Past Perfect Tense: How To Best Use It In English Grammar? 

Introduction to Past Perfect Tense

The type of tenses that denote an action or event that happened before a particular time point is called the past perfect tense. Another term that is used for the past perfect tense is pluperfect. Further, you can also use this tense form to show the sequence or order in which something happened. Moreover, the past perfect, when combined with the simple past tense, can function as an indicator to show the order in which two events take place.

For example,

Alma had taught three classes by the time she got home.

In this, you can see that the perfect past (had taught) is reflecting that before going home the subject had taken three classes.

Structure of Past Perfect Tense

When converting one tense form to another, you need to be aware of the formula for doing so. Without using the correct structure, you cannot convert them correctly. Thus, the general structure of past perfect tense is the following:

Subject + had (auxiliary verb) + past participle (V3) + Object (remaining sentence)

She (Subject) + had (auxiliary verb) + studied (V3) + French for five years before moving to Paris. (Object)

The perfect tense formula also changes depending on the sentence type or voice. Hence, in this segment, we shall dwell on the formula of past perfect tense in different contexts.

Affirmative

When you want to convert the positive sentences into their past perfect form, then you can make use of the given formula:

Subject + had + past participle + object

The following are some examples that will help you understand this formula:

After Sofie (Subject) + had + finished (past participle) + her work, she went to lunch. (Object)

Harold had known about it for a while.

Negative

In the negative context, where you need to deny or oppose something, you make use of the following structure of the past perfect tense:

Subject + had + not + past participle + object

The following are some examples of past perfect tense in the negative context:

Anthony (Subject) + had + not + had (past participle) + a day off for months. (Object)

I hadn't finished my meal before going out.

Interrogative

However, queries in past perfect tenses are not so common in daily life. Still, when you wish to ask questions about two events from the past, then you must use the formula given below:

Had + subject + past participle + Object

Further, to create the questions in negative form, you can make use of the following structure:

Had + subject + not + past participle + Object

Or

Hadn’t + subject + past participle + Object

Below are some instances that indicate the past perfect tense in interrogative sentences.

Had + she (Subject) + read (past participle) + the book before the test? (Object)

Had + I (Subject) + not + gone (past participle) + to work? (Object)

Hadn’t + he (Subject) + studied (past participle) + hard for exams? (Object)

Active

When you are using the past perfect tense in the active voice, then make use of the following structure:

Subject + had + verb (past participle) + Object

A few examples depicting this tense in active voice are as follows:

He (Subject) + had + played (past participle) + football. (Object)

A cat had drunk milk.

Passive

In the passive voice, the following is the past perfect tense structure that you can use:

Object + had + been + verb (past participle) + by + subject

Take a look at these examples to better understand the formula:

 Pasta (Object) + had + been + eaten (past participle) + by you. (Subject)

A picture has been painted by Steve.

Rules and Uses of Past Perfect Tense

There are some rules and regulations that you need to follow when using the perfect form of the past tenses. Hence, take a look at these past perfect tense rules and uses in detail.

Rules:

• Use the auxiliary verb had with the main verb.
• ‘Before’ is used to show actions that remained incomplete when the other event happened.
• ‘Just’ refers to an action that happened a short time ago.
• In reported speech past perfect form of tense is used.
• Time expressions such as still, never, or ever are used in past perfect.

Now that you know the rules of past perfect tense, take a look at how you can use them.

Uses:

• Past actions that were completed before the beginning of the other.
• Actions that were not completed before a specific point in time.
• To indicate the sequence of two past events.
• Events of duration before another action in the past.
• Stating conditions in the past.
• The past perfect tense is used in reported speech.
• Used to show dissatisfaction with a past action or event.

Past Perfect Tense Examples with Sentences

Examples are a way through which you can easily understand the complex information. Hence, here are the examples of past perfect tense in sentences. These instances will further clarify the use of past tense in the perfect form.

1. I had called the doctor for an appointment, but it was already full.

2. Hada game been played by them?

3. Money had been earned by Bill.

4. I wished I had purchased the movie tickets in advance.

5. Mangoes had been eaten by us.

6. She had wondered how did the airplanes fly.

7. Had they enjoyed a picnic?

8. I had not planted flowers after it rained.

9. The children had finished their homework before they went out to play.

10. He had had that bus for the last ten years before it broke down.

Tips to Ace the Past Perfect Tense

When you are learning the formation of past perfect tense, then these tips from experts can help you speed up the process. They will also help you master this tense form. Hence, the following are some tips for you:

• Pay close attention to irregular verbs as they do not follow the –ed pattern.
• Regularly go through the examples and rules to remember them.
• To ace the past perfect, you need to first understand their functions.
• Make use of past perfect form in your everyday conversations and writings.
• Solve online exercises and worksheets to become familiar with their uses.
• Don’t lose confidence if you make mistakes, as they are a part of your learning process.

Past Perfect Tense Worksheet for Practice

Next, go through this past perfect tense worksheet to build your confidence. You can also solve more such practice worksheets to excel at these tenses.

Fill in the blanks using the Past Perfect Tense to complete the sentences.

1. By the time the spring came, the flowers ---- (bloom).

2. Upon arrival at the airport, she realized she ---- (forget) her passport.

3. By the late sixteenth century, American silver ---- (account for) one-fifth of Spain's total budget.

4. I was able to understand her as I ---- (know) Lea for more than ten years.

5. We ---- (meet) before you moved to Los Angeles.

Answers

1. Had bloomed

2. Had forgotten

3. Had accounted for

4. Had known

5. Had met

Complete the questions in Past Perfect tense.

1. (she / find) __________ a new job by that time.

2. (who / live) __________ in the house before we moved in?

3. (why / they / have) __________ dinner before they came to the party?

4. (you / eat) __________ before you went to the theatre.

5. (they / book) __________ a room before they went to Dublin.

Answers

1. She had found

2. Who had lived

3. Why they had

4. You had eaten

5. They had booked

Hope you were able to answer the past perfect tense worksheet questions with ease.

Conclusion

To sum up, there are different contexts in which you can make use of the perfect form of the past tense in the English language. However, ensure that you follow the rules and the right structure for doing this. In addition to that, if you want to clarify any of the other tenses from English grammar, you can get help from the experts at Gradding. They will resolve all your doubts and help you sharpen your language skills.

Also read: Parts of speech, Active and passive voice 

FAQs

When to use past perfect?

When you want to describe an action that occurred before another in the past or a specific point in time in the past, then you can make use of the past perfect tense.

What is the difference between past tense and past perfect tense?

The simple past tense is used to indicate an action that was completed in the past. Meanwhile, a past perfect is used to show an action that is completed before another or before a particular point in time.

What is the past participle of teach?

‘Teach’ is an irregular verb, which means that its past participle form cannot be created by simply adding –ed at the end. Hence, the past participle and past tense of teach is ‘taught’.

What is the past perfect of live?

When you want to make the past perfect tense of a verb, you need to first add ‘had’ before it. After that, you need to change the verb to its past participle or third form. Hence, the past perfect of live is ‘had lived’.

What is an example of past perfect active and passive voice?

One example of a past perfect tense in active and passive voice is as follows:

Active: They had repaired the car.

Passive: The car had been repaired by them.