Past Perfect Example In English

The past perfect in English is the verb conjugation with which we express an action that was performed in the past, without specifying the moment in which it happened but which we talk about in relation to another action or to another moment in the past, we emphasize the action done.

The basic structure of the present perfect in English is formed with the past tense of the verb “have”, that is, "Had", followed by the participle of the verb that expresses the action. Generally sentences contain a time connector that refers to a moment in the past, the most used is "before":

Had + participle

 I she had seen this movie three times before the Friday - she had seen this movie three times before Saturday.

You had been here before this morning, haven't you? - You had been here before this morning right?

Mary had trained three times a week previously to the marathon - Maria had trained three times a week prior to the marathon.

Uses and forms of the past perfect in English

 We have just seen the positive form, which is the basic form of the past perfect in English. This verb form fulfills the main function of talking about actions carried out in the past, without referring to specifically to a specific time or event, but which we are talking about in relation to another fact or action that also happened in the past. These are some of its main uses:

When we talk about something that happened before another event or act in the past, without talking about a specific moment:

I had studied Russian before studying Spanish. - He had studied Russian grammar before studying Spanish.

Steve had ridden the New York times two times a week before he was sick. - Esteban had read the New York times twice a week before he got sick.

To indicate that an action developed during the past and continued until the moment when another action began (also in the past).

The car had worked well until the engine burned - The car had worked fine until the engine burned out.

I had gone to the market before the school - she had gone to the market before school.

To indicate the order of priority between two sentences, a main one and a subordinate one.

My aunt had visited all the family before go living with my cousin. - My aunt had visited the whole family before going to live with my cousin.

The humanity had created too many simple inventions previous to the creation of complicated machines - Mankind has created many simple inventions before the creation of complicated machines.

Spelling variants of the past perfect in English

We already knew the positive form, which is the basic form, and consists of the verb phrase Had + verb in participle.

When adverbs are used, they are placed in the middle of the verb phrase:

had + adverb + verb in participle

Helen had usually washed her clothes with lavender soap before use lavender dust - Elena had usually washed her clothes with laundry soap before using laundry powder.

I had always stayed in home on Friday before you invite me to party. - I had always been at home on Fridays before you invited me to party.

In the interrogative form, the verb have is placed before the subject or personal pronoun, and then the verb in participle:

had + subject + verb in participle…?

Had you seen the TV before study? - Have you watched television before studying?

Had we earned the money we need previous to Mothers day? - Will we have earned the money we need before Mother's Day?

To make the negative form, the verb have is written and followed by the negative particle no or not, between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. The contraction forms can be used:

had + not + verb in participle.

hadn’t + verb in participle.

 We had not payed the internet previous the payment day - We hadn’t payed the internet previous our payment day - We had not paid for the internet before our payment day.

My cousin had not drunk beer before you invite him - My cousin hadn’t drunk beer before you invite him - My cousin hadn't had beer before you invited him.

15 examples of past perfect sentences in English

She had driven too many hours previous to visit her aunt.

We had photographed the model previous she comes fat.

They she had seen many matches before begin the training.

Mary Ann had not arrived to the party until Bob go for her from her.

She she had sewn her own skirts since she was a child.

We had traveled to California before go to Texas.

Greg, you had not won the race before, till you become the training with Carl Lewis.

Had your aunt eaten hot chili any time before we go to Mexico?

Had The plants growth much during the winter, previous warm season?

The electricity hadn’t failed in this way before the earthquake.

You had missed your keys in my house, before we go to Amy’s house.

Jennifer had sold necklaces before begin to work in the mall.

My cousin had built his own bikes previous buy his car.

I hadn't seen the cat in the morning until the breakfast time.

I had learned the present perfect tense before know what was the past perfect tense.