i finished my homework and left my house

Past Perfect Simple Tense: How to Use It, With Examples

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Olivia Drake

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What is the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. In other words, it is used to show that one event happened before another event in the past.

It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, “had eaten” is the past perfect tense, and it indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

When to use the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another action in the past. It is often used to provide background information in a story or to show the order of events. Here are some common situations where the past perfect tense is used:

• To describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had finished my homework before I went to bed.”
• To describe a cause-and-effect relationship in the past. For example: “She was tired because she had been working all day.”
• To describe a hypothetical situation in the past. For example: “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.”
• To describe a past action that happened before a specific time in the past. For example: “By the time I arrived, they had already left.”
• To describe a past action that happened before another past action that was interrupted or happened suddenly. For example: “I had been cooking dinner when the power went out.”
• Overall, the past perfect tense is used to show the relationship between two past actions or events, with one action being completed before the other.

How to form the past perfect tense?

To form the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here is the formula for forming the past perfect tense:

Subject + had + past participle

The past participle is formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs or by using the third form of the irregular verb. Here are some examples of regular and irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

• Regular verb example: I had walked to the store before it started raining.The past participle of “walk” is “walked.”
• Irregular verb example: He had eaten breakfast before he left the house.The past participle of “eat” is “eaten.”

It’s worth noting that there are some irregular verbs that don’t follow the standard pattern for forming the past participle, so it’s important to learn the past participles of irregular verbs. For example, the past participle of “go” is “gone,” not “goed.”

How to make a negative form?

To make a negative sentence in the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” in its negative form, which is “had not” or “hadn’t”, before the past participle of the main verb. Here’s the formula:

Subject + hadn’t + past participle of the main verb

For example:

• I hadn’t eaten breakfast before I went to work.
• She hadn’t finished the report by the deadline.
• They hadn’t seen the movie before, so they were excited to watch it.

In these examples, the negative form “hadn’t” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that the action was not completed before another past action.

It’s important to note that when using the negative form of the past perfect tense, the word “not” should be included after the auxiliary verb “had” in order to indicate the negative meaning of the sentence.

How to make questions?

To make a question in the past perfect tense, you need to invert the subject and the auxiliary verb “had”. Here’s the formula:

Had + subject + past participle of the main verb?

• Had you eaten breakfast before you went to work?
• Had she finished the report by the deadline?
• Had they seen the movie before?

In these examples, the auxiliary verb “had” is used before the subject, and the past participle of the main verb is placed at the end of the sentence. This formula helps to indicate that the question is in the past perfect tense and helps to form a grammatically correct question.

It’s important to note that when making a question in the past perfect tense, the auxiliary verb “had” should be used at the beginning of the sentence, and the main verb should be in its past participle form. Additionally, the question mark at the end of the sentence indicates that it is a question.

What is the difference between the past perfect and simple past tenses?

The past perfect and simple past tenses are both used to talk about past events, but they are used in different ways.

The simple past tense is used to describe a completed action or a series of completed actions in the past. For example: “I ate breakfast this morning.” The simple past tense is often used with time expressions that indicate when the action happened, such as yesterday, last week, or in 1995.

On the other hand, the past perfect tense is used to show that one action was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, the past perfect tense “had eaten” indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

So, the key difference between the two tenses is that the simple past tense is used to talk about a completed past action, while the past perfect tense is used to show the order of two past actions, with one action being completed before the other.

Another way to think of the difference is that the simple past tense is used when there is no need to show a specific relationship between two past actions, while the past perfect tense is used when there is a need to show that one past action happened before another.

How do I know when to use “had” in the past perfect tense?

The auxiliary verb “had” is always used in the past perfect tense, as it is the helping verb that forms the tense. “Had” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “I had finished my work before I went to bed.” In this sentence, “had finished” is the past perfect tense, and “had” is the helping verb that forms the tense.

It’s important to note that “had” is used in the past perfect tense for all subjects, including “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” The only thing that changes in the sentence is the past participle of the main verb, depending on the subject and the verb’s irregularity.

