she finished her homework then she went to bed

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After she had completed her home work, she went to bed

After she had completed her home work, she went to bed.

Is the sentence correct or not? Is it had completed or have completed ?

• past-vs-past-perfect

• What do think should be the correct choice? –  AIQ Commented Oct 23, 2019 at 1:40

After she had completed her home work, she went to bed After she has /have completed her home work she went to bed

The firstsentence is correct.There are two past actions here.The first one may be in the past perfect and the second one may be in the simple past.

.The second sentence is wrong if you use have or even has. You can not use present perfect since it may refer to a completed activity in the present moment.

You may say:

She went to bed after she completed her home work.

The conjunction after indicates that she completed her home work first and later she went to bed.

• 1 OP provides no evidence of any research they did to solve their query. There are plenty of questions in ELL that discuss the use of tenses - had OP looked into those their problem would be resolved. Or, OP could have mentioned which ones they looked at and why those questions did not help them. OP's question looks like a homework question - which we should not answer unless their is a major concern or a real problem. The point is to empower non-natives to learn and educate themselves on simple problems. We should do that by asking them questions to make them think. –  AIQ Commented Oct 23, 2019 at 3:47
• 1 You giving away the right answer does more harm than good to OP. They have gotten the correct answer, but they have not truly learnt why that is the correct answer. They will not put in the effort now. That is why I made a comment as to which they thought is correct - this will make them think. This will make them put in just a bit more effort into first trying to find their own answers. –  AIQ Commented Oct 23, 2019 at 3:48

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Past Perfect Simple Tense: How to Use It, With Examples

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What is the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. In other words, it is used to show that one event happened before another event in the past.

It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, “had eaten” is the past perfect tense, and it indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

When to use the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another action in the past. It is often used to provide background information in a story or to show the order of events. Here are some common situations where the past perfect tense is used:

• To describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had finished my homework before I went to bed.”
• To describe a cause-and-effect relationship in the past. For example: “She was tired because she had been working all day.”
• To describe a hypothetical situation in the past. For example: “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.”
• To describe a past action that happened before a specific time in the past. For example: “By the time I arrived, they had already left.”
• To describe a past action that happened before another past action that was interrupted or happened suddenly. For example: “I had been cooking dinner when the power went out.”
• Overall, the past perfect tense is used to show the relationship between two past actions or events, with one action being completed before the other.

How to form the past perfect tense?

To form the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here is the formula for forming the past perfect tense:

Subject + had + past participle

The past participle is formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs or by using the third form of the irregular verb. Here are some examples of regular and irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

• Regular verb example: I had walked to the store before it started raining.The past participle of “walk” is “walked.”
• Irregular verb example: He had eaten breakfast before he left the house.The past participle of “eat” is “eaten.”

It’s worth noting that there are some irregular verbs that don’t follow the standard pattern for forming the past participle, so it’s important to learn the past participles of irregular verbs. For example, the past participle of “go” is “gone,” not “goed.”

How to make a negative form?

To make a negative sentence in the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” in its negative form, which is “had not” or “hadn’t”, before the past participle of the main verb. Here’s the formula:

Subject + hadn’t + past participle of the main verb

For example:

• I hadn’t eaten breakfast before I went to work.
• She hadn’t finished the report by the deadline.
• They hadn’t seen the movie before, so they were excited to watch it.

In these examples, the negative form “hadn’t” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that the action was not completed before another past action.

It’s important to note that when using the negative form of the past perfect tense, the word “not” should be included after the auxiliary verb “had” in order to indicate the negative meaning of the sentence.

How to make questions?

To make a question in the past perfect tense, you need to invert the subject and the auxiliary verb “had”. Here’s the formula:

Had + subject + past participle of the main verb?

• Had you eaten breakfast before you went to work?
• Had she finished the report by the deadline?
• Had they seen the movie before?

In these examples, the auxiliary verb “had” is used before the subject, and the past participle of the main verb is placed at the end of the sentence. This formula helps to indicate that the question is in the past perfect tense and helps to form a grammatically correct question.

It’s important to note that when making a question in the past perfect tense, the auxiliary verb “had” should be used at the beginning of the sentence, and the main verb should be in its past participle form. Additionally, the question mark at the end of the sentence indicates that it is a question.

What is the difference between the past perfect and simple past tenses?

The past perfect and simple past tenses are both used to talk about past events, but they are used in different ways.

The simple past tense is used to describe a completed action or a series of completed actions in the past. For example: “I ate breakfast this morning.” The simple past tense is often used with time expressions that indicate when the action happened, such as yesterday, last week, or in 1995.

On the other hand, the past perfect tense is used to show that one action was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, the past perfect tense “had eaten” indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

So, the key difference between the two tenses is that the simple past tense is used to talk about a completed past action, while the past perfect tense is used to show the order of two past actions, with one action being completed before the other.

Another way to think of the difference is that the simple past tense is used when there is no need to show a specific relationship between two past actions, while the past perfect tense is used when there is a need to show that one past action happened before another.

How do I know when to use “had” in the past perfect tense?

The auxiliary verb “had” is always used in the past perfect tense, as it is the helping verb that forms the tense. “Had” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “I had finished my work before I went to bed.” In this sentence, “had finished” is the past perfect tense, and “had” is the helping verb that forms the tense.

It’s important to note that “had” is used in the past perfect tense for all subjects, including “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” The only thing that changes in the sentence is the past participle of the main verb, depending on the subject and the verb’s irregularity.

It’s also important to remember that the past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past, so you should use “had” when you want to show that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “He had already left when I arrived.” In this sentence, “had already left” indicates that leaving was completed before the action of arriving.

Some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense?

Irregular verbs have unique past participles that don’t follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to the base form. Here are some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

• be – had been
• break – had broken
• choose – had chosen
• do – had done
• drive – had driven
• eat – had eaten
• fall – had fallen
• go – had gone
• see – had seen
• speak – had spoken
• take – had taken
• think – had thought
• wear – had worn
• write – had written

These irregular verbs can be used with “had” to form the past perfect tense, as in “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work” or “She had written the report before the meeting.” It’s important to remember that the past participle is often different from the base form of the verb and needs to be memorized.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about ongoing actions in the past?

No, the past perfect tense is not used to talk about ongoing actions in the past. The past perfect tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before another past action, and it is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” with the past participle of the main verb.

