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past simple vs past perfect



 
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past simple vs past perfect #1 (permalink) Tue Jan 19, 2010 13:55 pm   past simple vs past perfect
 

Hello everyone!
what is the main differrence between past simple and past perfect?
Please give me technical hints.
Naz
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past simple vs past perfect #2 (permalink) Tue Jan 19, 2010 14:31 pm   past simple vs past perfect
 

Past Simple: a single action or sequence of actions in the Past with no connection with the Present. We use the second form of the verb, like do-did, make-made, close-closed.
Past Perfect: the action had happened before another action in the Past. We use had+the third form of the verb, like do-done, throw-thrown, play-played.
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past simple vs past perfect #3 (permalink) Tue Jan 19, 2010 19:23 pm   past simple vs past perfect
 

Just an addition to what Inga said, when you say past, the action happened in the past.

e.g. I saw them this morning.

Past perfect is an action before another action, but both of them happened in the past.

e.g. I had fallen asleep when the phone rang.

-That means, you were already asleep and were just awoken by the ring.

Examples when there are words like "before" or "after" are much easier.

For example, "I had done my homework BEFORE I went out."

In this case, you won't be confused where to put "HAD" and use the past participle of verbs, which is different from just the past tense of it. Like what Inga said, did is the simple past of do while done is the past participle. But I suppose you already know that. There are just some confusing past participles like come, came (past tense), come (past participle). :D
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past simple vs past perfect #4 (permalink) Wed Jan 20, 2010 0:02 am   past simple vs past perfect
 

Thanks anj for the explaination
Gehad Mostafa
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Joined: 19 Jan 2010
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past simple vs past perfect #5 (permalink) Wed Jan 20, 2010 16:32 pm   past simple vs past perfect
 

Hello Dear Everyone,
Thank you very much for your answers and enlightening me with these explanations.
Naz
Naz
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Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Posts: 64
Location: Pakistan

perfect past... #6 (permalink) Wed Jan 20, 2010 21:09 pm   perfect past...
 

...

Hi..Naz...

you have given a chance to many of us to refresh our past with perfect(ion)...

...
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