It’s also important to remember that the past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past, so you should use “had” when you want to show that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “He had already left when I arrived.” In this sentence, “had already left” indicates that leaving was completed before the action of arriving.

Some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense?

Irregular verbs have unique past participles that don’t follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to the base form. Here are some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

• be – had been
• break – had broken
• choose – had chosen
• do – had done
• drive – had driven
• eat – had eaten
• fall – had fallen
• go – had gone
• see – had seen
• speak – had spoken
• take – had taken
• think – had thought
• wear – had worn
• write – had written

These irregular verbs can be used with “had” to form the past perfect tense, as in “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work” or “She had written the report before the meeting.” It’s important to remember that the past participle is often different from the base form of the verb and needs to be memorized.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about ongoing actions in the past?

No, the past perfect tense is not used to talk about ongoing actions in the past. The past perfect tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before another past action, and it is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” with the past participle of the main verb.

To talk about ongoing actions in the past, we use  the past continuous tense  (also called the past progressive tense), which is formed by using the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” with the present participle (-ing) of the main verb. For example, “I was studying for my exam when my friend called me” or “They were watching TV when the power went out.”

It’s important to use the correct tense to accurately convey the meaning of the sentence. Using the past perfect tense to talk about ongoing actions in the past would be grammatically incorrect and could cause confusion for the reader or listener.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about future events from a past perspective?

Yes, the past perfect tense can be used to talk about future events from a past perspective. This is called the past perfect future, and it is used to describe a future event that was expected or planned to happen from a past point of view.

The past perfect future is formed by using the past perfect tense of “have” (had) followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had hoped to finish my project by next week” or “They had planned to go on vacation next month.”

In these examples, the past perfect tense indicates that the event was in the future from a past perspective, and it implies that the event did not happen as planned. The past perfect future can be used to show regret, disappointment, or surprise that the expected future event did not happen.

It’s important to note that the past perfect future is not used very frequently, and it is often replaced by other tenses such as the past simple or the past continuous.

Are there any exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense?

Yes, there are some exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense. Here are a few examples:

• When using  reported speech : In reported speech, the past perfect tense can be used to indicate that an action had been completed before the reporting verb was spoken or written. For example, “She said she had already seen the movie” or “He told me he had finished his work.”
• When using  the past perfect continuous tense : The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that began in the past and continued up until another action in the past. For example, “I had been studying for three hours when I decided to take a break.” In this sentence, “had been studying” is the past perfect continuous tense, which describes an ongoing action that was interrupted by the decision to take a break.
• When using “just” or “already”: In some cases, “just” or “already” can be used with the past perfect tense to indicate that an action had recently been completed or had been completed earlier than expected. For example, “I had just finished my breakfast when the phone rang” or “They had already left by the time we arrived.”

Past continuous tense examples

• I had finished my homework before going to bed. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• They had already left when we arrived. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• By the time she got home, her husband had already cooked dinner. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had never seen a shooting star before that night. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• He had been working at the company for five years before he was promoted. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• She had lived in France for two years before moving to the United States. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• The concert had already started when we arrived at the venue. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• He had forgotten his keys at home, so he had to call his roommate to let him in. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had never ridden a motorcycle until last weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• The team had won three games in a row before losing the championship game. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• I had never tried sushi until I visited Japan. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• By the time they arrived at the party, most of the guests had already left. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• She had been studying for hours before she finally understood the concept. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• He had broken his leg playing soccer, so he couldn’t participate in the tournament. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• They had been dating for a year before they decided to get married. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• The movie had already started when we got to the theater, so we missed the beginning. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• I had been looking for my keys for hours before I finally found them in my jacket pocket. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
• She had never been on a plane before she took her first international flight. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
• He had completed all of his assignments by Friday, so he could enjoy the weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• The store had closed by the time I got there, so I had to go back the next day. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
• Have you ever traveled to Europe? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• How many times have you seen that movie? – This question asks about the number of times an action has occurred from an unspecified point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action is still relevant in the present.
• Have you finished your homework yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you ever tried sushi before? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• Have you been to the new restaurant downtown? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• How long have you lived in this city? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you seen the news today? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you ever ridden a horse? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
• Have you studied for the exam yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
• Have you finished reading that book yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.