To talk about ongoing actions in the past, we use  the past continuous tense  (also called the past progressive tense), which is formed by using the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” with the present participle (-ing) of the main verb. For example, “I was studying for my exam when my friend called me” or “They were watching TV when the power went out.”

It’s important to use the correct tense to accurately convey the meaning of the sentence. Using the past perfect tense to talk about ongoing actions in the past would be grammatically incorrect and could cause confusion for the reader or listener.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about future events from a past perspective?

Yes, the past perfect tense can be used to talk about future events from a past perspective. This is called the past perfect future, and it is used to describe a future event that was expected or planned to happen from a past point of view.

The past perfect future is formed by using the past perfect tense of “have” (had) followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had hoped to finish my project by next week” or “They had planned to go on vacation next month.”

In these examples, the past perfect tense indicates that the event was in the future from a past perspective, and it implies that the event did not happen as planned. The past perfect future can be used to show regret, disappointment, or surprise that the expected future event did not happen.

It’s important to note that the past perfect future is not used very frequently, and it is often replaced by other tenses such as the past simple or the past continuous.

Are there any exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense?

Yes, there are some exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense. Here are a few examples:

• When using  reported speech : In reported speech, the past perfect tense can be used to indicate that an action had been completed before the reporting verb was spoken or written. For example, “She said she had already seen the movie” or “He told me he had finished his work.”
• When using  the past perfect continuous tense : The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that began in the past and continued up until another action in the past. For example, “I had been studying for three hours when I decided to take a break.” In this sentence, “had been studying” is the past perfect continuous tense, which describes an ongoing action that was interrupted by the decision to take a break.
• When using “just” or “already”: In some cases, “just” or “already” can be used with the past perfect tense to indicate that an action had recently been completed or had been completed earlier than expected. For example, “I had just finished my breakfast when the phone rang” or “They had already left by the time we arrived.”

Past continuous tense examples

• I had finished my homework before going to bed. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• They had already left when we arrived. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• By the time she got home, her husband had already cooked dinner. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had never seen a shooting star before that night. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• He had been working at the company for five years before he was promoted. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• She had lived in France for two years before moving to the United States. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• The concert had already started when we arrived at the venue. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• He had forgotten his keys at home, so he had to call his roommate to let him in. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had never ridden a motorcycle until last weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• The team had won three games in a row before losing the championship game. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• I had never tried sushi until I visited Japan. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• By the time they arrived at the party, most of the guests had already left. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• She had been studying for hours before she finally understood the concept. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• He had broken his leg playing soccer, so he couldn’t participate in the tournament. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• They had been dating for a year before they decided to get married. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• The movie had already started when we got to the theater, so we missed the beginning. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had been looking for my keys for hours before I finally found them in my jacket pocket. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• She had never been on a plane before she took her first international flight. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• He had completed all of his assignments by Friday, so he could enjoy the weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• The store had closed by the time I got there, so I had to go back the next day. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• Have you ever traveled to Europe? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• How many times have you seen that movie? – This question asks about the number of times an action has occurred from an unspecified point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action is still relevant in the present.
• Have you finished your homework yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you ever tried sushi before? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• Have you been to the new restaurant downtown? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• How long have you lived in this city? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you seen the news today? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you ever ridden a horse? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• Have you studied for the exam yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you finished reading that book yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.

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Adverb Clauses: Definition and Usage in English Grammar

Adverb clauses are a type of dependent clause that function as adverbs in a sentence. They provide additional information about when, where, why, how, or under what conditions something occurs in the independent clause. Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, where, while, and many others.

Adverb clauses can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on the emphasis and flow of the sentence. They can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and can be used to show cause and effect, time relationships, conditionals, contrasts, concessions, and more. Adverb clauses can be challenging to identify and punctuate correctly, but they are essential for clear and effective communication in writing and speech. In this article, we will explore the different types of adverb clauses, their functions, and some examples to help you understand and use them better.

What Are Adverb Clauses?

Adverb clauses, also known as adverbial clauses, are groups of words that function as adverbs in a sentence. They modify verbs , adjectives , or other adverbs and typically begin with subordinating conjunctions such as “after,” “although,” “because,” “if,” “since,” “unless,” “when,” and “while.”

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses , which means they cannot stand alone as complete sentences and must be connected to an independent clause to make sense. They provide additional information about the time, place, manner, reason, or condition of the action in the independent clause.

For example, consider the sentence: “After she finished her homework, she went to bed.” The adverb clause “after she finished her homework” modifies the verb “went” in the independent clause and tells us when the action occurred.

Adverb clauses can be categorized based on their function in a sentence. Some common types include time clauses, place clauses, manner clauses, reason clauses, and condition clauses. Each of these types provides specific information to the reader about the action in the independent clause.

Types of Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide additional information to the sentence and answer questions such as “when,” “where,” “how,” “why,” “under what conditions,” and “to what extent.” There are several types of adverb clauses, each with its own subordinating conjunction.

Time Adverb Clauses

Time adverb clauses indicate when an action takes place. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “after,” “before,” “since,” “until,” “when,” and “while.” For example, “After she finished her homework, she went to bed.”

Place Adverb Clauses

Place adverb clauses indicate where an action takes place. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “where” and “wherever.” For example, “Wherever he goes, he always brings his laptop with him.”

Manner Adverb Clauses

Manner adverb clauses indicate how an action is performed. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “as,” “as if,” and “like.” For example, “He walked as if he was in a hurry.”

Condition Adverb Clauses

Condition adverb clauses indicate under what conditions an action takes place. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “if,” “unless,” and “provided that.” For example, “If it rains, we will stay inside.”

Purpose Adverb Clauses

Purpose adverb clauses indicate why an action is performed. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “so that,” “in order that,” and “for fear that.” For example, “She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.”

Result Adverb Clauses

Result adverb clauses indicate the consequence of an action. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “so that,” “such that,” and “that.” For example, “He was so tired that he fell asleep during the movie.”

Comparison Adverb Clauses

Comparison adverb clauses indicate how two things are similar or different. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “as,” “than,” and “as if.” For example, “She runs faster than he does.”

Contrast Adverb Clauses

Contrast adverb clauses indicate how two things are different. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “although,” “even though,” and “while.” For example, “Although he is rich, he is not happy.”

Concession Adverb Clauses

Concession adverb clauses indicate a surprising or unexpected fact. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “although,” “even though,” and “though.” For example, “Although it was raining, he went for a walk.”

