1.中文：他在许多年前去过欧洲。
(误)He had been to Europe many years ago.
(正)He went to Europe many years ago.（在上下文没有同过去某时或某个动作相比较而表示过去的意思，不可用过去完成时，而要用一般过去时。）
2.中文：她穿着蓝色上衣，看上去很可爱。
(误)She was wearing a blue dress and was looking very pretty.
(正)She was wearing a blue dress and looked very pretty.（表示看上去的look是系动词，不用进行时。）
3.中文：我去看他们的时候他们在吃晚餐。
(误)They had supper when I went to see them.
(正)They were having supper when I went to see them.（他们在吃晚餐是在过去我去看他们的时间某一点上正进行的动作，应用过去进行时。）
4.中文：她两个月前去澳洲了，她许多年前到过那里。
(误)She went to Australia two months ago. She has been there many years before.
(正)She went to Australia two months ago. She had been there many years before.（many years before是从过去的某时之前算起的，表示过去的过去，要和过去完成时连用。）
5.中文：他们问发生什么事了。
(误)They asked what happened.
(正)They asked what had happened.（主句是一般过去时，从句的动作发生在它之前，用过去完成时。）
6.中文：从战争开始时他就一直在那里工作。
(误)He has worked there since the war has begun.
(正)He has worked there since the war began.（since引导的从句表示过去的某时间点，应用一般过去时。）
7.中文：昨晚我写了一封信，今晨寄出了。
(误)I was writing a letter yesterday evening and posted it this morning.
(正)I wrote a letter yesterday evening and posted it this morning.（进行时表示进行，一般过去时表示完成，所以应用 wrote。）
8.中文：他去年离开家我就一直没有见过他。
(误)He left home last year and I did not see him since.
(正)He left home last year and I haven't seen him since.（since后面省去的是he left home last year，前面的句子要用完成时。）