Table Contents of past perfect
▪︎ definition of Past perfect
▪︎ How to form past perfect tense?
▪︎ Uses of past perfect tense
▪︎ Past perfect tense formula
▪︎ Examples of past perfect tense.
▪︎ Exercise of past perfect tense with answers
▪︎Fluently asked questions of past perfect tense.
In Eglish each tense has it’s special uses and every tense is used for a special action, Past perfect is also called pluperfect is used to express an action which that had taken place before an other action.
Example
He was shocked that Ali had killed the man.
Past perfect tense is used to express an event that happened before an other event. Suppose that you watched the flim before your father came you can say:-
I watch the flim before My father had come.
Suppose you want to mention to a person that Ali was not in the field when game started you can say:-Ail was not in the field when the game had started.
Past perfect tense definition
past perfect tense is used for an events which completed when an other event took place or it is used to describe an action that finished before a certain point in the past.
however this tense is use for an action which happened before an other action for example:I ran to house before the rain had fallen.
How to form past perfect tense?
The most important thing you have know before you start using this tense is that the verbs are two kinds regular and irregular verbs
In regular verbs the past participle formed by “ed” or “d” to the base form of the verb. If the verb doesn’t end in “e” add “ed” for example:-
Kill—————–> killed
Act——————> acted
Dress—————> dressed
Enjoy—————-> Enjoyed
If the regular verb ends in “e” add only “d” for example:-
Behave————-> behaved
Freeze————–> Freezed
Dance————–> Danced
Imagine———–> imagined
If the regular verb ends in “y” and a consonant comes before the “y” change the “y” into “i” and then add “ed” for example:-
Cry—————> cried
Dry—————> dried
Identify——–> Identified
Fry————–> fried
Note if a vowel comes before the “y” add only “ed” without changing the the “y” example:-
Betray—————> Betrayed
Enjoy—————-> Enjoyed
Stay——————> stayed
Play——————> played
some irregular verbs the root verb doesn’t change , some of them are mentioned below.
Cut————–> cut
Put————–> put
Shut ————> shut
Quit————-> quit
Bet————–> bet
Shed————> shed
Read————> read
some other irregular verbs the root verb changes, some of them are mentioned below.
Bring———–> brought
Buy————-> bought
Go—————> gone
Speak———-> spoken
Write———-> written
Pay————-> paid
Build———-> built
Fight———-> fought
Drive———-> driven
Uses of past perfect tense
■ It is used to describe an event that took place before an other event.
Example:-
The student had gone to the home when the teacher came.
■ It is used to express an action or event that took place before a special time.
Example:-
Muhammad had never gone to America before last year.
■ It is also used to show unreal things that happened in the past.
Example:-
He wants that I hadn’t come from the market at 10 o’clock.
past perfect tens formula
Formula:-Subject + had + verb past participle+ the rest of the sentence
Auxiliary verb of past perfect tense is had and all pronouns work with had.
Past perfect tense affirmative sentences
Example:-
I had gone to the school.
They had travelled to Kenya.
The teachers had explained the lesson.
We had learnt the lesson.
The children had watched the TV
Past perfect tense negative sentences
Use this formula:-Subject + had+ not verb past participle+ the rest of the sentence.
Put “not” after had.
Example
I had not gone to the school.
They had not travelled to Kenya.
The teachers had not explained the lesson.
We had not learnt the lesson.
The children had not watched the TV
Past perfect tense question
Use this formula:-Had + Subject + verb past participle+ the rest of the sentence.
Example
Had I gone to the school?
Had they travelled to Kenya?
Had the teachers explained the lesson?
Had we learnt the lesson?
Had the children watched the TV?
Past perfect question with Negative
Use this formula:-Had + not + Subject + verb past participle+ the rest of the sentence.
Example
Hadn’t I gone to the school?
Hadn’t they travelled to Kenya?
Hadn’t the teachers explained the lesson?
Hadn’t we learnt the lesson?
Hadn’t the children watched the TV?
Past perfect tense examples
Here are 10 clear examples of sentences in the past perfect tense. Each sentence shows an action that was completed before another past action or point in time:
- She had finished her homework before her friends arrived.
- They had left the party when we got there.
- I had never seen such a beautiful sunset before my trip to Hawaii.
- He had already eaten dinner by the time I called him.
- We had lived in London for five years before moving to Canada.
- The train had departed before we reached the station.
- She had studied French before she moved to Paris.
- I had forgotten my keys, so I couldn’t open the door.
- They had cleaned the house before their guests arrived.
- You had told me the story, but I didn’t remember it.
Past perfect tense exercise
1) She had ______(make) the tea.
2) Hamda had____ (cook) The food.
3) The troops had____ ______( attack) the enemy.
4) The teachers had ______ ( go) to the school.
5) We _____ _______ ( watch) the match.
6) _____ the lion ____ (run) after the buffalo?
7) ____ The tiger ______( killed) the sheep?
8) _____ the student ______( read) the book?
9) ____ my friend _______(come) from Jowhar?
10) _____ my love ______(call) me.
11) I had ___ _____(eat) the food.
12) Ali ____ not _____(answer) all the questions.
13) _____ ___ Fadima _____ (work) in Hamar?
14) ______ not Farah _____( memorize) all the holy kuran?
15) I had ______ (write) the article.
Check if you have answered correctly
1) She had made the tea.
2) Hamda had cooked the food.
3) The troops had not attacked the enemy.
4) The teachers had gone to the school.
5) We had watched the match.
6) Had the lion run after the buffalo?
7) Had the tiger had the sheep?
8) Had the student read the book?
9) Had my friend come from Jowhar?
10) Had my love called me.
11) I had not eaten the food.
12) Ali had not answered all the questions.
13) Had not Fadima worked in Hamar?
14) Had not Farah memorized all the holy kuran?
15) I had written the article.
Fluently asked questions on past perfect tense
What is the difference between present perfect tense and past perfect tense
Present perfect tense is used to express a special action which has just finished or completed before minute and past perfect tense
is used to express an event that happened before an other event.
What is the difference between past tense and past perfect tense?
Simple past tense is used of an action that happened in the past time and past perfect tense
is used to express an event that happened before an other event.
What is the difference between past perfect tense and past continuous tense?
Past perfect tense is used to express an event that happened before an other event and Past continuous tense is used to express an action or event that started in the past time.
What is the auxiliary verb of past perfect tense
The auxiliary verb of past perfect is “had“
When should I use past perfect?
■ Past perfect tense is used to describe an event that took place before an other event.
■ past perfect tense is used to express an action or event that took place before a special time.
■ It is also used to show unreal things that happened in the past.