Reason Adverb Clauses

Reason adverb clauses indicate why an action takes place. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “because,” “since,” and “as.” For example, “Since it’s your birthday, I bought you a present.”

Clause of Contrastive Time

Clause of contrastive time indicates a contrast between two actions that take place at different times. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “while,” “whenever,” and “as soon as.” For example, “While she was studying, he was watching TV.”

Clause of Concessive Reason

Clause of concessive reason indicates a concession that is made despite a reason. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “although,” “even though,” and “though.” For example, “Although he was tired, he went to the party anyway.”

Overall, adverb clauses are an essential part of English grammar. They add depth and complexity to sentences and help to convey meaning more precisely. By understanding the different types of adverb clauses and their subordinating conjunctions, writers can create more effective and engaging sentences.

How to Identify Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in a sentence. They usually begin with subordinating conjunctions such as after, although, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, where, while, etc. Here are some tips on how to identify adverb clauses:

Look for subordinating conjunctions

Adverb clauses always begin with subordinating conjunctions that indicate the relationship between the adverb clause and the rest of the sentence. Some common subordinating conjunctions are listed below:

• Time: after, as, before, since, until, when, while
• Cause and effect: because, since, so that
• Condition: if, unless, whether
• Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas
• Purpose: in order that, so that
• Concession: although, even though, though

Check if the clause is dependent

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses, which means they cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They need to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. If a clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, it is not an adverb clause.

Identify the function of the clause

Adverb clauses can function as adverbs of time, place, manner, reason, condition, or concession. They provide additional information about the verb, adjective, or adverb in the independent clause. Here are some examples:

• Adverb of time: After she finished her homework, she went to bed.
• Adverb of place: Wherever he goes, he always takes his guitar.
• Adverb of manner: She sings as if she were an angel.
• Adverb of reason: Since it was raining, we stayed inside.
• Adverb of condition: If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
• Adverb of concession: Although he is rich, he is not happy.

Consider the punctuation

Adverb clauses are usually separated from the independent clause by a comma . However, if the adverb clause comes before the independent clause, there is no need for a comma. For example:

• After she finished her homework, she went to bed. (comma)
• She went to bed after she finished her homework. (no comma)

Pay attention to context

Adverb clauses can be tricky to identify because they can be embedded within a sentence. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the context of the sentence and how the clauses relate to each other. Practice identifying adverb clauses in different contexts to improve your skills.

Using Adverb Clauses in Writing

Adverb clauses are a great tool for writers looking to add more detail and specificity to their writing. They allow writers to combine shorter sentences into more complex ones, improving the accuracy, rhythm, and flow of the writing.

When using adverb clauses, it is important to consider the style and tone of the writing. Adverb clauses can add depth and complexity to a sentence, but they can also make the writing feel convoluted and difficult to read if used excessively. Therefore, it is best to use adverb clauses sparingly and only when necessary.

In writing, adverb clauses can be used to describe the manner, time, place, reason, or condition of an action. For example, an adverb clause can describe how an action was performed, when it was performed, where it was performed, why it was performed, or under what conditions it was performed.

In business writing, adverb clauses can be used to convey important information about a project or proposal. For example, an adverb clause can describe the conditions under which a project will be completed, the reasons why a proposal is necessary, or the manner in which a proposal will be implemented.

In the arts and design, adverb clauses can be used to describe the style, technique, or inspiration behind a work of art or design. For example, an adverb clause can describe the manner in which a painting was created, the inspiration behind a sculpture, or the conditions under which a building was designed.

Adverb Clauses Exercises

To truly understand and master the use of adverb clauses, it is important to practice identifying and using them in sentences. Here are a few exercises to help you get started:

Exercise 1: Identifying Adverb Clauses

Read the following sentences and identify the adverb clause.

• When the sun sets, the sky turns orange.
• I will call you if I need your help.
• The dog barked until the mailman left.
• Although it was raining, they still went outside.

Exercise 2: Creating Adverb Clauses

Rewrite the following sentences by adding an adverb clause.

• She ate dinner.
• He went to bed.
• They played soccer.
• I will go to the store.

Exercise 3: Choosing the Correct Subordinating Conjunction

Choose the correct subordinating conjunction to complete the following sentences.

• While/Although he was studying, he kept getting distracted.
• She couldn’t go to the party because/when she was sick.
• He will come to the concert if/unless he has to work.

Exercise 4: Identifying the Type of Adverb Clause

Identify the type of adverb clause in the following sentences.

• When I wake up, I always drink coffee. (Time)
• Because he studied hard, he passed the test. (Reason)
• She won’t go to the party unless her friends go. (Condition)

By completing these exercises, you can improve your understanding and use of adverb clauses in your writing and speaking.

FAQs on Adverb Clause

Adverb clauses can be a tricky topic to understand, so it’s natural to have some questions. Here are some frequently asked questions to help clarify any confusion .

Q: What is an adverb clause?

A: An adverb clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. It modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb in the independent clause. Adverb clauses answer questions such as “when,” “where,” “why,” “how,” and “to what extent.”

Q: How do you identify an adverb clause?

A: Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “after,” “although,” “because,” “before,” “if,” “since,” “though,” “unless,” “until,” “when,” “where,” “while,” and more. Adverb clauses can also be identified by their position in the sentence – they usually come before or after the independent clause.

Q: What are some common types of adverb clauses?

A: There are many types of adverb clauses, but some common ones include time clauses (e.g. “when I was younger”), place clauses (e.g. “where she lives”), manner clauses (e.g. “how he did it”), reason clauses (e.g. “because she was tired”), and condition clauses (e.g. “if it rains”).

Q: Can adverb clauses stand alone as sentences?

A: No, adverb clauses are dependent clauses and cannot stand alone as sentences. They need to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Q: How do you punctuate adverb clauses?

A: Adverb clauses are usually set off by a comma when they come before the independent clause. However, if the adverb clause comes after the independent clause, no comma is needed unless it is necessary for clarity.

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Home » Past Perfect Tense | Structure, Rules, Uses and Examples

Past Perfect Tense | Structure, Rules, Uses and Examples

Past Perfect Tense is a grammatical structure often used to express actions completed before a specific point in the past. This tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. It helps convey the sequence of events and highlight which action happened first. Understanding the structure, rules, uses, and examples of the past perfect tense is crucial for effective communication and writing. In this article, we will explore the structure, rules, and usage, and provide examples of past perfect tense to help you better understand it. So, let’s get started!

