TENSES of VERBS
Simple tenses:
Present tense, Past
Grammar
tense and Future tense
Progressive tenses: Present
progressive, Past Progressive and
Future Progressive
Perfect Tenses: Present Perfect,
Past Perfect and Future Perfect
Module 2
Lesson 6
The Perfect Tenses
Module 2
Lesson 6A-2
The Past Perfect Tense
Module 2
The Past Perfect Tense
Definition: The Past Perfect tense is the
tense of the verb used to describe an
earlier action that took place in the past
before another past action. It is used to
make clear that the event or state
happened before another in the past. It
does not matter what event is mentioned
first , the tense makes it clear which one
happened first
The Past Perfect Tense
Format of Past Perfect tense:
had + past participle form of the verb
applies to all subjects- singular or plural
1. The stranger had jumped into the swimming pool before
earlier action using past perfect tense
the pool attendant could stop him.
later action using past tense
2. I could not charge my purchases because I had misplaced
later action
earlier action
my credit card two weeks ago. specific time in the past.
Note: It is possible to use specific time or phrases with Past
Perfect tense. The simple past , however, should be used
when “before” or “after” is used in the sentence. ( Example #
1)
The Past Perfect Tense
Conditions in the use of Past Perfect tense:
1. completed action before another past action.
o
Shelley accepted Brad’s explanation because she had
2nd earlier action
later action
actually witnessed what had happened in the gym.
1st earlier action
o
The bus had left before I arrived at the terminal.
earlier action
o
later action
Vanessa had drawn the Miag-ao Church from
later action
memory after she had seen it during her trip to Iloilo.
earlier action (optional)
The Past Perfect Tense
2. action in a reported speech (said, told,
asked, thought, wondered, explained,
stated, etc)
o Julia wondered whether her son
had read her message.
o Peter asked if I had read “Harry
Potter.”
o Lucy told Frank that Nemee had
left him a newly -baked chocolate
cake.
The Past Perfect Tense
3. duration before something (an event or
state) in the past
o Denise had worked at SM before an agent
recruited her to work in Hongkong.
o The survivors had endured countless hardship
before an Army scout located them.
o Jackie had thought of joining a religious
congregation but her mother was against it.
The Past Perfect Tense
3. duration before something (an event or
state) in the past
o Denise had worked at SM before an agent
recruited her to work in Hongkong.
o The survivors had endured countless hardship
before an Army scout located them.
o Jackie had thought of joining a religious
congregation but her mother was against it.
The Past Perfect Tense
4. action in a hypothetical past- talking
about things that never happened
o If we had gone by taxi, we wouldn’t have
been late for the wedding.
o I wish I had taken my umbrella. I wouldn’t
have been caught by the sudden rain.
o If only John had returned home before
the conflict between the military and
the Muslims, he would have been
safe.
The Past Perfect Tense
Adverb indicators used with Past Perfect
tense:
•
•
•
•
already, for since, yet
after, as soon as, the moment, until
until then, never, ever, in X (month, year)
when, before, by the time – time expressions
used with simple past when appended to a
clause with past perfect tense verb.
The Past Perfect Tense
Adverb indicators used with Past Perfect
tense:
•
•
•
•
already, for since, yet
after, as soon as, the moment, until
until then, never, ever, in X (month, year)
when, before, by the time – time expressions
used with simple past when appended to a
clause with past perfect tense verb.
The Past Perfect Tense
.
The Past Perfect Tense
Write the correct form of the enclosed verb in
the Past Perfect Tense.
1. After Lalaine (leave) _____, I saw her purse
on the sofa.
2. ____ Susan (ever travel) _____ outside of
the country before she came to Singapore?
3. Philip (quit)______ his job because he
wanted a high paying position.
4. Bobby (not see) _____ that movie before
you asked him about it.
The Past Perfect Tense
5. ____ you (ever do) ______this project
or something like this before you attended
the seminar?
6. How many songs Joan (sing) _____
before the brownout occurred?
7. By the time Josh decided to propose,
Laurie (leave) _____ the country for a high
paying job abroad.
8. The policeman (catch) _____several
jaywalkers before the patrol car arrived
The Past Perfect Tense
If you got a score of 4 or less in the practice
exercises, please review the notes on Past
Perfect tense before taking the quiz.
Please look over the uploaded “Learning
about Verbs” notes in Quia and check
whether there are other facts you need to
include in your Cheat Sheet.
The Past Perfect Tense
Write the correct form of the enclosed verb in
the Past Perfect Tense.
1. After Lalaine (leave) had left, I saw her
purse on the sofa.
2. Had Susan (ever travel) ever travelled
outside of the country before she came to
Singapore?
3. Philip (quit) had quit his job because he
wanted a high paying position.
4. Bobby (not see) hadn’t seen that movie
before you asked him about it.
The Past Perfect Tense
5. Had you (ever do) ever done this project or
something like this before you attended the
seminar?
6. How many songs Joan (sing) had sung before
the brownout occurred?
7. By the time Josh decided to propose, Laurie
(leave) had left the country for a high paying job
abroad.
5. The policeman (catch) had caught several
jaywalkers before the patrol car arrived
The Past Perfect Tense
End of Module 2, Lesson 6A-2