I know that I have to use past perfect when using before.
I had eaten before I swam.
But why don't I need to use past perfect with after?
I swam after I ate.
Thank you guys for the help.
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Where are you wondering about the past perfect in the second sentence, with swimming or with eating?– Mikhail KatzDec 28, 2015 at 16:48
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Related questions, Past perfect and using before/after and Past Perfect sentences with “before” and Past Perfect question forms with 'before' etc.– user140086Dec 28, 2015 at 16:48
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Question is based on a false premise. "I ate before I swam" is not wrong, either grammatically or logically.– MetaEdDec 30, 2015 at 23:51
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1 Answer
You do not have to use past perfect with before. In fact, before takes the place of past perfect.
I ate before I swam. Perfectly fine sentence that conveys the meaning. The order of events is eating followed by swimming.
On the other hand, using after is confusing because PP is about the order of things before something in the past, not after.
I had eaten after I swam is just plain strange and confusing.
I swam after I had eaten is acceptable because swimming happens after eating and swimming is listed first. You could also say After I had eaten, I swam. I would say, After I had eaten, I went swimming.
answered Dec 28, 2015 at 16:49
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What about I swam after I had eaten and I swam after I ate? are they both correct?– alex98Dec 28, 2015 at 16:55
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