PAST PERFECT TENSE
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The past perfect refers to a time earlier than a past time.
It is used to make it clear that one event happened before
another in the past. It does not matter which event is
mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one
happened first.
John had gone out when I arrived in the office.
I had saved my document before the computer crashed.
He was very tired because he hadn't slept well.
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in
the Past
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The Past Perfect expresses the idea that
something occurred before another action
in the past. Examples:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach
before I went to Kauai.
I did not have any money because I had
lost my wallet.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past
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We use the Past Perfect to show that something
started in the past and continued up until
another action in the past.
Examples:
We had had that car for ten years before it
broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he had
been in London for over eight years.
ADVERB PLACEMENT
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The examples below show the placement for
grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
You had previously studied English before you
moved to New York.
Had you previously studied English before you
moved to New York?
Form
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Positive: “had”+ past participle of the main verb (or –ed)
She had written the letter before I came home.
Negative : “had” + not + participle of the main verb (or
–ed)
She had not written the letter before I came home.
Question: “had” + subject+ past participle of the main
verb (or –ed)
Had she written the book before I came home ?
Exercise
Present or Past perfect?
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1. I never get up from the table before others ---(finish).
2. I ---- (see) many pictures of the pyramids before I
went to Egypt last summer. Pictures of the monuments
are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite
small.
3. Sarah ---- (climb) Mount Everest, ---- (sail) around the
world, and ---- (go) on safari in Kenya. She is such an
adventurous person.
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4. Susan ---- (climb) Mount Everest, ---- (sail) around
the world, and ---- (go) on safari in Kenya by the time
she was twenty-five. She ---- (experience) more by that
age than most people do in their entire lives.
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5. Before my trip lo Paris two years ago, I ---- (never be)
to France.
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6. When we finally stopped him, the squirrel ---- (already
eat) five cookies.
1.After Fred (to spend) his holiday in Italy he (to want)
to learn Italian.
2) Jill (to phone) Dad at work before she (to leave) for
her trip.
3) Susan (to turn on) the radio after she (to wash) the
dishes.
4) When she (to arrive) the match already (to start).
5) After the man (to come) home he (to feed) the cat.
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6) Before he (to sing) a song he (to play) the
guitar.
7) She (to watch) a video after the children
(to go) to bed.
8) After Eric (to make) breakfast he (to
phone) his friend.
9) I (to be) very tired because I (to study) too
much.
10) They (to ride) their bikes before they (to
meet) their friends.
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1.After Fred had spent his holiday in Italy he
wanted to learn Italian.2) Jill had phoned Dad
at work before she left for her trip.3) Susan
turned on the radio after she had washed the
dishes.4) When she arrived the match had
already started.5) After the man had come
home he fed the cat.6) Before he sang a song
he had played the guitar.7) She watched a
video after the children had gone to bed.8)
After Eric had made breakfast he phoned his
friend.9) I was very tired because I had
studied too much.10) They had ridden their
bikes before they met their friends.
1. have finished
2 had seen
3. has climbed, has sailed, has gone
4. had climbed, had sailed, had gone, had
experienced
5. had never been
6. had already eaten