Past Perfect tense is used to convey that an action was started and completed at some point in the past. It is used in same way as present perfect tense but it refers to time in the past and not the present.
For example ‘Ram had written the letter before going out’’:
- Here Letter writing started and completed in the past.
Such scenarios are expressed via Past Perfect Tense.
Formation / Rule of Past Perfect Tense:
Subject + HAD + 3rd form of verb + rest of the sentence.
Ram + had + written + the letter before going out.
Here we are using 3rd from of the verb write as written.
Past Perfect Tense is used in below scenarios :
1. Finished past action before another action:
This tense is used to describe a finished past action that was completed before something else happened. Both the actions should have occurred in past but past perfect is used only for the action that occurred first. Sequence of events in the sentence does not matter. We can write any of the two events first but past perfect will be used only with event that happened first.
Past Perfect Tense Examples :
- She had prepared the dinner before we reached home.
Here ‘prepared dinner’ event is the first event that had already occurred before we reached home.
- When they arrived, we had already left the place.Here though we mention ‘they arrived’ event first in the sentence, but actually the event ‘left the place’ had occurred first. So we use past perfect for action ‘we had left the place’.
2. Past conditions/wishes:
It is used for expressing a condition of past with ‘IF’. Also used for wishes.
Past Perfect Tense Examples :
I wish I had studied for the exam.
I would have helped him if he had asked.
Types of Past Perfect Tense:
1. Affirmative Past Perfect:
Rule to form Affirmative Past Perfect Tense:
Subject + HAD + 3rd from of verb + rest of the sentence.
He + had + written + the letter.
2. Negative Past Perfect tense:
Rule to form Negative Past Perfect Tense:
Subject + HAD +not+ 3rd from of verb + rest of the sentence.
He + had +not+ written + letter.
3. Interrogative Past Perfect tense:
Rule to form Interrogative Past Perfect Tense:
HAD +Subject + 3rd from of verb + rest of the sentence?
Had + he + written + letter ?
Here to ask questions in past continuous tense, the sentence is started with ‘HAD’.
4. Interrogative Negative Past Perfect tense:
Had + Subject +not+ 3rd form of verb + rest of the sentence?
Had + he+ not + Written + letter ?
To ask question with a Negative form, not is added after Subject and before 3rd form of the verb.
Examples of Past Perfect Tense:
| Affirmative Past Perfect Tense
They had left the place before we reached there. He had lived in London for 10 year before he moved to India. He had gone to market. You had left the city by the time I reached.
|
Negative Past Perfect TenseThey had not left the place before we reached there.
He had not lived in London for 10 year before he moved to India. He had not gone to market. You had not left the city by the time I reached. |
| Interrogative Past Perfect TenseHad they left the place before we reached there?
Had he lived in London for 10 year before he moved to India? Had he gone to market? Had you left the city by the time I reached? |
Interrogative Negative Past Perfect TenseHad they not left the place before we reached there?
Had he not lived in London for 10 year before he moved to India? Had he not gone to market? Had you not left the city by the time I reached? |
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