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Past perfect tense, sometimes it is called the past, refers to those English times, which do not have exact analogues in Russian. To better understand the meaning of the Past Perfect, you can draw a parallel with the Present Perfect.

past perfect is an analog Present Perfect, only for the past. If in Present Perfect action happened to the present moment, then in Past Perfect - to some point in the past. This moment in the past can be expressed by another past action, which can be mentioned in a subordinate clause, or indicated in a separate sentence, as well as an adverb of time. It is often translated into Russian by the verb perfect look what did you do in the past tense?

Past Perfect Education

Basic meaning of Past Perfect

Very often in sentences with a verb in the Past Perfect one can find characteristic adverbs and circumstances of time, namely:

Sentence examples

By the time they were rescued they had already spent three days without food and water. By the time they were rescued, they had already gone 3 days without food or water. I knew about the accident because I had watched the news the night before. I knew about the incident because watched the news last night.

Sentence examples

I had learned to read before I went to school. I learned to read before I went to school. When we arrived at the cinema the film had already started. When we arrived at the cinema, the film had already begun.

Sentence examples The Vikings had sailed to North America a thousand years ago. The Vikings came to North America thousands of years ago. The Chinese had built the Great Wall over two thousand years ago. The Chinese built the Great Chinese wall about two thousand years ago. 2. past perfect used in indirect speech Sentence examples Sally said that she had lost her keys. Sally said she lost her keys. Martin replied that he had tried to call Dave the day before. Martin replied that he had tried to call Dave the day before. 3. past perfect should also be used in conditional sentences the third type (unreal, implied condition relating to the past). Sentence examples If I had heard the weather forecast I would have taken an umbrella. If I had heard the weather forecast, I would have taken an umbrella. If we had taken the map, we wouldn't have got lost in the mountains. If we took a map, we would not get lost in the mountains. 4. Also past perfect used in sentences I wish, if only to express regret about something in the past. Sentence examples I wish I had sent her a birthday present. Too bad I didn't send her a birthday present. If only I hadn't spent so much money! If only I hadn't spent so much money! Now watch the video on Past Perfect:

affirmative form The Past Perfect is formed using the past auxiliary verb to have - had and the past participle (Participle II) semantic verb(i.e. 3rd form of the main verb).

had + Participle II

I had finished my work by 6 o’ clock. I finished my work by 6 o'clock.
He had written his letter when I came to him. He wrote a letter when I came to him.

Interrogative form formed by rearranging the auxiliary verb had, which is placed before the subject .

Had you finished your work? Have you finished your work?
Had he written his letter? Did he write a letter?

Had I cooked?	Had we cooked?
Had you cooked?	Had you cooked?
Had he / she / it cooked?	Had they cooked?

Abbreviations are made according to the general rule:

I had = I'd	I had not = I hadn't = I'd not
He had = he'd	He had not = He hadn't = He'd not
She had = she'd	She had not = She hadn't = She'd not
We had = we'd	We had not = We hadn't = We'd not
You had = you'd	You had not = You hadn't = You'd not
They had = they'd	They had not = They hadn't = They'd not

Use

Past Perfect is used:

• 1. To express an action that has already ended before a certain moment in the past. This moment in the past can be specified exactly (year, date, hour) with the preposition of time by or can be expressed by another past action. Another action that started later is expressed in Simple Past/Past Indefinite .

They had written their composition by Friday. They wrote the essay by Friday.
They had finished their work when the inspectors arrived. (= by the time the inspectors arrived.) They finished their work when the inspectors arrived. (= by the time the inspectors arrived.)

Of the two actions expressed by the verbs to finish and to arrive, the one expressed by the verb to finish ended first - end, so this verb in Past Perfect - had finished. A verb expressing an action that ended later (to arrive - arrive), is placed in Simple Past - arrived.

• 2. In complex sentences with a subordinate clause of time.

a) If the action of the main clause ended before the action expressed by the predicate of the subordinate clause, then the verb of the main clause will be expressed in the Past Perfect. The subordinate clause is introduced by conjunctions before - before and when- when.

