Past Perfect

Past Perfect - Diagram

We use the Past Perfect for an action which was completed before a special point of time in the past.

We often use the Past Perfect together with the Simple Past. The action which was completed before the other action began is put into Past Perfect.

Past Perfect - Use

1) Together with the Simple Past

Mary had read the book before she watched a film.

2) the past equivalent of the Present Perfect

He had played hockey.

Signal words

no unambiguous ones

Form

had + past participle

Examples

Affirmative sentences:

I had played hockey. I'd played hockey.

You had played hockey. You'd played hockey.

Negative sentences:

I had not played hockey. I'd not played hockey. I hadn't played hockey.

You had not played hockey. You'd not played hockey. You hadn't played hockey.

Questions:

Had you played hockey?

Had you played hockey?

Attention

Past Perfect - Simple Past	Simple Past - Simple Past
The match had started when he arrived.	The match started when he arrived.