FORM Past Perfect
[HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Examples:
I had
studied
a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they
met John.
NOTE:
When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in Past
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
EXAMPLES:
I had
never seen such a beautiful beach before
I went to Kauai.
Had you ever
visited the U.S. before
your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once
before
in 1988.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
EXAMPLES:
We had
had that car for ten years
before it broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he
had been in London for over eight
years
.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
EXAMPLE:
She had
visited
her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
If the Past
Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead
of the Past Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. The words
before and after
actually tell you what happens first so the Past Perfect is optional. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had
visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before
she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in
1993 before
she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had
never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never
saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not
Correct
