PAST PERFECT

1. Form: we use HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE. + I / you / he / she / it / we / they I / you / he / she / it / we / they HAD HAD been to the party. studied the night before. gone to the shop? No, I / you / he /she / it / we / they HADNT.

HADNT

? I / you / he / she / it / we / they

Short answers Yes, I / you / he / she / it / we / they HAD.

2. Use: the past perfect links one time in the past to another time further in the past. e.g. When we got to the party, everybody had left. 3. Time words:

FOR, SINCE, RECENTLY, ALREADY, JUST: (also present perfect) e.g. I was really pleased to see Pam yesterday. I hadnt seen her for ages.

THE FIRST, SECOND: e.g. It was the first time I had met her. BY, BY THE TIME: e.g. By 9:30, everyone had left. By the time she arrived, the concert had already started. WHEN, AFTER, BEFORE, AS SOON AS: these words use the past perfect for the first action in each case. e.g. The play had already started when we sat down. 4. Note: Optional past perfect. We dont use the past perfect when the sequence of events is clear. e.g. I had a shower and went to bed. If we use when with two past simple verbs, the first action happened before the second one. e.g. When we sat down, the opera started. If we use when with the past perfect, it means that the first action was completed when the second one happened. e. g. When we sat down, the opera had already started.