What is Past Perfect Tense?

The past perfect tense is a grammatical structure used to describe an action or event that was completed (before another action) in the past. It is formed by combining the past tense of the auxiliary verb “have” (had) with the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten,” “She had finished,” or “They had arrived.” In simple words, past perfect helps convey the idea that something happened before something else in the past.

Imagine you have two events, A and B, both in the past. If you want to emphasize that event A happened before event B, you can use past perfect. For example, “I had finished my homework before I went to bed.” Here, finishing homework (event A) happened before going to bed (event B). This tense is particularly useful when narrating stories, explaining historical events, or expressing regrets about missed opportunities.

• He had already left for work when I called him.
• She had learned French before moving to Paris.
• He had completed the project before the deadline.
• She had finished her homework before going to bed.
• They had cleaned the house before the guests arrived.

In each example, the past perfect tense helps establish the sequence of events by indicating which action occurred or completed first in the past.

Positive Form:

In the positive form of the past perfect tense, we use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. This structure indicates that an action was completed before another event in the past. It is employed to express the sequence of actions, making it clear which event happened first.

• He had studied for the test.
• The team had won the championship.
• She had finished her homework.
• They had already left when I arrived.
• He had visited that museum before.

Negative Form:

To form the negative past perfect tense, we insert “not” after the auxiliary verb “had.” This structure conveys the idea that a certain action had not taken place before another past event. It is used to express the absence of a completed action before a specified moment in the past, helping to distinguish between events that occurred and those that did not.

• She had not finished her homework.
• We had not seen that movie before.
• They had not found the lost keys.
• We had not explored that part of the city.
• He had not fixed the broken window.

Interrogative Form:

In the interrogative form of the past perfect tense, we invert the subject and the auxiliary verb “had.” This structure is used to pose questions about the completion of an action before a particular past event. By rearranging the word order, we create questions that seek information about the sequence of actions in the past.

• Had she finished her homework?
• Had we met before this conference?
• Had she realized her mistake by then?
• Had they discussed the plan with you?
• Had you checked the weather forecast?

Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Positive sentences:.

• I had finished my homework.
• He had forgotten his keys at home.
• He had already eaten dinner.
• They had completed the project.

Negative Sentences:

• They had not finished the project.
• He had not spoken to her in weeks.
• The package had not arrived on time.
• She had not seen that movie before.

Interrogative Sentences (yes/no questions):

• Had they left before the storm?
• Had you seen that movie before?
• Had it become dark when you left?
• Had we discussed this topic earlier?

Interrogative Sentences (wh-questions):

Wh-word:  (who, what, where, when, why, how)

• Where had they gone?
• How had it happened?
• Why had  they chosen that path?
• Where had they found the keys?

Negative Interrogative Sentences:

• Had we not discussed this matter?
• Had you  not met him previously?
• Had you not heard the news by then?
• Had she not finished the assignment?

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action. It reflects a sense of past in the past, highlighting the chronological order of events. This tense establishes a clear timeline by signaling that the past action being described had already happened before a different event occurred. It allows speakers to convey the sequence of events in a narrative, highlighting the temporal relationship between actions.

Here are some basic words and expressions that are often associated with the past perfect tense:

• By the time
• In the past
• By the deadline
• Last (when referring to a specific time)

Past Perfect Tense Uses

• Completed Action Before Another: Describes an action completed before another action in the past.
• Sequence Clarification: Specifies the order of events in a story or narration.
• Highlighting Duration: Emphasizes the duration of an action that happened before a specific point in the past.
• Past of the Past: Points to an event that occurred before another past occurrence.
• Unreal Past Conditions: Expresses hypothetical or unreal situations in the past.
• Reported Speech Background: Used in reported speech to describe an action that happened before the reported statement.
• Emphasizing Cause and Effect: Illustrates a cause-and-effect relationship in the past.
• Talking About Regrets: Expresses regret or disappointment about a past event.
• Common Signal Words: Often used with signal words like “before,” “after,” and “until” to indicate the sequence of actions.
• Cause and Effect: To indicate that one event happened as a consequence of another in the past.
• Before Past Interruptions: Describing an action that was happening before another action interrupted it.
• Narrative Tense: Often used in storytelling to create a clear timeline of events, making the narrative more structured and chronological.
• Expressing Past Habits: It can be used to discuss habits or actions that were regularly performed in the past, emphasizing their continuity before a particular time.

Past Perfect Tense Rules

Here are some basic rules of past perfect tense:

• Formation: Start with the subject, add “had,” and follow it with the past participle of the verb.
• Subject Agreement: The subject remains the same throughout, whether singular or plural.
• Regular Verbs: Use the past participle form for regular verbs, usually ending in “-ed.”
• Irregular Verbs: Memorize irregular verb past participle forms, like “gone” for “go” or “taken” for “take.”
• Time Reference: Past perfect talks about actions completed before another past event, providing a clear time relationship.
• Past of “Have”: Recognize that “had” in past perfect is the past tense of “have.”
• Negatives and Questions: Use “had not” for negatives and invert the subject and “had” for questions.
• Keywords: Identify keywords like “before,” “already,” and “by the time” signaling the need for past perfect.
• Sequential Actions: Employ past perfect for the action that happened first in a series of past events.
• Narrative Flow: Enhance storytelling by using past perfect to clarify the order of past actions, creating a smooth and coherent narrative.

Past Perfect Example Sentences

• I had already eaten when you called.
• Hadn’t they watched the movie before?
• The children had already gone to bed.
• He had never seen such a beautiful sunset.
• By the time we arrived, the show had started.
• Had you met him before last year?
• The rain had stopped when we went outside.
• They had known each other since childhood.
• I had forgotten my keys at home.
• By the time she woke up, I had already left.
• Hadn’t they heard the news earlier?
• They had finished the project before the deadline.
• They had already chosen their wedding venue.
• Hadn’t he lost his phone last week?
• We had never seen such a beautiful garden.
• By the time I got there, the store had closed.
• Had she not graduated from college in 2010?
• I had worked at the company for five years.
• Hadn’t you visited that city before moving there?
• She had left the room before I entered.

