Similar to present tenses, past tenses in English include both the Past Continuous and the Past Perfect tense. However, the Past Perfect can often be confusing for English learners. In this guide, let’s explore the structure, usage, and sentence formation of the Past Perfect tense with IDP, along with sample exercises to help you practice. And when you feel confident with your grammar foundation, register for the IELTS test with IDP today.
1. What is the Past Perfect tense?
The Past Perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. The Past Perfect expresses the earlier action, while the Past Simple expresses the later action.
Examples:
After Sofie had finished her work, she went to lunch.
I washed the floor when the painter had gone.
After he had moved out, I found his letters.
2. Structure of the Past Perfect tense
To correctly form the Past Perfect tense, you need to understand its structure in different sentence types: affirmative, negative, and interrogative.
Sentence Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
Affirmative | Subject + had + V3/ed | You had met him before. |
Negative | Subject + had not + V3/ed | She had not finished her homework. |
Yes/No Question | Had + Subject + V3/ed? | Had they visited the museum? Yes, she had. |
WH- Question | WH-word + had + Subject + V3/ed | Where had she gone before her mother called? |
3. Signal words for the Past Perfect tense
To identify the Past Perfect tense in a sentence, look for common time expressions such as:
Signal Word Example | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|
before, after, for, until then, by the time, prior to that time, as soon as, by | I had learned to play the piano when I was a child. |
when, by the end of + past time | When I got up this morning, my father had already left. |
by the time | By the time I met you, I had worked in that company for five years. |
4. Uses of the Past Perfect tense
Here are the main cases where the Past Perfect tense is used, along with examples:
Use Case | Example |
|---|---|
To describe two past actions, where one happened before the other | Nga had studied French before she moved to Paris. |
To describe an action that happened up to a specific point in the past | He had never traveled abroad until last summer. |
To express an action that occurred before a defined time in the past | An had never used a tablet before he started his new job. |
To describe a condition that led to another past event | Sam could not attend the conference because she had not finished her report. |
To express an unreal past condition (third conditional) | She would have bought the car if she had had enough money. |
To show regret or disappointment about the past (common in wish clauses) | I wish I had not missed the opportunity to see the solar eclipse yesterday. |
5. Past Perfect tense exercises
Exercise 1: Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Past Perfect form
The tornado destroyed the tent that we (build) ………………..
She (not be) ……………….. to Hanoi before 2018.
When he went out to play, he (already do) ……………….. his homework.
My sister ate all of the cake that our mum (make) ………………..
The nurse took off the plaster that she (put on) ……………….. six weeks before.
The waitress brought a drink that I (not order) ………………..
I could not remember the song we (learn) ……………….. three weeks before.
The children collected mangos that (fall) ……………….. from the tree.
(she phone) ……………….. Nam before she went to see him in Laos?
He (not ride) ……………….. an elephant before that day.
Exercise 2: Arrange the words into complete sentences (conjugate verbs if needed)
an email / sent / a day off / he / before / his boss / take / he / to → .................................................................................
save / before / he / be able / an early retirement / a lot of / have / money / to / he → .................................................................................
brief / the clients / objectives / we / he / about / new years / before / us / the / before / meet → .................................................................................
go off / the office / we / after / the lights / leave → .................................................................................
bring / the post office / here / you / package / you / the / come / before / to? → .................................................................................
presence / she / call / her house / after / fell / the / someone / in / the police / she / of → .................................................................................
Exercise 3: Underline the correct verb form
When we reached / had reached the station, the train left / had left already.
Did you feel / Had you felt surprised when you heard / had heard the news?
It was / had been midnight and most of the shops had just closed / just closed.
Mary did not want / had not wanted to see the film because she saw / had seen it before.
John was delighted when he found out / had found out that he passed / had passed the exam.
My violin teacher got / had got angry because I did not practise / had not practised.
She was / had been tired because she went / had gone to bed late the night before.
By the time Jack decided / had decided to apply for the job, the position was filled / had been filled.
Answer Key
Exercise 1:
had built
had not been
had already done
had made
had put on
had not ordered
had learned
had fallen
had she phoned
had not ridden
Exercise 2:
He had sent an email to his boss before he took a day off.
He had been able to save a lot of money before he had an early retirement.
He had briefed us about the new years objectives before we met the clients.
The lights went off after we had left the office.
Had you brought the package to the post office before you came here?
She called the police after she had felt the presence of someone in her house.
Exercise 3:
reached – had left
did you feel – heard
was – had just closed
did not want – had seen
found out – had passed
got – had not practised
was – had gone
decided – had been filled
Master the Past Perfect tense with IDP
We hope this article helps you gain a solid understanding of the Past Perfect tense to avoid unnecessary mistakes in your writing or speaking. You can also explore more grammar and vocabulary resources through IDP’s free learning materials.
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