They had finished their work before their boss came in.
They had finished their work before their boss entered.

b) If the action of the subordinate clause ended before the action, expressed by the predicate main clause, then the verb of the subordinate clause is expressed through Past Perfect, and the main one - Simple Past. The relative clause of time is introduced by conjunctions when - when, as soon as - once.

As soon as (when) they had finished their work the door opened and their boss came in.
As soon as (when) they finished their work, the door opened and their boss entered.

• 3. In subordinate clauses time after when, when two verbs expressed in Simple Past / Past Indefinite can give the impression of simultaneity of actions.

When he had done his homework he rang me up.
When he finished his homework, he called me.

(If you use both verbs in Simple Past (When he did his homework he rang me up), you might get the impression that he was doing his homework and at the same time called me.)

• 4. When describing a sequence of events in Simple Past / Past Indefinite, if the description is violated, that is, if an action is indicated that happened earlier, then it is expressed in Past Perfect.

We decided to go skiing to the forest. In the morning we took some food, hot tea and started. We got to the forest at noon and had a good time there. We had never been in the forest in winter before, but after this trip we decided to ski there regularly.
We decided to go skiing in the forest. In the morning we took some food, hot tea and set off. We got to the forest at noon and had a good time there. Before that, we had never been in the forest in winter. But after this trip, we decided to go skiing in the forest regularly.

past perfect is used when it is important for the speaker to emphasize the completion of the action up to a certain point in the past, therefore, in the bulk of sentences where this time is used, there are clear temporal indicators - you should pay attention to this if you are faced with the task of setting the desired type of tense form. But, let's talk about everything in order.

Using the Past Perfect

past perfect used to express:

• Actions that started and ended before a moment in the past. A moment can be indicated by time, another action, or a situation.

Jessica had finished her essay by then. By that time, Jessica had finished the composition.

Natalie felt wretched. She hadn't slept well for two nights. Natalie felt overwhelmed. She hadn't slept well the last two nights.

After everybody had left, Susan began packing hurriedly. After everyone left, Susan began to pack her things in a hurry.

• Sequential actions preceding a moment in the past.

Suddenly Luis realized that someone had opened the gate and had put a letter on the lawn. Suddenly Lewis realized that someone had opened the gate and placed the letter on the lawn.

Using the Past Perfect instead of the Past Perfect Continuous.

Also on the site there is a translation into Russian.

Palette English system time is simply replete with diversity. Some of the shades shine brighter, some dimmer. One of the most saturated can be called Past Perfect. How, using grammatical constructions and lexical diversity of this time, to make speech expressive?

The past completed tense, as it is often called by Russian-speaking "students", carries certain meaning completeness. In other words, for example, when describing an event, we often make comments about what happened before the main action. “When my mother came, I already fell asleep” - in this sentence there are two past tenses - “came”, “fell asleep”. Which one happened first? The second means that we will express it Past Perfect.

Education

This form is one of the simplest. Yes, you will need an auxiliary verb. "had" + V 3 or Ved. Remember that all verbs in English can be grouped into regular and irregular. The latter have 3 forms, which, well, what to do, you have to learn by heart. All of them are placed in the table of irregular verbs. At this time, we need the 3rd column - V 3. If the verb is correct (it is not in the table), then we add the ending -ed.

I had worked. - work - the correct verb
I had taught. - teach is an irregular verb.

Let's take a closer look at the formation of all types of sentences in paste perfect using the example of to ask.

In writing, and in colloquial speech, abbreviated forms are often used, which facilitate the process of perception.

I had = I'd, you had = you'd, he had = he'd
had not = hadn't

I had written a composition by six o'clock. = I'd written a composition by six o'clock. I had written the composition by 6 o'clock.

I had not written a composition by six o'clock. = I hadn't written a composition by six o'clock. I had not written an essay by 6 o'clock.

As you can see, there is nothing terrible and difficult in education. It is worth remembering once that in the question had is placed before the subject, and in negation to this auxiliary verb not is added. It is important to remember that had is not translated.

Using The Past Perfect Tense

This time is not difficult in terms of use, if you only clearly understand the situations of its use. Some sentences often use signal words such as just, already, never, yet.