Past Perfect Tense Chart with Examples

Past Perfect Tense Exercises

Certainly! Here are 20 simple past perfect tense exercises to check your knowledge. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs:

• She ______ (forget) her keys at home.
• By the time I arrived, they ______ (already/leave).
• He realized he ______ (misplace) his wallet.
• The children ______ (finish) their homework before playing.
• We ______ (never/visit) that museum before.
• Sarah ______ (complete) the project by the deadline.
• When I reached the cinema, the movie ______ (already/start).
• The train ______ (leave) before we reached the station.
• They didn’t come because they ______ (not/invite) to the party.
• By the time I got there, the store ______ (close).
• The students ______ (not/study) the lesson before the test.
• I realized I ______ (lose) my phone after I left the restaurant.
• The chef ______ (prepare) the meal before the guests arrived.
• She couldn’t enter because she ______ (forget) her access card.
• By the time they arrived, the concert ______ (already/begin).
• The rain ______ (stop) before we left for the picnic.
• The book ______ (already/read) before it was assigned.
• We ______ (not/see) that movie before last night.
• The teacher ______ (already/explain) the concept.
• The sun ______ (set) before we reached the beach.
• had forgotten
• had already left
• had misplaced
• had finished
• had never visited
• had completed
• had already started
• had not been invited
• had not studied
• had prepared
• had already begun
• had stopped
• had already been read
• had not seen
• had already explained

Q1: What is the Past Perfect Tense?

The past perfect tense is a grammatical structure used to express an action that was completed before another action or event in the past. It is formed by using the past tense of the auxiliary verb “have” (had) with the past participle of the main verb.

Q2: When is the Past Perfect Tense used?

The past perfect tense is used to emphasize the completion of an action before a specific past point or before another action in the past. It helps establish a clear chronological sequence of events in narratives.

Q3: How is the Past Perfect Tense formed?

To form the past perfect tense, start with the past tense of “have” (had) and follow it with the past participle of the main verb. For example: “She had finished her work.”

Q4: What is the difference between Past Perfect and Past Simple Tense?

While both tenses deal with actions in the past, the past perfect tense specifically indicates the completion of an action before another past action or event, adding a layer of temporal sequencing. In contrast, the past simple tense focuses on the occurrence of an action in the past without highlighting its relationship to other past events.

Q5: Give some example sentences of past perfect tense.

Here are some example sentences of past perfect tense:

• She had visited the museum.
• We had completed the project.
• She had already eaten lunch.
• They had bought new furniture.
• Present Perfect Tense
• Past Continuous Tense 
• Future Continuous Tense 
• Present Continuous Tense 
• 12 English Tenses in English

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Past Perfect 1

• Action Verbs
• Auxiliary (or Helping) Verbs
• Stative Verbs
• Modal Verbs
• Phrasal Verbs
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• Infinitive Definition & Examples
• Do, Does, Did
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• The Present Simple Tense
• The Present Progressive Tense
• The Past Simple Tense
• The Past Progressive Tense
• The Present Perfect Simple Verb Tense
• The Future Tense
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The Past Perfect Simple Tense

• The Past Perfect Progressive Tense
• The Future Perfect Tense
• Passive Voice
• Conjugation
• Conjunctions
• Preposition
• Use after, as soon as, the moment that, until before using the past perfect simple. Ex: After she had moved out , I found her notes./ I didn’t say anything until she had finished talking.
• Use before, when, by the time before the past simple: Ex. Before I knew it, she had run out the door. / By the time he phoned her, she had found someone new.

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• The past perfect simple, to refer to the action that happened first or earlier
• The past simple to refer to the action that happened second or later
• After Sofie had finished her work, she went to lunch. (First she finished her work and then she went to eat lunch.)
• I washed the floor when the painter had gone. (First the painter left and then I washed the floor.)
• Harold had known about it for a while. (First he knew about it, then others knew about it)
• walk > walk ed / study > stud ied / stop > stop ped / create > creat ed

• By the time Doris got to the party, everyone had gone home.
• Everyone had gone home by the time Doris had got to the party.

Contractions in the Past Perfect Simple

Punctuation tip.

• I had > I'd - After I'd used the phone, I paid the bill.
• He had > He'd / She has > She'd / It has > It'd - It'd happened so quickly, I didn't notice.
• We had > We'd / You have > You'd /They are > They'd – We'd just gotten home, when we heard the blast outside.

Negative Sentences in the Past Perfect Simple Tense

• I had not eaten at that restaurant before today.
• Samantha hadn't had time to explain her side of the story.
• My friends hadn't ever gone to France.
• My friends had never gone to the USA either.

Yes/No Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• Had you cleaned up the mess by the time they came home?
• Had Adam ever spoken to the CEO before he was fired?

Wh-Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• What had they said that made him so angry?
• Why had he agreed to work for that salary?
• How much had he drunk before you got to him?

Tag Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• John had known about the cancer for a couple of years, hadn't he ?
• They had been in business together, hadn't they ?
• Jennifer hadn't spoken to you about it, had she ?
• They had never eaten a proper Indian meal, had they ?

Exercises – Past Perfect Simple

• After Loren had turned on the alarm, she locked the door. (turn on)
• By the time Simone arrived , the police had already left. (arrive)
• Had you known about the contract they signed? (know)
• After the company _____Joe, he began to work on his first project. (hire)
• _____you _______ the news before you saw it on TV? (hear)
• Michael didn’t want to see the movie because he _______ the book yet. (not read)
• The concert ______ already _______when we _______ the stadium. (begin/ enter)
• Until Anne ________ Mark, she ____ never ______in love. (meet, be)
• Bill __________ for years before he finally _______. (smoke/ quit)
• _______ Sara ever _______to London by herself before then? (drive)
• How many fish ______ the boys _____ by the time it started raining? (catch)
• You ________ them to go to the beach, hadn’t you? (forbid)
• The girls _______ in weeks? That’s why they ______ so much afterwards. (exercise / hurt)
• hadn't read
• had/begun/entered
• met/had/been
• had smoked/quit
• had forbidden
• hadn’t exercised / hurt

Examples - Past Perfect Simple

• After Sofie had finished her work, she went to lunch.
• I washed the floor when the painter had gone.
• Harold had known about it for a while.
• I didn't say anything until she had finished talking.
• After she had moved out, I found her notes.
• Before I knew it, she had run out the door.
• By the time he phoned her, she had found someone new.
• I had had enough of his complaining.
• After I'd used the phone, I paid the bill.
• It'd happened so quickly, I didn't notice.
• We'd just gotten home, when we heard the blast outside.

Yes/No Questions

Wh- questions, tag questions.

