Grammar: Groups & phrases: Verb group: Time & tense

Past perfect Back

Using the past perfect: Student problems

Students have difficulty in using the past perfect appropriately. A very common problem is using the past perfect when the simple past is more appropriate:

Then I went to Amusement World to play. I had played many games.
Then I went to Amusement World to play. I played many games.

For teaching purposes, it is worth telling students that when they are in doubt, it is better to use the past simple.

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