Past Perfect Simple +

Continuous
YEAR 4
What’s the difference?
A. The bomb exploded when the police arrived.
B. The bomb had exploded when the police arrived.
A. She walked out when I came into the room.
B. She had walked out when I came into the room.
A. When he got to the station, his train had already left.
B. When he got to the station, his train left.
Past Perfect Simple Examples
What happened first?
During our conversation, I realised that we had met before.
2 1

When I arrived at the party, Lucy had already gone home.

2 1

He had fastened his seabelt before he started driving

1 2

I (to tell) her that I (to finish).

I told her (that) I had finished
I (to wonder) who (to leave) the door open.
I wondered who had left the door open.
Past Perfect Simple
How: had + past participle
R: ww + ed
I: own form

When:
◦ We are already talking about the past, and want to talk about an earlier past.
◦ After unreal events, often displaying regrets or dissatisfaction (third conditional)
◦ In reported speech

Mind! There are always two things to refer to, both in the past!
Join sentences
I got out of bed this morning. Before that I drank a cup of coffee.
I had drunk a cup of coffee before I got out of bed this morning.
I got out of bed this morning after I had drunk a cup of coffee.
I arrived at school. Before that I ate breakfast.
I had eaten breakfast before I arrived at school.
I arrived at school after I had eaten breakfast.
I left the house. Before that I turned off the lights.
I left the house after I had turned off the lights.
I had turned off the lights before I left the house.
Past Perfect Continuous Examples
At that time we had been living in the caravan for about six months.
When I found Mary, I could see that she had been crying.
I went to the doctor because I had been sleeping badly.
Past Perfect Continuous
How:
◦ had + been + verb-ing
When:
◦ Focuses on the length of time.
◦ Mandy needed a walk because she’d been sitting down all day.
◦ Actions or situations which had continued up to a moment in the past.
◦ It was two months before the teachers noticed that Paula hadn’t been
coming to school.
◦ To say how long something had been happening up to a moment in the past.
◦ When she arrived, she had been travelling for 20 hours.
Simple & Continuous compared
Past Perfect Simple
How Had + past participle
Use - We are already talking about the
past, and want to talk about an
earlier past.
- After unreal events, often displaying
regrets or dissatisfaction (third
conditional see p. 165)
- In reported speech (see p. 173)
Differences - Longer lasting/permanent situations
- Emphasises idea of completion
Time - When / as soon as / after / before
expressions/ - Already / just / never
adverbs
Past Perfect Continuous
Had been + verb-ing
• Focuses on the length of time.
• Actions or situations which had
continued up to a moment in the past.
• To say how long something had been
happening up to a moment in the past.
• To talk about temporary actions and situations
• Emphasises the continuation of an activity
• Don’t use state verbs (see p. 178)