Using Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense in English sentences looks like this: had + past participles
The past perfect tense is used in sentences which convey the idea that there are two different actions which happened in the past. The first action is indicated by the past perfect tense. The second action is indicated by the simple past tense. Read on and find out the usage of the past perfect tense.
The plane took off. (action that happened first)
I reached the airport later. (action that happened later than the plane taking off) It means when I reached the airport, the plane was already up in the sky.
Note that these first and second actions happened yesterday morning. Now I'm telling you what happened. Therefore, I can use the past perfect tense in my sentence.
The plane had already taken off before I reached the airport. The word already can be included to give more emphasis.
had + taken is the past perfect tense/reached is the simple past tense
More examples
The office boy left the premises after he had set the alarm system.
The audience gave the opera singer a great applause when she had sung two songs.
Jane had done her chores before she started to cook for her family.
Note that the past perfect tense can also be used in "if" conditional sentences.
If you had informed me about the meeting, I would have attended it. OR
I would have attended the meeting if you had informed me about it.
The past perfect tense can also be used in indirect speech.
"Have you eaten the biscuits?" Mrs Lee asked her daughter.
Mrs Lee asked her daughter whether she had eaten the biscuits.
The past perfect tense can also be used by speakers who want to express regret.
"I wish I had listened to my dad's advice," said David.
The past perfect tense can also be used to indicate the result of something that happened in the past.
He felt sick and vomited because he had drunk too much beer.
The past perfect tense can also be used in compositions/stories. Read this short passage. Pay attention to the usage of the past perfect tense.
While Hilda was on her way home last evening, she wondered whether her servant girl, Kirsten, had done what she told her to do. When Hilda reached home, she realized that Kirsten had cleaned the whole house. She had changed the cushion cases and had taken down the filthy curtains. When Hilda entered the bathroom, she was glad to see that the tiles were spotless clean. She was sure Kirsten had scoured them thoroughly.
Note that the past perfect tense and the present perfect tense are two different tenses. Do not replace one with the other.
Click on "References" or "grammar" to view the present perfect tense.
The past perfect tense is used in sentences which convey the idea that there are two different actions which happened in the past. The first action is indicated by the past perfect tense. The second action is indicated by the simple past tense. Read on and find out the usage of the past perfect tense.
The plane took off. (action that happened first)
I reached the airport later. (action that happened later than the plane taking off) It means when I reached the airport, the plane was already up in the sky.
Note that these first and second actions happened yesterday morning. Now I'm telling you what happened. Therefore, I can use the past perfect tense in my sentence.
The plane had already taken off before I reached the airport. The word already can be included to give more emphasis.
had + taken is the past perfect tense/reached is the simple past tense
More examples
The office boy left the premises after he had set the alarm system.
The audience gave the opera singer a great applause when she had sung two songs.
Jane had done her chores before she started to cook for her family.
Note that the past perfect tense can also be used in "if" conditional sentences.
If you had informed me about the meeting, I would have attended it. OR
I would have attended the meeting if you had informed me about it.
The past perfect tense can also be used in indirect speech.
"Have you eaten the biscuits?" Mrs Lee asked her daughter.
Mrs Lee asked her daughter whether she had eaten the biscuits.
The past perfect tense can also be used by speakers who want to express regret.
"I wish I had listened to my dad's advice," said David.
The past perfect tense can also be used to indicate the result of something that happened in the past.
He felt sick and vomited because he had drunk too much beer.
The past perfect tense can also be used in compositions/stories. Read this short passage. Pay attention to the usage of the past perfect tense.
While Hilda was on her way home last evening, she wondered whether her servant girl, Kirsten, had done what she told her to do. When Hilda reached home, she realized that Kirsten had cleaned the whole house. She had changed the cushion cases and had taken down the filthy curtains. When Hilda entered the bathroom, she was glad to see that the tiles were spotless clean. She was sure Kirsten had scoured them thoroughly.
Note that the past perfect tense and the present perfect tense are two different tenses. Do not replace one with the other.
Click on "References" or "grammar" to view the present perfect tense.
By Susan L
On 11/28/2009 11:48:00 PM
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View More Articles... On 11/28/2009 11:48:00 PM
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