exit his damaged Honda.
Now, if we want to write or talk about before the above situation, we use the Past Perfect:
- The other car had turned on its side and hit a tree.
Now, let's continue the story. Every time the Past Perfect is used, it is describing a finished event before another past time.
- Other drivers slowly started to stop and check if John was alright. He could barely move his leg as it had been crushed during the accident. The other driver's eyes were open but she hadn't gotten out of her car yet. John knew the accident was his fault.
Unlock full access by logging in. Registered users can explore the entire lesson and more.