Past Perfect Simple

Past perfect simple

Past perfecrt simple expresses

Past Perfect Simple

Exercises on Past Perfect Simple

The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.

Form of Past Perfect Simple

Positive Negative Question

no differences I had spoken. I had not spoken. Had I spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the past participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add ed.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed Example

after final e, only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel

or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted

travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

Use of Past Perfect

 action taking place before a certain time in the past

(putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)

Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.

 Conditional Sentences Type III (condition that was not given in the past)

Example: If I had seen him, I would have talked to him.

Signal Words

 already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past, not the present)

 If-Satz Typ III (If I had talked, …)

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

2nd column of irregular verbs

Example:

I spoke had + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example:

I had spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed

Example:

I worked regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed

Example:

I had worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding ed:

 when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:

love - loved

 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:

admit - admitted

 final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:

travel - travelled

 after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:

worry - worried

but: play - played

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Use

We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.

Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?

Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened before/up to a certain time in the past?

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past

Example:

Jane got up at seven. She opened her birthday presents and then the whole family went to the zoo. before/up to a certain time in the past

Example:

Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never been to the zoo.

Signal Words

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

 first

 then  already

 up to then

 before that day

 after*

Example:

After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.

However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore in Simple Past.

Example:

After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted.

More exceptions with signal words

When

Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:

Example:

When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time)

When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes. (second action happened after the first action had been completed)

When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions. (second action had been completed when the first action took place)

Before

"Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after "before" is a new action, use Simple Past.

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