<p>How do I know when to use the past perfect?</p>
<p>Despite its cultural importance, the Daily Gazette lost 70 percent of its subscribers since 1920 and, by 1955, was losing as much as $200,000 a year. No error. </p>
<p>The answer is B, "lost" I think it is suppose to be, "had lost" but I don't know why...</p>
<p>Think about it… the verb is to lose. “To lose” is a non-continuous verb, meaning whatever action it is has done in the past is already completed. If “lost” is used, it implies a continuous meaning, which is incorrect.</p>
<p>In the wrong sentence, “lost” is used as a simple past tense. This is incorrect because there is no specific time mentioned. It only says “since 1920”… it doesn’t say exactly when that loss occurred. For example, I can say Jim lost his favorite beach ball at 3 PM this afternoon. And I can say Jim had lost his prized possession for a long time.</p>
<p>[ENGLISH</a> PAGE - Past Perfect](<a href=“http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfect.html]ENGLISH”>Past Perfect Tense | ENGLISH PAGE) </p>
<p>it talks about different past perfect tenses.</p>