Past perfect

start

PAST PERFECT

The grammatical form used for an action that had already finished when another action happened. The past perfect is formed using “had” along with the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “I had run”).

WHAT IS IT?

When expressing a condition and a result.

When we imagine a different past in a clause with if.

To refer to situations which have changed.

To talk about time up to a certain point in the past.

To describe a past event that occurred prior to another past event.

USES

The formula for the past perfect tense is had + [past participle]. It doesn’t matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula doesn’t change.

EXAMPLE OF IRREGUALR verbS in the past perfect tense

The past perfect formula

EXAMPLE OF regular verbS in the past perfect tense

I had written the email before he apologized.

The thief had escaped when the police arrived.

I had learned the basics of algebra before I started trigonometry.

Andrew had worked at the company for five years before he quit.

Pritha had read the book before she watched the film adaptation.

I had eaten at that restaurant many times before it closed.

EXAMPLES

If you had asked me, I would have picked you up.

When I got home, I realized I had left my keys at the office.

Nobody noticed that the chef had burned the turkey.

Andrew had worked at the company for five years before he quit.

Kora and Jill had worked together for years before they became friends.

You had promised not to be late.

EXAMPLES

If I had seen him, I would have told him the news.

He understood the math test because he had been tutored all week.

I did not have any cash because I had lost my purse.

I had been to Mexico once before.

We were able to stay at the hotel since we had reserved a room in advance.

The plane had left by the time I got to the airport.

EXAMPLES

You had had a question before I finished talking.

We had just called home when my mom texted us about returning the car.

If we had called ahead, we would not have needed to wait so long for a table.

She had visited several doctors before she found out what the problem was with her hand.

The cat had chased the bird before it flew out of the yard.

Before he did his homework, he had stayed after school for help.

EXAMPLES

go!

TEST

Question 1/8

had expected

had expect

have expected

The thieves ___________ to find the diamonds in the vault.

Test

Test

Question 2/8

had finished

finished

have finished

They went to watch a movie after they ________ their homework.

Test

Question 3/8

had not slept

have not slept

did not sleep

John ___________ well, and he could not focus.

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Question 4/8

had built

had builed

built

The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we ________.

Test

Question 5/8

had fallen

had falled

have fallen

The children collected the chestnuts that ________ from the tree.

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Question 6/8

had learned

had learn

learned

I could not remember the poem we ________ the week before.

Test

Question 7/8

had made

made

have made

My brother ate all of the cake that our mum ________.

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Question 8/8

had broken

have broken

had broke

She _________ her leg once before.

good job!!!