English Grammar: Past perfect tense

 

Past perfect tense:

Affirmative Form:

Formula:

Subject+had+Past Participle (Verb)+Rest of the Sentence

Breakdown:

1. Subject: The person or thing performing the action.

2. Had: The past tense of the verb "to have."

3. Past Participle: The third form of the main verb (often ending in -ed for regular verbs, or irregular forms).

4. Rest of the Sentence: Additional information about the action.

Examples:

1. She (subject) had finished (had + finished) her homework (rest of the sentence) before dinner.

   • She had finished her homework before dinner.

2. They (subject) had traveled (had + traveled) to Europe (rest of the sentence) before COVID-19.

   • They had traveled to Europe before COVID-19.

3. He (subject) had read (had + read) the book (rest of the sentence) before the movie started.

   • He had read the book before the movie started.

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect affirmative form with the verbs provided in brackets:

1. She ________ (finish) her homework before dinner.

2. They ________ (arrive) at the airport before the flight departed.

3. He ________ (study) for the exam all night.

4. We ________ (clean) the house before the guests arrived.

5. I ________ (eat) lunch by the time he called.

6. She ________ (read) all the books on the shelf.

7. They ________ (fix) the car before it broke down.

8. He ________ (complete) the project before the deadline.

9. We ________ (watch) the movie before it started raining.

10. The teacher ________ (give) the students the test after they had studied.

Answers:

1. She had finished her homework before dinner.

2. They had arrived at the airport before the flight departed.

3. He had studied for the exam all night.

4. We had cleaned the house before the guests arrived.

5. I had eaten lunch by the time he called.

6. She had read all the books on the shelf.

7. They had fixed the car before it broke down.

8. He had completed the project before the deadline.

9. We had watched the movie before it started raining.

10. The teacher had given the students the test after they had studied.

Negative Form:

To form the negative past perfect, add "not" after "had."

Formula:

Subject+had not +Past Participle (Verb)+Rest of the Sentence

OR

Subject+hadn’t+Past Participle (Verb)+Rest of the Sentence

Examples:

1. She (subject) had not finished (hadn't + finished) her homework (rest of the sentence) before dinner.

   • She hadn't finished her homework before dinner.

2. They (subject) hadn't traveled (hadn't + traveled) to Europe (rest of the sentence) before COVID-19.

   • They hadn't traveled to Europe before COVID-19.

3. He (subject) had not read (hadn't + read) the book (rest of the sentence) before the movie started.

   • He hadn't read the book before the movie started.

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect negative form, with the verbs provided in brackets:

1. She ________ (finish) her work before the meeting.

2. They ________ (leave) the house when it started raining.

3. He ________ (eat) lunch before he left.

4. We ________ (clean) the kitchen before guests arrived.

5. I ________ (read) the book before I watched the movie.

6. She ________ (buy) groceries before she went home.

7. They ________ (fix) the car before it broke down.

8. You ________ (study) for the exam before the teacher announced it.

9. He ________ (call) his friend before he went to bed.

10. We ________ (finish) dinner before the guests arrived.

Answers:

1. She had not finished her work before the meeting.

2. They had not left the house when it started raining.

3. He had not eaten lunch before he left.

4. We had not cleaned the kitchen before guests arrived.

5. I had not read the book before I watched the movie.

6. She had not bought groceries before she went home.

7. They had not fixed the car before it broke down.

8. You had not studied for the exam before the teacher announced it.

9. He had not called his friend before he went to bed.

10. We had not finished dinner before the guests arrived.

Interrogative Form:

To form the interrogative past perfect, place "had" before the subject.

Formula:

Had+Subject+Past Participle (Verb)+Rest of the Sentence?

Examples:

1. Had (had) she (subject) finished (finished) her homework (rest of the sentence) before dinner?

   • Had she finished her homework before dinner?

2. Had (had) they (subject) traveled (traveled) to Europe (rest of the sentence) before COVID-19?

   • Had they traveled to Europe before COVID-19?

3. Had (had) he (subject) read (read) the book (rest of the sentence) before the movie started?

   • Had he read the book before the movie started?

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect interrogative form, with the answers provided after all questions:

1. ________ she ________ (finish) her work before you arrived?

2. ________ they ________ (leave) when the movie started?

3. ________ he ________ (eat) before he went to the gym?

4. ________ you ________ (study) for the test before the teacher announced it?

5. ________ we ________ (meet) before the conference began?

6. ________ she ________ (clean) the house before guests arrived?

7. ________ he ________ (fix) the car before it broke down?

8. ________ they ________ (pack) their bags before the trip?

9. ________ you ________ (read) the book before the movie came out?

10. ________ he ________ (complete) the project before the deadline?

Answers:

1. Had she finished her work before you arrived?

2. Had they left when the movie started?

3. Had he eaten before he went to the gym?

4. Had you studied for the test before the teacher announced it?

5. Had we met before the conference began?

6. Had she cleaned the house before guests arrived?

7. Had he fixed the car before it broke down?

8. Had they packed their bags before the trip?

9. Had you read the book before the movie came out?

10. Had he completed the project before the deadline?