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Inglese, gli errori tipici: il past perfect

• 140: Inglese: Gli errori tipici: very, too e enough
• 142: Inglese: Gli errori tipici: l'utilizzo del present perfect

Quando si deve susare il past perfect ?

• Si usa il past perfect per parlare di qualcosa avvenuto prima di altro nel passato.
  Si usa il past perfect per parlare dell'evento più recente e il simple past per parlare dell'evento più remoto.
  
  • I had felt tired all morning but I felt fine after lunch.
  
  Spesso si usa when, before o after per sottolineare cosa succede prima:
  
  • When I had finished my lunch I went for a walk.
  • He arrived after the meeting had started.
  • The meeting had started before she arrived.
  
  Si possono usare anche parole come yet, already, until per sottolineare cosa è successo prima:
  
  • I arrived at 9am but she had not arrived yet.
  • I arrived at 10am but he had already arrived.
  • We did not start the meeting until she had arrived.
  • By 9pm she had finished the report.
  Nota: si usa il simple past non il past perfect per parlare di una singola azione nel passato:
  
  • I started university last year. (Errato: I had started university last year.)
  
  
• Si usa il past perfect con verbi come like, intend, hope and think per parlare di qualcosa non è stato completato:
  
  • I had intended to write to you but I forgot your email address.
  • I had hoped to see you at the party but you weren't there.
  
  
• Si usa il past perfect nel discorso indiretto per indicare il past simple e il present perfect:
  
  • 'I drank all the milk.' --> He said he had drunk all the milk.
  • 'I've passed all my exams!' --> She said she had passed all her exams.
  
  

Esempi

• I arrived at 1pm but she didn't arrive yet.
• I arrived at 1pm but she hadn't arrived yet.

• I went to his house this morning but he already left.
• I went to his house this morning but he had already left.

• Lisa had graduated from university yesterday.
• Lisa graduated from university yesterday.