PAST P E RF E CT

USE AND EXAMPLES

PAST PERFECT
• USED TO REFER TO ACTIONS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE ANOTHER ONE IN THE PAST

ACTION I’M REFERING ACTION THAT NOW

HAPPEND AFTER THE
ONE I’M REFERING TO

• BEFORE I GRADUATED AT COLLEGE, I HAD MADE A TRIP THROUGH EUROPE;

• I HAD ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT HIM BEFORE WE MET.
P A S T P E R FE C T X P A S T
PER F E C T C O N T IN U OU S
USE AND EXAMPLES
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
PAST PERFECT
• ACTION IN THE PAST THAT IS CONCLUDED.
ACTION I’M ACTION THAT HAPPEND NOW
REFERING TO AFTER THE ONE I’M
REFERING TO
• JOHN HAD BOUGHT A BUSINESS BEFORE HE GOT
MARRIED TO MARY.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• ACTION THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PAST.
ACTION I’M ACTION THAT HAPPEND NOW
REFERING TO AFTER THE ONE I’M
REFERING TO
• JOHN HAD BEEN BUYING A BUSINESS BEFORE HE GOT
MARRIED TO MARY.