ENG_B1.1.

0503G

Past Perfect
Past Events
Grammar & Structure
Level B1

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Past Perfect Outline

Content
In this lesson you will learn the past perfect tense.

Learning Outcomes
• Learn the uses and forms of the past perfect.
• Learn how the past perfect differentiates from other past tense forms.
• Learn to create sentences using the past perfect.

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Grammar

Please note

We use the past perfect to indicate the order

of events in the past. Specifically, to describe
events that happened before other events.

Example:
He had decided to become a drummer before he
learned how to play drums
 the decision to be a drummer happened before
learning how to play drums.

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Grammar

Please note

(Subject) + had + past participle

Examples:
Had eaten
Had lived
Had worked
Had gone
Had bought
Had been
Had had
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Grammar

Please note

The verb ‘to have’ is in the past tense (had)

and the past participle of a main verb is used.

Example:
He had worked as a teacher before he became
principal.

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Grammar

Please note

We also use the past perfect to keep the

order of events clear when there is no
specified time given.
Example:
She had already decided to
become a pilot when she took
flying lessons.

Here there is no time expression, but the

decision to become a pilot came before the
flying lessons so we use the past perfect.

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Grammar

Please note

The Past Perfect is commonly used in reports.

Example:
She told her boss that she had accepted another position.

In the example, her acceptance of another job is being

reported. Her actual words were “I have already
accepted another position”

Notice that the job acceptance happened first.

Then she told her boss.

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Grammar

Please note

The Past Perfect tense is commonly used with

verbs like: realize, remember, know, and
understand.

Example:
She didn‘t know where she had
parked her car.

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Exercises

Speaking
Read the following two sentences. What‘s the
difference?

She has spelt the word correctly.

She had spelt the word correctly.

Which one of these sentences describes something that just

happened?

Which one of these sentences describes something that

happened further in the past?

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Exercises

Speaking

Correctly match the clauses.

He had already seen the movie,   so we watched something else.

He has already seen the movie,   so let‘s watch something else.

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Grammar

Please note

We use the past perfect when describing

actions or events that happened before other
events or actions.

In the example on the previous page

we saw two past events, with one caused by the other.

Why did we watch something else?

Because he had seen that film already.

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Exercises

Writing

Write three sentences using the past perfect.

EX) I had already arrived at work when I realized I forgot the report.

1) ___________________________

2) ___________________________

3) ____________________________

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Exercises

Writing

Complete the sentences with the past

perfect.

1) In the examination, the scientists noticed something

that they __________ (overlook) before.

2) When I returned to the hospital, the doctor could hardly

believe how much I ________ (recover) since my last
visit.

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Exercises

Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.

3) The man drowned after trying to save a girl who ________

(fall) in the river.

4) The local council removed all the safety equipment

because vandals ________ (repeatedly steal) them.

5) By the time the fire was put out, it ______ (destroy)

hundreds of homes.
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Exercises

Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
6) Jane ______ (leave) before I phoned her office.

7) They decided to give him the job before the interview

_______ (end).

8) I _______ (be) to Romania before so I knew what to expect

when I went back there.

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Exercises

Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
9) I ______ (have) Japanese food and knew I liked it.

10) I arrived at the office and realized I ______ (forget) my

keys at home.

11) She took the cake out of the oven when she ______
(realize) it was in there for too long.

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Exercises

Writing
Look at the image. Write two sentences in the
past perfect.

1) ______________

2) ______________

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Exercises

Writing
Look at the image. Write two sentences in the
past perfect.

1) ______________

2) ______________

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Exercises

Writing

Identify and correct the mistakes.

1) We had travelled 50 miles when we have realized we

were lost.

2) They forgot their wallet when they finished the food at

the restaurant.

3) They had stole all the stuff by the time we had arrived
home.

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Exercises

Writing

Identify and correct the mistakes.

4) When I had finished school I had had so much debt from

student loans.

5) My friend had called me when I am in the shower.

6) The kids had ated before so they are not hungry.

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Exercises

Writing

Identify and correct the mistakes.

7) We arrived at the party before anybody arrived at the

party.

8) I already knew that band before they became famous.

9) My wife wasn‘t divorced officially when we first met.

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Grammar

Please note

The past perfect is not used for emphasizing

how long ago an event occurred. We would
use a time expression instead.

Example:
Her great grandfather was
shot when the War of 1818
occurred in this town.

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Grammar

Please note

In describing the past, we use the past

perfect in the same contexts that we use the
present perfect. The only difference is that
the narrative is in the past, not the present.

Example:
Past: Then they saw the train. It had finally arrived.

Present: Now we see the train. It has finally arrived.

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Thank you

We would like to thank

the following sources for their content
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