Explanation
Exercises

Past Perfect — Form & Use

Use it to talk about an action that happened earlier than another past time/event.
had + past participle earlier-past vs later-past by the time / when / before / after reported speech & third conditional
FormAffirmative · Negative · Questions
  • Affirmative: had + past participle — She had left before 8.
  • Negative: had not (hadn’t) + past participle — They hadn’t finished.
  • Question: Had + subject + past participle…? — Had you seen him before?
  • Short answers: Yes, I had. / No, she hadn’t.
  • Same form for all persons. (I/you/he/she/it/we/they had…)
  • Contraction: I’d, you’d, he’d… = had (or would in other contexts—see note below).
TimelineEarlier past → Later past → Now
PatternPast Perfect marks the earlier action; Past Simple marks the later past event.
  • When I arrived (later past), she had left (earlier past).
  • By the time the film started, we had found our seats.
  • After I had saved enough, I bought a laptop.
  • Before we met, I had seen her on TV.
UseMain situations
  • 1) Earlier event in a past narrative: I opened the door and saw someone had left a note.
  • 2) Cause/Reason for a past result: She was upset because she had failed the test.
  • 3) Experience up to a past point: It was the first time I had flown alone.
  • 4) Reported speech (backshift): “I’ve finished.” → He said he had finished.
  • 5) Third conditional (if + Past Perfect): If I had known, I would have called.
ComparePast Simple vs Past Perfect
  • Chronological order (no need for PP): She left and then I arrived.
  • Earlier-past made clear: When I arrived, she had left.
  • Common time markers: by the time, before, after, when, already, just, never, until, by + time/date.
Watch outTypical mistakes
  • Using Past Perfect with no later past reference. Give a later past anchor, or just use Past Simple. ✔ I was nervous because I had never flown before.
  • Confusing ’d: I’d love (= would) vs I’d eaten (= had + past participle).
  • Future meaning after time words: keep it in the past. By the time we arrived, the shop had closed.
  • Overusing Past Perfect: if order is obvious (with after/before), Past Simple may be fine for the later action. After I had finished, I went home.

Recap: Use had + past participle to push one action further back in time than another past point. It’s perfect for storytelling, reasons, reported speech, and the third conditional.

Exercises:
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Past perfect

Read the order in which the events happened and then choose between the past simple or past perfect forms to complete the sentences.
1
First, I booked the tickets. Second, I showed them to her. ⇒ I showed her the tickets that I earlier.
2
First, the film started. Second, we arrived. ⇒ When we arrived, the film .
3
First, I lost my keys. Second, I realised it. ⇒ I realised I my keys.
4
First, she cooked dinner. Second, she sat down. ⇒ She sat down after she dinner.
5
First, it stopped raining. Second, we left the house. ⇒ When we left the house, it .
6
First, they finished the project. Second, they sent the email. ⇒ They sent the email after they the project.
7
First, I had dinner. Second, you called. ⇒ When you called, I dinner.
8
First, the thieves left. Second, the police arrived. ⇒ When the police arrived, the thieves .
9
First, I met her brother. Second, I met her. ⇒ By the time I met her, I her brother.
10
First, we closed all the windows. Second, the storm began. ⇒ The storm began after we all the windows.

Past perfect

Choose the correct past simple or past perfect forms to complete the sentences below.
1
When I got to the station, the train ____.
A.
B.
C.
2
When she got home, she realized she ____ her wallet on the bus.
A.
B.
C.
3
By the time we sat down, the film ____.
A.
B.
C.
4
I didn’t recognize him because I ____ him for years.
A.
B.
C.
5
After they ____ dinner, they paid the bill and left.
A.
B.
C.
6
We were late: the meeting ____ when we walked in.
A.
B.
C.
7
She called to say she ____ the documents at last.
A.
B.
C.
8
He couldn’t log in because he ____ his password.
A.
B.
C.
9
I didn’t want dessert because I ____ too much bread.
A.
B.
C.
10
After I had finished the report, I ____ it to my boss.
A.
B.
C.

Past perfect

Complete the sentences using the words in brackets in the past simple or past perfect.
Quick tips: Past Perfect = had + V3 Neg.: hadn’t + V3 Earlier past ↔ later past Past Simple: finished past action / time Signal words: by the time, already, before, after, when, as soon as
1
I was nervous because the manager yet. (not arrive)
2
By the time we reached the station, the train . (leave)
3
After she the report, she went to lunch. (finish)
4
We couldn't enter the house because I the keys. (forget)
5
While I was at university, I at a café on weekends. (work)
6
I called you at eight but you already asleep. (be)
7
The office was empty; everyone home. (go)
8
As soon as we , it started to rain. (arrive)
9
When I saw Emma, I recognized her immediately — we at a conference before. (meet)
10
I didn’t understand the film because I the book. (not read)