• John had known about the cancer for a couple of years, hadn't he?
• They had been in business together, hadn't they?
• Jenifer hadn't spoken to you about it, had she?
• They had never eaten a proper Indian meal, had they?

• Parts of speech
• Picture Vocabulary
• Confused Words
• Phrasal Verbs
• Applications
• Essay Writing
• Kindergarten Worksheets

Past Perfect Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

The past perfect tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions that were completed before a specific point in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

• She had finished the work.
• They had visited the museum last summer.
• They had not seen the movie.
• He had never been to Paris before this vacation.
• Had you studied for the test before it was announced?
• Had the mail arrived before you left the house?

Table of Contents

Forming the Past Perfect Tense

Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative sentences in past perfect tense are statements that express an action that was completed before a specific point in the past. They are structured using the following formula.

Subject + had +verb(3rd form) + object.

• She had already finished her breakfast.
• They had watched the movie before bedtime.
• He had visited the new museum in town.
• The children had played in the park all afternoon.
• By the time I arrived, they had already eaten dinner.
• She realized she had forgotten her keys at home.
• We had never been to this restaurant before.
• The teacher had explained the lesson before the test.
• He told me he had already seen the new movie.
• The sun had set by the time we reached the beach.

The sentences given above are broken down according to their grammatical structure.

Negative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions that inquire about actions or events that occurred before a specific point in the past. They are formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Subject + had + not + verb(3rd form) + object.

• She hadn’t finished her chores before dinner.
• They hadn’t visited the park in months.
• He hadn’t heard that song until yesterday.
• The team hadn’t practiced enough before the match.
• We hadn’t met our new neighbors until last week.
• The store hadn’t restocked the shelves by noon.
• He hadn’t tried sushi before last night.
• She hadn’t watched that TV series until now.
• They hadn’t seen that movie before last night.
• He hadn’t spoken to his cousin in years.

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions about actions or events that happened before a specific point in the past. They start with “Had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Had + subject + verb(3rd form) + object?

• Had she eaten breakfast before leaving for work?
• Had they visited the museum before the trip?
• Had he finished his chores before going out to play?
• Had you heard the news before we told you?
• Had they cleaned the house before the party?
• Had she read the book before watching the movie?
• Had we met our new neighbors before the event?
• Had he seen that movie before last night?
• Had they played any games before the picnic?
• Had she finished her work by the time you called?

Usages of the Past Perfect Tense

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action” is one of the key uses of the past perfect tense. It helps establish a clear sequence of events in the past.

• By the time we arrived, they had already finished their meal .
• She had completed the project before the deadline.
• The train had left the station before we reached it.
• They hadn’t started the meeting before the boss arrived.
• The bakery hadn’t sold out of croissants when we got there.
• She hadn’t visited that museum before last summer.
• Had you finished your homework before the teacher collected it?
• Had they seen that movie before it won an award?
• Had she ever traveled to Europe before this trip?

Narrating Past Events in a Sequence

“Narrating Past Events in a Sequence” is another important use of the past perfect tense. It helps in presenting a series of past events in the order in which they occurred.

• She had breakfast , then went for a walk , and finally read a book .
• They had a picnic , then played games , and afterwards shared stories .
• She didn’t have time to finish her drawing , so she left it for tomorrow .
• They didn’t find any ripe apples , so they postponed making the pie .
• Had she already finished her snack before going for a walk?
• Had they played any games before having the picnic?

Expressing Regrets or Hypothetical Scenarios in the Past

Expressing regrets or hypothetical scenarios in the past involves using the past perfect tense to discuss situations that didn’t happen, or to express a sense of regret or longing for different outcomes in the past.

• If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
• She wishes she had taken that job offer last year.
• He believes he would have won the race if he had trained harder.
• If she had arrived earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the train.
• He wishes he hadn’t sold his antique collection.

Reporting Past Actions or Speech

Reporting past actions or speech” involves conveying what someone said or did in the past. This is typically done through indirect or reported speech, where the original statement or action is reported using a different verb tense (often the past perfect tense) to indicate that it happened in the past.

• She told me, I finished the report .
• He said, She has already left .
• They mentioned, We visited the museum .
• She told me that she hadn’t finished the report.
• He said that she had already left .
• They mentioned that they hadn’t visited the museum.
• Did she tell you she had finished the report?
• Had he mentioned that she had already left?
• Did they ask if we had visited the museum?

Past Perfect Tense Chart

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense indicate that an action or event occurred before another action in the past.

• She had finished her work before the meeting started.
•  They had already eaten when I arrived.
•   By the time we got to the cinema, the movie had already begun.
•  She hadn’t seen the movie until last night.
•   After they had left, I realized I forgot my keys.
• He hadn’t heard the news before we told him.
• She had never visited that city before.
•  She didn’t taste that type of food until today.
•   No sooner had they finished the project than the deadline arrived.
• Had you finished your work before the call?
•   Hadn’t they seen the movie before last night?
• Had you ever been to this city before your trip?
• Had they finished the project by the deadline?
•   Before we arrived, had they already played the game?

Time Expressions

Time expressions are words or phrases that indicate when an action or event took place. In the context of past perfect tense, they help establish the relationship between different past actions.

• She finished her homework before dinner .
• He had known her since kindergarten .
• By morning, the rain had stopped .
• They had watched the movie twice already.
• She had read the book before bedtime .
• He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet .
• She realized she hadn’t studied in a while .
• They hadn’t seen that show since last year .
• He hadn’t visited the museum in years .
• She hadn’t traveled abroad before last summer .
• Had you finished your chores by the time I called? ( Time Expression )
• When did they first meet each other? ( Time Expression )
• By what time had they completed the project? ( Time Expression )
• Had they ever been to this city before? ( Time Expression )
• Since when had he known about this new technology? (Time Expression)

Past Perfect vs. Simple Past Tense

Differentiating Between Past Perfect and Simple Past

Here’s a table comparing Past Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense

