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Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense in English is composed of two parts: the past tense of the verb to have (had) + the past participle of the main verb. For example, "We had decided…," "She had given…," or, "I hadn't asked…"

The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past. For example, "John had gone out when I arrived in the office," or, "He was very tired because he hadn't slept well."

Just is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time earlier than before now. For instance, "She had just left the room when the police arrived," or, "We had just started the picnic when it began to rain."

Past Perfect Tense Grammar Quiz

  1. We for socks for Christmas but we got them anyway.

  2. Had the ghost ever to you before you went off your medication?

  3. I at several companies before I finally got a job.

  4. Andre Agassi Brooke Shields by the time he met Stephie Graf.

  5. Had you Fanta before you moved to Germany?

Go Super to see the answers! Go Super!

Past Perfect Tense Lessons:

Lost: The Final Episode

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Best Date Ever

Cousins

Muse

District 9

Come From Behind - Kosuke Kimura of the Colorado Rapids

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Comments

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claovega

claovega

Colombia

Thank you – you made it very simple and clear.

03:28 PM Jan 29 2009 |

Nirananda

Nirananda

Bulgaria

Thank you – I know better the usage of that tense now! 

11:45 AM Jan 29 2009 |

john

johnSuper Member!

United States

This is a great tense.

10:53 PM Jan 22 2009 |