The Past Perfect tense, is used to describe actions or events that were completed before a specific time in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb had (in the past tense) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
I had finished my homework before I watched TV. (The speaker completed their homework at some point in the past before a specific time in the past when they watched TV.)
She had been living in New York for five years before she moved to Los Angeles. (The speaker had been living in New York for five years at some point in the past before a specific time in the past when they moved to Los Angeles.)
Here are some more examples of sentences in the past perfect tense:
They had visited three countries before they went on their trip.
We had eaten at that restaurant twice before we decided to try a different one.
He had finished his degree before he applied for the job.
I had read that book before I saw the movie.
Formation of the Past Perfect
#1. The Past Perfect is formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to have and Participle II of the notional verb.
#2. In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. And in the negative form, the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I had worked He had worked She had worked We had worked You had worked They had worked |
Had I worked? Had he worked? Had she worked? Had we worked? Had you worked? Had they worked? |
I had not worked He had not worked She had not worked We had not worked You had not worked They had not worked |
#3. The contracted affirmative forms are:
I’d written
We’d written
The contracted negative forms are:
I hadn’t written
We hadn’t written
#4. The negative-interrogative forms are:
Had he not written? = Hadn’t he written?
Had you not written? = Hadn’t you. written?
Use of the Past Perfect
The Past Perfect tense is often used to describe actions or events that were completed before a specific time in the past. It can also be used to describe experiences or accomplishments that had taken place at an unspecified time in the past before a specific time in the past.
#1. The Past Perfect denotes an action completed before a certain moment in the past. The moment may be indicated by another past action expressed by a verb in the Past Indefinite or by an adverbial phrase.
They had walked only a few steps when a second group of tanks drew up on the side road. (Heym)
After she had cried out, she felt easier. (Heym)
Fortunately the rain had stopped before we started. (Bennett)
By this time Cowperwood had written Aileen under no circumstances to try to see him. (Dreiser)
The clock had not struck when he reached Gray’s Inn. (Dickens)
The definite moment can be understood from the situation.
The Squire had laid down his knife and fork, and was staring at his son in amazement. (Eliot)
The definite moment need not necessarily be expressed in the same sentence as the action expressed by the Past Perfect.
Everybody noticed how sad she was the whole evening. She had got an unpleasant letter. (Collins)
The Past Perfect is used with the conjunctions hardly... when, scarcely… when, no sooner… than.
They had no sooner arrived at this point than a most violent and startling knocking was heard. (Jerome)
Nell had scarcely settled herself on a little heap of straw in the corner when she fell asleep. (Dickens)
For the sake of emphasis, the word order may be inverted.
No sooner had she laid herself down than she heard the prolonged trill of the front-door bell. (Bennett)
The Past Perfect is frequently used with the adverbs just, already, yet.
Elsie, who had not yet assumed the white cap, was sweeping the stairs. (Bennett)
#2. Sometimes the Past Perfect does not denote priority but only the completion of the action.
He waited until she had found the latch-key and opened the door. (Bennett)
The Squire was purple with anger before his son had done speaking. (Eliot)
#3. The Past Perfect is used to denote an action that began before a definite moment in the past, continued up to that moment, and was still going on at that This use is called the Past Perfect Inclusive. The starting point or the whole period of duration of the action is indicated. To indicate the starting point the preposition since is used, and to indicate the whole period of duration for is used.
The Past Perfect Inclusive is used:
- with verbs not admitting the Continuous form.
Examination convinced him that the deacon was dead — had been dead for some time. (Eliot)
- in negative sentences. (In this case, the Past Perfect Continuous is also possible, but not common.)
Those two had not spoken to each other for three days and were in a state of rage. (Bennett)
- with non-terminative verbs such as to work, to live, to study, to teach, to travel, to last (In this case the Past Perfect Continuous is possible.)
The ride had lasted about ten minutes, when the truck suddenly swerved to a halt. (Heym)
Past Indefinite and Past Perfect
#1. The Past Perfect is not used to denote a succession of actions. In this case the Past Indefinite is used.
The Past Indefinite is used with the conjunctions after, before, when if the relation between the actions approaches succession, i. e. when the idea of completion is of no importance.
He went on with his work after he had a short rest.
He had a short rest before he went on with his work.
When I wrote the letter, I posted it.
#2. Verbs of motion and sense perception such as to come, to arrive, to return, to see, to hear, in adverbial clauses of time are generally used in the Past Indefinite and not in the Past The actions are practically simultaneous.
When he (Val) came down… he found his mother scrupulous in a low evening dress… (Galsworthy)
When he heard the first line of the poem, he recognized it at once.
When the completion of the action is emphasized the Past Perfect is used.
He knew the poem by heart when he had heard it several times.