The Past Perfect Tense

What is this tense . . . . . . and when do we use it in English?

Meaning of Past Perfect:

* Use 1:
Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past

Had you sung together?

No, We hadnt.

Had you danced together?

Yes, We had.

Had you eaten an ice cream together?

Yes, We had

Past Perfect Pattern

# Affirmative Form : S + had + past participle(v )
3

# Negative Form : S + had not (hadnt) + past participle(v )

3

# Question Form : Had + S + past participle(v ) ?

3

Note : use had for all subjects

Meaning of Past Perfect:

* Use 2:
Duration Before Something in the Past

We can also use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

~Use 2:

Duration Before Something in the Past

The bell had rung when the pupils went into the school

They had prepared for school when the school bus came

Karen ____________ (finish) making dinner by the time her husband came home.

When I arrived at the store, it ___________ (close) already.

The End