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Past Perfect Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

Table of Contents

The past perfect tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions that were completed before a specific point in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

• She had finished the work.
• They had visited the museum last summer.
• They had not seen the movie.
• He had never been to Paris before this vacation.
• Had you studied for the test before it was announced?
• Had the mail arrived before you left the house?

Forming the Past Perfect Tense

Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative sentences in past perfect tense are statements that express an action that was completed before a specific point in the past. They are structured using the following formula.

Subject + had +verb(3rd form) + object.

• She had already finished her breakfast.
• They had watched the movie before bedtime.
• He had visited the new museum in town.
• The children had played in the park all afternoon.
• By the time I arrived, they had already eaten dinner.
• She realized she had forgotten her keys at home.
• We had never been to this restaurant before.
• The teacher had explained the lesson before the test.
• He told me he had already seen the new movie.
• The sun had set by the time we reached the beach.

The sentences given above are broken down according to their grammatical structure.

Negative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions that inquire about actions or events that occurred before a specific point in the past. They are formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Subject + had + not + verb(3rd form) + object.

• She hadn’t finished her chores before dinner.
• They hadn’t visited the park in months.
• He hadn’t heard that song until yesterday.
• The team hadn’t practiced enough before the match.
• We hadn’t met our new neighbors until last week.
• The store hadn’t restocked the shelves by noon.
• He hadn’t tried sushi before last night.
• She hadn’t watched that TV series until now.
• They hadn’t seen that movie before last night.
• He hadn’t spoken to his cousin in years.

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions about actions or events that happened before a specific point in the past. They start with “Had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Had + subject + verb(3rd form) + object?

• Had she eaten breakfast before leaving for work?
• Had they visited the museum before the trip?
• Had he finished his chores before going out to play?
• Had you heard the news before we told you?
• Had they cleaned the house before the party?
• Had she read the book before watching the movie?
• Had we met our new neighbors before the event?
• Had he seen that movie before last night?
• Had they played any games before the picnic?
• Had she finished her work by the time you called?

Usages of the Past Perfect Tense

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action” is one of the key uses of the past perfect tense. It helps establish a clear sequence of events in the past.

• By the time we arrived, they had already finished their meal .
• She had completed the project before the deadline.
• The train had left the station before we reached it.
• They hadn’t started the meeting before the boss arrived.
• The bakery hadn’t sold out of croissants when we got there.
• She hadn’t visited that museum before last summer.
• Had you finished your homework before the teacher collected it?
• Had they seen that movie before it won an award?
• Had she ever traveled to Europe before this trip?

Narrating Past Events in a Sequence

“Narrating Past Events in a Sequence” is another important use of the past perfect tense. It helps in presenting a series of past events in the order in which they occurred.

• She had breakfast , then went for a walk , and finally read a book .
• They had a picnic , then played games , and afterwards shared stories .
• She didn’t have time to finish her drawing , so she left it for tomorrow .
• They didn’t find any ripe apples , so they postponed making the pie .
• Had she already finished her snack before going for a walk?
• Had they played any games before having the picnic?

Expressing Regrets or Hypothetical Scenarios in the Past

Expressing regrets or hypothetical scenarios in the past involves using the past perfect tense to discuss situations that didn’t happen, or to express a sense of regret or longing for different outcomes in the past.

• If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
• She wishes she had taken that job offer last year.
• He believes he would have won the race if he had trained harder.
• If she had arrived earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the train.
• He wishes he hadn’t sold his antique collection.

Reporting Past Actions or Speech

Reporting past actions or speech” involves conveying what someone said or did in the past. This is typically done through indirect or reported speech, where the original statement or action is reported using a different verb tense (often the past perfect tense) to indicate that it happened in the past.