Past Perfect Tense Example Sentences

• The mother had cooked food before the sun rose.
• I had recited the Holy Quran before you came.
• The bell had rung when we reached the school.
• The train had gone when I reached the station.
• They had taken tea when I reached there.
• The patient had died before the doctor came.
• They had already finished their work.
• He had reached here till 2’O clock.
• The girl had already sung songs.
• The teacher had already taught us lesson.
• By then, he had finished all his work.
• They were tired because they had walked a lot.
• We were surprised because they hadn’t told us.
• The movie was over because they had watched it.
• She knew the answer because she had studied.
• They were happy because they had won the prize.
• He was full because he had eaten a big meal.
• The students were tired because they had studied.
• She had a great time because she had danced a lot.
• They were sleepy because they had stayed up late.
• He had not taken breakfast before you came.
• They had not bought tickets before the train came.
• Aslam had not heard this good news yet.
• It had not rained yet.
• I had never eaten such a delicious fruit before.
• He hadn’t visited his grandparents in a long time.
• She hadn’t tried that new restaurant yet.
• They hadn’t met their new neighbors before the party.
• By the time they arrived, the show hadn’t started yet.
• He hadn’t seen a shooting star until last night.
• She hadn’t been to the beach in years.
• We hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
• The cat hadn’t eaten its food yet.
• She hadn’t visited the museum in a while.
• They hadn’t finished the puzzle by bedtime.
• He hadn’t cooked dinner before the guests arrived.
• She hadn’t heard the news until now.
• They hadn’t bought groceries for the week.
• By the time they left, the party hadn’t even started.
• He hadn’t taken a vacation in years.
• Had you finished your work before the sun set?
• Had the police already dispersed the crowd?
• Had they already left for Lahore?
• Why had you not posted the letter before you went to school?
• Had they already reached the school?
• Had he fixed the car before the road trip?
• Had she learned to swim before the summer?
• Had they packed their bags before the vacation?
• Had we finished all the tasks before leaving?
• Had he visited his grandparents before the holidays?
• Had you met the new neighbors before the barbecue?
• Had they chosen a restaurant before the reservation?
• Had she attended any classes before the conference?
• Had we booked the tickets before they were sold out?
• Had he heard about the new job before the interview?
• Had they received the package before leaving home?
• Had she completed the assignment before the deadline?
• Had we packed our bags before the trip started?
• Had he visited that museum before it closed down?
• Had you tried that dish before today?

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes in language use is crucial for effective communication.

Here are some tips to help you steer clear of frequent errors:

• Watch Subject-Verb Agreement : Ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).
• Avoid Double Negatives : Using two negatives in a sentence can lead to confusion. For example, “I can’t hardly wait” should be “I can hardly wait.”
• Be Consistent with Verb Tenses : Stick to one tense throughout a piece of writing, unless there’s a specific reason for a shift.
• The Past Perfect Tense is a verb form that is used to describe an action that took place before another action or a specific point in the past.
• The Past Perfect Tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle form of the main verb (e.g., had + eaten).
• Time expressions like “before,” “by the time,” “already,” “until,” and “hadn’t” are commonly used with the Past Perfect Tense.
• The Simple Past Tense describes an action that happened at a specific point in the past, while the Past Perfect Tense describes an action that occurred before another past action.
• “Hadn’t” is the contraction of “had not” and is used in negative sentences (e.g., “She hadn’t finished her work.”). “Didn’t” is the contraction of “did not” and is used in negative sentences in the Simple Past Tense (e.g., “She didn’t finish her work.”).
• Yes, the Past Perfect Tense can be used in reported speech to convey information that was said or thought in the past (e.g., “He said he had already seen the movie.”).
• Yes, adverbs like “already,” “just,” “never,” “yet,” and others can be used with the Past Perfect Tense to provide additional information about the timing of the action.

Free Grammar and Vocabulary Worksheets Resources

• Worksheet Tenses
• English Worksheets
• Action Verbs Worksheets
• Past Perfect Tense Worksheets

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Tenses chart with examples, rules, usage, future tenses with examples, rules, usage, past tenses with examples, rules, usage.

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Past Perfect Tense

• Forming Past Perfect Simple
• Use of Past Perfect Simple
• Vocabulary related to Past Perfect Simple
• Forming Past Perfect Continuous
• Use of Past Perfect Continuous
• Past Perfect compared to other tenses
• Instructions
• Follow-up questions

Introduction

The Past Perfect tense is often feared by students. It is one of the complicated tenses. However, it is not that tricky. This chapter examines the Past Perfect Simple and the Past Perfect Continuous. Let’s first look at the way they are formed and then the situations in which we use them.

1 Past perfect simple

The Past Perfect Simple expresses what happened before the past event – hence the name Past Perfect. Therefore, this tense rarely occurs without the context:

• How do we know which part of a sentence the Past Perfect Simple will be in? It is in the one where the first event happened. Something happened in the past (I went to the party – Past tense), but BEFORE that I was doing something (I had bought a gift – Past Perfect).

Before we talk in more detail about the situations in which we use this tense, let’s explore its formation.

1.1 Forming Past Perfect Simple

What do we need to form Past Perfect Simple? subject + auxiliary verb HAD + regular verb with -ed / 3. form of irregular verb

• The negative of the Past Perfect Simple is formed by adding NOT to the auxiliary verb HAD (I had not exercised.) HAD (I had not exercised.)
• The short form is HADN‘T (I hadn‘t exercised.)

• When forming a question, we just switch the subject of the sentence with the auxiliary verb HAD

1.2 Use of Past Perfect Simple

When do we use the Past Perfect Simple? When something had happened before a certain moment in the past

• As can be seen from the sentence, the doctor first examined the patient and then recommended more movement.

• As we can see from the sentence, firstly, she left her purse at home and then had to return for it.

• Here, for example, is a mother who makes sure that her son did his homework and then went to the cinema.

1.3 Vocabulary related to Past Perfect Simple

The Past Perfect Simple is characterized by the frequent use of the following adverbs:

AFTER, WHEN Both of these adverbs can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle:

• When I had finished cooking , I called my friend.
• I called my friend after I had finished cooking .

BEFORE The adverb BEFORE can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle.

• Before I went to lunch, I had had an interview .
• I had had an interview before I went to lunch.

In the case that an event took place at a particular time, the Past Perfect Simple is not a rerequisite and we can use the Past Simple tense. The same is true for the adverb AFTER. Therefore, both of these options are possible:

• I had seen them only once in 2015 before I went on a road trip with them in 2017.
• I saw them only once in 2015 before I went on a road trip with them in 2017.

However, if it is not an event occurring at a particular time, we need to use the Ppat Perfect Simple. In the following sentence we see that this is not an event, but an experience:

• Not: I worked for several companies before I started working for you.

