| The time difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Perfect tense is when they occur on a time line. For example, I can say "I have eaten." You know that the eating on my part is over. I have finished. But it has happened recently. If I had eaten my dinner three days ago, I would be unlikely to say "I have eaten." I am more likely to say, "I ate dinner three days ago" using the Preterite form of "To Eat". |
When we construct a sentence in
the Past Perfect, it establishes an event before a more recent event.
If I said, "I had eaten," you can feel that I need to complete the sentence:
"I had eaten when...(or before...)"
It makes more sense to say, "I
had eaten already before I went swimming," "I had groomed the
horse thoroughly before I went riding," or "I had finished
my shower when the doorbell rang."
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+ Preterite +past perfect +present perfect +present +future +++++I+M+P+E+R+F+E+C+T++++++++++ |
The Imperfect is an indefinite period in the Past, the Preterite handles completed time-specific events, and the Present Perfect is for recently completed events. The Past Perfect is for events that have occured prior to other past events.
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