1. The action ended before another event in the past. The sentence can be complex (consist of two), one of which (dependent) is introduced by the unions when, before, after, or simple, in which the preposition by is used as an indicator of the end of the action.

• With the help of prepositions by the end of the year, by 3 o'clock, by Monday, by the time, before, after.

They had finally got their long-awaited pay rise by the end of the year. By the end of the year, they finally got the long-awaited pay raise.

Before he opened the door, he had called his sister. — Before he opened the door, he called his sister.

By that time they had finished their work. By that time they had already finished the work.

• Structures often used no sooner ... than (as soon as), hardly ... when (hardly, as), scarcely ... when (as soon as, so immediately), barely ... when (barely, like), which, by their meaning, can transform the sentence (inversion). As a rule, they are emotional in nature.

I had scarcely opened the window when the wind came blowing in. - As soon as I opened the window, the wind immediately began to blow.

Jack had no sooner arrived than he was told to come back. - Jack did not have time to arrive, as he was told to return.

• If there is no signal word in the sentence, then you will have to carefully read the context .

I tried to pnone Ann this morning. But there was no answer. She had gone out. I tried to call Anna this morning. But, there was no answer. She's already gone.

The rules for Past Perfect distinguish the following context patterns, remembering which it will be easier for you to use desired shape.

a. After designs: this/that/it was, the first/second/only/ best/ worst time smth happend:

It was the second serious mistake he had made in that job. — It was his second serious mistake he made in his work.

Those were the first things she had bought since Chrismas. It was the first thing she bought since Christmas.

B. With verbs that convey hope, plan, expectation, intention (but not fulfilled).

I had intended to visit a museum, but I ran out of time. I was going to visit the museum, but I didn't have enough time.

C. In indirect speech, with verbs such as say, tell, ask, inform, wonder. Moreover, Past Perfect is used in the subordinate clause.

I wondered if Jim had a chance to discuss the problem with them. I asked if Jim had the opportunity to discuss this problem with them.

2. An action that started before another action but is still ongoing. Here, stative verbs or, as they are also called, non continuous verbs are often used. All the little secrets of these verbs are revealed in the article "".

I knew he had been married for nearly 50 years ago. I knew that he got married about 50 years ago.

George made no answer and we found that he had fallen asleep for some time. George didn't answer and we found that he had been asleep for some time.

How to distinguish Past Perfect from other tenses?

past perfect	past simple	Present Perfect
When the sequence of actions is violated (action precedes). Before I ate, I played and slept. The verb in the main clause in the Past Simple	Everything goes in order (actions are performed chronologically) Played, slept, ate.	When the action in the main clause is in the present
Was Ann at home when he came? No, she had already gone to work. Was Anya at home when he came? No, she already left for work (first she left, then he came)	Was Ann at home when he came? Yes, but she went to work soon. Was Anya at home when he came? Yes, but soon she left for work. (He came, then left - actions one after another)
I wasn't thirsty. I had drunk a cup of tea. - I didn't want to drink. I just had a cup of tea.		I' m not thirsty. I' ve just drunk a cup of tea. - I don't want to drink. I just had a cup of tea.
His car was dirty. He hadn't washed it for weeks. Yesterday he cleaned it. — His car was so dirty. He hasn't washed her in weeks. He washed it yesterday.		His car is dirty. He hasn't washed it for weeks. — His car is so dirty. He hasn't washed her in weeks.

According to the rules for the Past Perfect, this tense can be used in the passive voice. All uses Past Perfect Passive the same, but the shape of the structure is slightly different. The negative and the question are built on the same principle as in active voice(after had - not, and auxiliary ch. had before lying down)

I + had + been + V3 (Ved)

He (she, it) + had + been + V3 (Ved)

You + had + been + V3 (Ved)

They + had + been + V3 (Ved)

We + had + been + V3 (Ved)

I had been introduced to his friends before. “I was introduced to his friends earlier.

By three o'clock the dinner had been cooked. By 3 o'clock dinner was ready.

This article had been translated when they phoned. The article was translated when they called.

Well, as you can see, Past Perfect grammar is not too difficult. You look at the sentence, determine which of the actions happened first, and put in the correct form. If you learn how to use this time correctly, then believe me, you can tell any story or just retell the story in English without any problems.