We use the conjunction BECAUSE for so-called reason sentences. The subordinate clause is in the Past Perfect Simple if we want to express that it had happened before a certain moment in the past. Again, we can place it at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle:

• Because I hadn’t studied , I failed the test.
• I failed the test because I hadn’t studied .

We often come across related subordinate clauses:

• The girl, who I had met last summer , called me.
• The movie which you had recommended to me was really good!

The Past Perfect also appears with object subordinate sentences:

• I realized that somebody had broken into our house .

2 Past Perfect Continuous

If you have studied the rules about the Past Perfect Simple, the Past Perfect Continuous won’t be so complicated for you. While we can tell by the Past Perfect Simple what had happened at a particular moment in the past, the Past Perfect Continuous serves to tell us what had been happening before a certain moment in the past.

• We emphasize the course of this event- so we also add that it took the whole afternoon.

Before we take a closer look at the situations in which we use this tense, let’s explain how it is formed.

2.1 Forming Past Perfect Continuous

What do we need to form Past Perfect Continuous? subject + HAD + BEEN + action verb with ending -ING + rest of sentence

• We create the negative form by putting NOT after HAD (the auxiliary verb)
• The short form is HADN‘T (You hadn’t been waiting (nečekal jsi)).

• We form a question by switching the subject with the auxiliary verb HAD
• The verb BEEN follows the subject:

2.2 Use of Past Perfect Continuous

Now we know how to form Past Perfect Continuous, we can now look at the situations where we use it:

We are talking about something that has been going on for some time before a specific point in the past

• The exercise has lasted for two hours and it made the person exhausted.

We want to emphasize the duration of a certain event We don’t just use only Past Perfect Continuous with a specific expression of time. We also use it when we want to say that the event took a longer time:

• They had been playing really well (all the time) before the football match was cancelled.

We are talking about a state that was caused by a certain event

• He was wet (state) because it had been raining the whole afternoon (event).

3 Past tense compared to other tenses

Now let’s look at the same sentence in different tenses. Notice how its meaning changes.

• The actions happened one after the other, we use simple past tense.
• His activity was in progress at the moment I entered the room, so we use past continuous tense.
• Father had completed the activity before I entered the room. To express this sequence, we use past perfect tense.

4 Practicing past perfect tense

Try the following exercises and test your newly acquired knowledge.

4.1 Instructions

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in past and past perfect tense:

1) By the time I __________ (arrive) at the party, everyone __________ (leave). 2) She __________ (study) for two hours before she __________ (take) a break. 3) They __________ (already eat) by the time we __________ (get) to the restaurant. 4) The movie __________ (start) before we __________ (arrive) at the cinema. 5) He __________ (never see) a bear before he __________ (go) to Alaska.

Exercise 2: Sentence transformation

Change the following sentences to the past perfect tense:

1) I woke up early this morning. 2) They started the project last week. 3) She bought a new car yesterday. 4) He had a sandwich for lunch. 5) We went to bed late last night.

Exercise 3: Answers the questions Answer the following questions in the past perfect tense:

1) Had you ever been to New York before your trip last year? – Yes,… 2) Had she finished the book before she saw the movie? – Yes,… 3) Had they seen the movie before they read the book? – No,… 4) Had he eaten breakfast before he left for work? – Yes,… 5) Had we met before the party last week? – No,…

4.2 Solution

Exercise 1: Filling in the blanks with the correct verb form

1) By the time arrived at the party, everyone had left . 2) She had studied / had been studying for two hours before she took a break. 3) They had already eaten by the time we got to the restaurant. 4) The movie had started before we arrived at the cinema. 5) He had never seen a bear before he went to Alaska.

1) I had woken up early this morning. 2) They had started the project last week. 3) She had bought a new car yesterday. 4) He had had a sandwich for lunch. 5) We had gone to bed late last night.

Exercise 3: Answering questions

1) Had you ever been to New York before your trip last year? Yes, I had been to New York before my trip last year. 2) Had she finished the book before she saw the movie? Yes, she had finished the book before she saw the movie. 3) Had they seen the movie before they read the book? No, they had not seen the movie before they read the book. 4) Had he eaten breakfast before he left for work? Yes, he had eaten breakfast before he left for work. 5) Had we met before the party last week? No, we had not met before the party last week.

5 A story using Past Perfect Tense

And what does the past perfect tense look like in the context of a story? Read and listen to the story. Do you dare to try the comprehension questions too?

Alice had always dreamed of becoming a successful author, but it wasn’t until she had graduated from college that she started to pursue her passion for writing. After completing a few short stories, she had decided to write her first novel. For months, Alice had been working tirelessly, pouring her heart and soul into her writing. She had spent countless hours researching and developing her characters, creating the perfect plot, and editing and revising her work.By the time Alice had submitted her manuscript to various publishing houses, she had been writing for over a year. During this time, she had faced many rejections and setbacks, but she had never given up. She had continued to work hard, honing her craft, and perfecting her novel.

Finally, after what had felt like an eternity, Alice had received an email from a publishing house expressing their interest in publishing her book. She had been overjoyed, and the hours, days, and months she had spent writing had all been worth it. Alice had been ecstatic to see her dream come to fruition.

From that day on, Alice had been known as a successful author, and her book had become a bestseller. Looking back, she had realized that all the hard work, dedication, and perseverance had been worth it.

5.1 Follow-up questions

5.2 answers.

Alice had been dreaming of becoming a successful author.

Alice had started pursuing her passion for writing after graduating from college.

Yes, Alice had completed a few short stories before deciding to write her first novel.

Alice had been working tirelessly on her writing for months.

Alice had spent countless hours researching and developing her characters, creating the perfect plot, and editing and revising her work.

By the time Alice submitted her manuscript to publishing houses, she had been writing for over a year.

Yes, Alice had faced many rejections and setbacks during her writing process.

Alice had continued to work hard, honing her craft and perfecting her novel.

Alice had been writing for over a year before receiving an email from a publishing house expressing their interest in publishing her book.

Alice had realized that all the hard work, dedication, and perseverance had been worth it when looking back on her journey to becoming a successful author.

Quality Point(s): 1.27K

Answer: 464

• English (US)
• French (France)

“Finishing her homework, she went to bed.” Is this sentence correct? Or do I need to write “Having finished her homework, she went to bed.”?

• Report copyright infringement

Quality Point(s): 294

Answer: 106

Having finished her homework, she went to bed. or She went to bed after finishing her homework. (the sentence above sounds more natural.)

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