Past Perfect: We left the party before the guests had started to come...

[Truebytes]

Hi,

Is the below sentence correct ?

'We left the party before the guests had started to come.'

Thanks in advance

Benny

[Zajac]

I suggest ...

"We had left the party before the guests started to come."

[Yankee]

(Alan has commented on the logic of your sentence, so I've deleted my suggestion.)
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Truebytes]

hi zajac,

ok....I think your sentence is correct...that means i need to go a longway in english learning....is it ?

many thanks
Benny

[Alan]

Hi Benny,

Don't worry too much as you are following the rigid rule that the earlier of two times is put into the past perfect as in: First we left the party Second: The guests started to arrive. Following that rule 'left' would be past perfect. But the meaning is obvious from the use of the conjunction 'before'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Truebytes]

Dear Alan,

Thanks agian....

Best Regards
Benny