GC-15 Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect tense is used to

● show that something happened before another action in the past.
● For example:

The train left at 9am. We arrived at 9:15am.

Eg : When we arrived, the train had left.

Past Future
Present

9am 9:15 am
Departure Arrival time

● To show that an action happened before a specific time in the past:

Eg . She had established her company before 2008.

Structure ( Positive )
● Subject + had + Past participle (V3) + object

Structure ( Negative)
● Subject + had not ( hadn’t ) + past participle ( V3) + object

Subject Auxiliary Verb Past participle Object

I
You
We
They Had / Had not eaten the dinner
He ( hadn’t)
She
It

Structure( Question )

● Had + Subject + V3 + object?

Eg : Had they eaten the dinner ?
Had she eaten the dinner ?
In past perfect tense , the auxiliary verb `had ’does not have impact on the subject
whether it is singular or plural

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 GC-15 Title here
Past Perfect Tense

Exercise A: Put the verbs into past perfect simple tense .

1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build) .

2. He (not / be) to Cape Town before 1997.
3. When she went out to play, she (do / already) her homework.
4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make) .
5. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on) six weeks before.
6. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order) .
7. I could not remember the poem we (learn) the week before.
8. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall) from the tree.
9. (he / phone) Angie before he went to see her in London?
10. She (not / ride) a horse before that day.
11. The children (not/do) their homework, so they were in trouble.
12. We couldn't go into the concert because we (not/bring) our tickets.
13. What films (you / see) ?
14. You (not/study) for the test, so you were very nervous.
15. When I arrived at the cinema, the film (start).

Exercise B : Fill in the blanks with correct tenses - past simple or

past perfect

1. After Fred (spend) his holiday in Italy he (want) to learn Italian.

2. Jill ( phone) Dad at work before she (leave) for her trip.
3. Susan (turn on) the radio after she (wash) the dishes.
4. When she (arrive) , the match already ( start).
5. After the man (come) home he ( feed) the cat.
6. Before he ( sing) a song he (play) the guitar.
7. She (watch) a video after the children (go) to bed.
8. After Eric (make) breakfast he ( phone) his friend.
9. I (be) very tired because I (study) too much.
10. They (ride) their bikes before they (meet) their friends.

Copyright © by Pace
 GC-15 Title here
Past Perfect Tense

● Revision Checklist: Create your own sentences using the past

perfect tense with the following verbs .

● Watch
● Try
● drink
● Study
● Use
● Make

● 4. Fill in the blanks below appropriate verbs in the box using

the past perfect tense .

leave die steal begin snow break hide forget

escape reach

1. Smith went to the prison because he _____ a lot of money.

2. Leon did not have money for the bus fare because he ____ to ask for .
3. The fire _______ the roof by the time the firemen arrived.
4. There was a lot of snow outside because it _____ earlier on that day
5. His dog _______ two weeks ago . He was very sad .
6. My sister couldn’t find the money because I _____ in the drawer .
7. Look ! Somebody ________ the window open .
8. By the time Sonia got to the party , everyone ______ dancing .
9. By the time the police arrived , the burglar _____ into my neighbor’s
house .
10. Daniel was arrested after he _____ from prison.

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