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Grammar Example:
Simple Past – Past Perfect Simple
Writing
Vocabulary
Tests Exercises and Tests
Study Tips
Form
Daily English
Pronunciation Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

Read On 2nd column of irregular verbs had + 3rd column of irregular verbs
Example: I spoke Example: I had spoken
Countries
Animals / Sports regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed
Literature Example: I worked Example: I had worked
Newsticker Exceptions

Business Exceptions when adding ed:

Communication when the final letter is e, only add d
Grammar Example: love - loved

Business-Info after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example: admit - admitted
Chill Out final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Games & Riddles Example: travel - travelled
E-Cards after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Chat with Egon Example: worry - worried
but: play - played
Take On
Newsletter See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple
Calendar 2013
Use
Language-Board
We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However,
Suggestions when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we
use Past Perfect.
Teach In
Cultural Studies Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain
Lessons time in the past?
Teacher’s Board Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what
had happened before/up to a certain time in the past?

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past before/up to a certain time in the past

Example: Jane got up at seven. She opened her Example: Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never
birthday presents and then the whole family been to the zoo.
went to the zoo.

Signal Words

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

first already
then up to then
before that day
after*

*Note: "After" is only used as a signal word for Past Perfect if it is followed by a subject +
verb, meaning that one action had been completed before another action began (the new
action is in Simple Past).

Example: After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.
However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action
and is therefore in Simple Past.

Example: After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted.

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Simple Past and Past Perfect http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper

More exceptions with signal words

When
Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect.
Compare the following examples:

When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time)
When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes.
(second action happened after the first action had been completed)
When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions.
(second action had been completed when the first action took place)

Before
"Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after
"before" is a new action, use Simple Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not
completed) before a certain time in the past, use Past Perfect. Compare the following
examples:

Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.
Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book
about elephants.

Exercises on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
Exercise on the text Orlando
The Visitor, The Pilgrims
Special use of signal words 1, Special use of signal words 2

Tests on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Test 1
Test 2

Changed: 10th Dec 2010 19:35

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