when he arrived she already left vs when he arrived she had already left

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "When he arrived she already left" is used in informal speech, while "When he arrived she had already left" is more formal and grammatically correct. The use of the past perfect tense in the second phrase provides a clearer sequence of events.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 6184 views

when he arrived she already left

This phrase is correct in informal speech, but it lacks the past perfect tense.

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to describe past events, but it may sound less formal compared to the alternative.

Examples:

I wanted to meet her, but when I arrived she already left.
He missed the bus because when he arrived it already left.

Alternatives:

when he arrived she had already left
when he arrived, she was already gone
she had already left by the time he arrived
she left before he arrived
she was gone when he arrived

when he arrived she had already left

This phrase is grammatically correct and provides a clearer sequence of events using the past perfect tense.

This phrase is more formal and grammatically correct. It is commonly used in written English and formal speech to indicate an action that occurred before another action in the past.

Examples:

When he arrived, she had already left for the airport.
By the time he got there, she had already left the party.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 26, 2024

but he did not show up on time and when he arrived, she had already left. He found her and insisted on talking to her alone. They then left the pub together ...
Aug 18, 2020 ... but he did not show up on time and when he arrived she had already left. He found her and insisted on talking to her alone. They then left ...
Apr 8, 2020 ... Timothy (went) to meet his wife after work. But when he (arrived), she had already (left). Allen (was sleeping) when his friends (were watching) ...
I had finished my work before she came. They had left the restaurant before we got there. When he arrived, she had already left. Đáp Án Bài Tập Viết Lại Câu.

Alternatives:

when he arrived she already left
when he arrived, she was already gone
she had already left by the time he arrived
she left before he arrived
she was gone when he arrived

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when he arrived she already left vs when he arrived she had already left