Simple past/Past perfect

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Simple past/Past perfect
Message from me1919 posted on 27-01-2014 at 11:19:33 (D | E | F)
Hello...!
Could you help me please?
Thank you for your answers.

What is the difference between "simple past" and "past perfect" sentences ???
-He had reached the train.
-He reached the train.

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Edited by lucile83 on 27-01-2014 11:32

Re: Simple past/Past perfect from gerondif, posted on 27-01-2014 at 16:19:20 (D | E)
Hello,

Yesterday, he left home at 8:50 and he reached the train at 8:58.
He had reached the train before I arrived at 9:03.

Re: Simple past/Past perfect from passenger75, posted on 27-01-2014 at 19:31:08 (D | E)
Hello.
As Gerondif said a past perfect verb (action) is followed by another verb (action) in past simple.
This is the point:Although both past simple and past perfect are totally finished now and don't have any consequences now,past simple is a lonely verb,whereas past perfect is a verb followed by a simple past.Please note that the past perfect may have effects at the point of simple past action(second verb).
Hope it helps.

Re: Simple past/Past perfect from passenger75, posted on 27-01-2014 at 19:38:37 (D | E)
I think this picture can help you grasp the matter more:
This sign + depicts past perfect and = shows past simple.
--------+---=-------
This is the past tense spectrum for these two kinda verbs.
And past simple is lonely:
--------=--------

Re: Simple past/Past perfect from me1919, posted on 04-02-2014 at 06:19:01 (D | E)
Thank you for your explanations...

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