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1 vote
2 answers
209 views

Why is Präteritum used instead of Plusquamperfekt here?

I'm new to German and I don't understand why is Präteritum used instead of Plusquamperfekt in this case. Die Dursleys besaßen alles, was sie wollten, doch sie hatten auch ein Geheimnis, und dass es ...
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why do Germans often use the Plusquamperfekt instead of (simple) Perfekt when they speak of the past?

When watching German public TV I often wonder why Germans use the Plusquamperfekt/Vorvergangenheit when the actual Referenzzeitpunkt is the present, e.g. Interviewed person: "Mein Mann ist in Rente." ...