PAST PERFECT TENSE

PAST PERFECT TENSE

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something inthe Past• The Past Perfect expresses the idea thatsomething occurred before another actionin the past. Examples:• I had never seen such a beautiful beachbefore I went to Kauai.• I did not have any money because I hadlost my wallet.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past• We use the Past Perfect to show that somethingstarted in the past and continued up untilanother action in the past.• Examples:• We had had that car for ten years before itbroke down.• By the time Alex finished his studies, he hadbeen in London for over eight years.

ADVERB PLACEMENT• The examples below show the placement forgrammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,ever, still, just, etc.• Examples:• You had previously studied English before youmoved to New York.• Had you previously studied English before youmoved to New York?

FormPositive: “had”+ past participle of the main verb (or –ed)• She had written the letter before I came home.Negative : “had” + not + participle of the main verb (or–ed)• She had not written the letter before I came home.Question: “had” + subject+ past participle of the mainverb (or –ed)• Had she written the book before I came home ?

ExercisePresent or Past perfect?• 1. I never get up from the table before others ----(finish).• 2. I ---- (see) many pictures of the pyramids before Iwent to Egypt last summer. Pictures of the monumentsare very misleading. The pyramids are actually quitesmall.• 3. Sarah ---- (climb) Mount Everest, ---- (sail) around theworld, and ---- (go) on safari in Kenya. She is such anadventurous person.

• 4. Susan ---- (climb) Mount Everest, ---- (sail) aroundthe world, and ---- (go) on safari in Kenya by the timeshe was twenty-five. She ---- (experience) more by thatage than most people do in their entire lives.• 5. Before my trip lo Paris two years ago, I ---- (never be)to France.• 6. When we finally stopped him, the squirrel ---- (alreadyeat) five cookies.

1.After Fred (to spend) his holiday in Italy he (to want)to learn Italian.2) Jill (to phone) Dad at work before she (to leave) forher trip.3) Susan (to turn on) the radio after she (to wash) thedishes.4) When she (to arrive) the match already (to start).5) After the man (to come) home he (to feed) the cat.

• 6) Before he (to sing) a song he (to play) theguitar.• 7) She (to watch) a video after the children(to go) to bed.• 8) After Eric (to make) breakfast he (tophone) his friend.• 9) I (to be) very tired because I (to study) toomuch.• 10) They (to ride) their bikes before they (tomeet) their friends.

• 1.After Fred had spent his holiday in Italy hewanted to learn Italian.2) Jill had phoned Dadat work before she left for her trip.3) Susanturned on the radio after she had washed thedishes.4) When she arrived the match hadalready started.5) After the man had comehome he fed the cat.6) Before he sang a songhe had played the guitar.7) She watched avideo after the children had gone to bed.8)After Eric had made breakfast he phoned hisfriend.9) I was very tired because I hadstudied too much.10) They had ridden theirbikes before they met their friends.

1. have finished2 had seen3. has climbed, has sailed, has gone4. had climbed, had sailed, had gone, hadexperienced5. had never been6. had already eaten