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The Past and The Past Perfect

Both second language learners and native speakers may have problems recognizing when and how to use the past perfect instead of the past.  In order to feel comfortable using either tense, you need to understand the logic behind it. 

The Past 

The past tense may reflect a definite single completed action in the past. 

"She WENT to the movies LAST FRIDAY."

The past tense may also reflect  a repeated action in the past.

"When I was in Paris LAST YEAR, I WENT to the theater EVERY WEEK."

The past may also reflect an event with duration in the past and that it no longer takes place in the present.

"Sabri TAUGHT at Cairo University for two years."

Be careful with the following:

The past is also used in the present conditional unreal.  In this case, it is not really the past, but it is the unreal form of the verb.  

For example:  If I had money (NOW), I would buy a car (NOW). 

                     I wish I had money (NOW).

                     I wish I were rich (NOW).
                        

 The Past Perfect

The past perfect is an action that was completed in the past prior to another past action.

She HAD EATEN breakfast BEFORE she went to school.

 

Be careful with the following:

 

The past perfect is also used in the past conditional unreal.  In this case, it is really the past; it is the unreal form of the verb.  

For example:  If I had had money (YESTERDAY), I would have bought a car. 

                     I wish I had had  money (YESTERDAY).

                     I am hungry now; I wish I had eaten breakfast (THIS MORNING).

More Resources:

 

http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/Tenses9.cfm  The Past

http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/Tenses11.cfm The Past Perfect

http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/Tenses12.cfm The Past Perfect Progressive