English grammar is sometimes very insidious. But you can avoid all the traps set, provided that you clearly study all the rules and work them out, fix each step. So, having learned, having disassembled examples Perfect, you will insure yourself against falling into a trap.

The past completed tense helps convey events that have already ended up to a certain point in the past. It can be either a time frame or another, later action. Having become acquainted with the rule, it's time to move on to past perfect examples that will help dot the i's.

Example sentences in Past Perfect

Considering any statement, find the moment of the conversation, which contains important information or main idea. In relation to a given situation, the action in the paste perfect may have already been completed, or it may continue at the onset of another, later moment. Some Past Perfect sentences are often accompanied by perfect adverbs, as they are sometimes called signal words.

When we arrived we realized that the manager had reserved the wrong room for us.— When we arrived, we discovered that the manager had booked the wrong room for us.

"Was Ann at work when you arrived?" No, she had gone. Anna was at work when you arrived? No, she's already gone.

When I left my friend's house I realized that I had forgotten the keys. When I left my friends house, I found that I forgot my keys.

We had bought the goods by that time. By that time we had bought all the goods.

That factory had produced all goods acooding to its yearly plan by the 5th of December.— By December 5, the factory had produced all the goods according to its annual plan.

We hadn't reached the airport when it began to snow. Before we got to the airport, it started to snow.

That was the best time I had ever had here.-It was best time that I spent here.

It was the third serious mistake you had made here.“That was the third major mistake you made here.

We had expected that m ore people attended the fair. We expected more people to visit the fair.

We had hardly arrived at the hotel, when it started to rain. We had hardly arrived at the hotel when it started to rain.

As can be seen from the examples of sentences in the Past Perfect, an action can take place literally a second before another event, or, by a certain number, time. This must be specified in the proposal.

Past Perfect exercises are as diverse as English. These can also be tests for comparing past tenses, tasks for building various types sentences or passive voice in this tense. It is advisable to practically train as much as possible, because only this will help to put everything on the shelves. On our site you will find not only various, but also exciting tasks.

Exercises for the Past Perfect

1. Open the brackets and put the verbs inPast Simple orpast perfect.

1. It was the first time I (see) this film.
2. It was quite at home when I (get), soI (go) straight home.
3. He was driving along the forest when suddenly he (see) a car which (break) down, so we (stop) to see if we could help.
4. Mary (land) Dick some money only after he (promise) to give it back the next day.
5. I (intend) to repair the car, but I ran out of time.
6. David (eat) Chinese food before so he (know) what to order.
7. He (open) the door that he (unlock) before.
8. when she (open) the fridge she (find) that her flat mate Lucy (drink) all the milk.
9. This was the third cake you (eat) this morning.
10. The minister hardly (start) his speech he was interrupted.

1. had seen
2. Got/went
3. Saw/ had broken/ stopped
4. Lent/had promised
5. Had intended
6. Had eaten/knew
7. Opened/had unlocked
8. Opened/found/had drunk
9. had eaten
10. Had hardly started

2. Translate the sentences into English

1. By the time he arrived, we had already had dinner.
2. He offered to have a bite to eat before we started studying for the exam, since he hadn't eaten anything since the morning.
3. She had just entered the house as soon as I called her.
4. Alice complained that she had gained weight.
5. It was the first time she had been so kind to the children.
6. I hoped that they would let me know the outcome of the meeting. But they didn't call.
7. When I woke up, my wife had already taken her daughter to school.
8. He intended to start his own business, but he spent the money.
9. I found that I forgot my umbrella on the bus when it started to rain.
10. This was the only time I was late for work.

1. When he arrived we had dinner.
2. He offered to have a snack before we begin to prepare for our examination because he hadn’t eaten anything since morning.
3. She had just entered the house as I called her.
4. Alice complained that she had gained the weight.
5. It was the first time when she had been so kind with children.
6. I had hoped they informed me of the result of the meeting. But they didn't call.
7. When I woke up, the wife had already taken a daughter to the kindergarten.
8. He had intended to start a business, but he spent the money.
9. I realized that I had forgotten the umbrella in the bus, when it rained.
10. It was the only time when I had been late for a job.