Past-Perfect-Tense

Past Perfect Tense

It is used to emphasize that an action in the past, finished before another action in the past started.

Uses of past perfect tense:
1. The first use of this tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened before another action in the past
Examples.
I had finished my homework before I went playing football.
Jack had never been to Islamabad before we went there last year.

2. It is used to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
Examples.
By the time Yuri finished his studies, he had been in Lahore for over eight years.
They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

3. ‘Just’ is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a short time earlier than before now.
Examples.
The train had just left when I arrived at the station.
I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.

4. It is used to explain or give a reason for something in the past.
Examples.
I had eaten dinner so I was not hungry.
It had snowed in the night, so the bust did not arrive.

5. It is often used to show dissatisfaction with the past. Such sentences typically start with “I wish…” or “If only…”.
Examples.
I wish I had taken more food. I am hungry now.

Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Structure of positive sentence:

Subject + had + 3rd form of verb (past perfect participle) + Object.

Simple Sentences:
                  Subject   + Had  +  3rd-Verb    +    Object
                  (She           had          gone      to the market.)
She had gone to the market.      They had gone to the market
He had visited his aunt’s home. I had visited my aunt’s home.
It had rained in winter.               We had played a cricket match.
Sarah had written a letter.           You had eaten a burger.

Structure of negative sentence: 

Subject + had + not +3rd for of verb (past perfect participle) + Object.

Negative sentences:
                Subject         + Had  + Not +  3rd-Verb    +    Object
                (They/We/You Had     not      Watched            T.V.)
They/We/You Had not Watched T.V.
He/She Had not Spoken French properly.
I Had not Visited my aunt’s home.
It Had not Rained in Nepal daily.

Structure of interrogative sentence: 

Had + Subject + 3rd form of verb (past perfect participle) + Object?

Interrogative Sentences:
              (Had      +  Subject   +   3rd-Verb        +      Object?)
            (Had      They/We/You        Made         a cake on Sunday?)
Had They/We/You Made a cake on Sunday?
Had He/She Taken too much tea?
Had I Visited my aunt’s home?
Had It Rained in Bhutan daily?