• She told me, I finished the report .
• He said, She has already left .
• They mentioned, We visited the museum .
• She told me that she hadn’t finished the report.
• He said that she had already left .
• They mentioned that they hadn’t visited the museum.
• Did she tell you she had finished the report?
• Had he mentioned that she had already left?
• Did they ask if we had visited the museum?

Past Perfect Tense Chart

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense indicate that an action or event occurred before another action in the past.

• She had finished her work before the meeting started.
•  They had already eaten when I arrived.
•   By the time we got to the cinema, the movie had already begun.
•  She hadn’t seen the movie until last night.
•   After they had left, I realized I forgot my keys.
• He hadn’t heard the news before we told him.
• She had never visited that city before.
•  She didn’t taste that type of food until today.
•   No sooner had they finished the project than the deadline arrived.
• Had you finished your work before the call?
•   Hadn’t they seen the movie before last night?
• Had you ever been to this city before your trip?
• Had they finished the project by the deadline?
•   Before we arrived, had they already played the game?

Time Expressions

Time expressions are words or phrases that indicate when an action or event took place. In the context of past perfect tense, they help establish the relationship between different past actions.

• She finished her homework before dinner .
• He had known her since kindergarten .
• By morning, the rain had stopped .
• They had watched the movie twice already.
• She had read the book before bedtime .
• He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet .
• She realized she hadn’t studied in a while .
• They hadn’t seen that show since last year .
• He hadn’t visited the museum in years .
• She hadn’t traveled abroad before last summer .
• Had you finished your chores by the time I called? ( Time Expression )
• When did they first meet each other? ( Time Expression )
• By what time had they completed the project? ( Time Expression )
• Had they ever been to this city before? ( Time Expression )
• Since when had he known about this new technology? (Time Expression)

Past Perfect vs. Simple Past Tense

Differentiating Between Past Perfect and Simple Past

Here’s a table comparing Past Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense

• Past Perfect Tense Example Sentences
• The mother had cooked food before the sun rose.
• I had recited the Holy Quran before you came.
• The bell had rung when we reached the school.
• The train had gone when I reached the station.
• They had taken tea when I reached there.
• The patient had died before the doctor came.
• They had already finished their work.
• He had reached here till 2’O clock.
• The girl had already sung songs.
• The teacher had already taught us lesson.
• By then, he had finished all his work.
• They were tired because they had walked a lot.
• We were surprised because they hadn’t told us.
• The movie was over because they had watched it.
• She knew the answer because she had studied.
• They were happy because they had won the prize.
• He was full because he had eaten a big meal.
• The students were tired because they had studied.
• She had a great time because she had danced a lot.
• They were sleepy because they had stayed up late.
• He had not taken breakfast before you came.
• They had not bought tickets before the train came.
• Aslam had not heard this good news yet.
• It had not rained yet.
• I had never eaten such a delicious fruit before.
• He hadn’t visited his grandparents in a long time.
• She hadn’t tried that new restaurant yet.
• They hadn’t met their new neighbors before the party.
• By the time they arrived, the show hadn’t started yet.
• He hadn’t seen a shooting star until last night.
• She hadn’t been to the beach in years.
• We hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
• The cat hadn’t eaten its food yet.
• She hadn’t visited the museum in a while.
• They hadn’t finished the puzzle by bedtime.
• He hadn’t cooked dinner before the guests arrived.
• She hadn’t heard the news until now.
• They hadn’t bought groceries for the week.
• By the time they left, the party hadn’t even started.
• He hadn’t taken a vacation in years.
• Had you finished your work before the sun set?
• Had the police already dispersed the crowd?
• Had they already left for Lahore?
• Why had you not posted the letter before you went to school?
• Had they already reached the school?
• Had he fixed the car before the road trip?
• Had she learned to swim before the summer?
• Had they packed their bags before the vacation?
• Had we finished all the tasks before leaving?
• Had he visited his grandparents before the holidays?
• Had you met the new neighbors before the barbecue?
• Had they chosen a restaurant before the reservation?
• Had she attended any classes before the conference?
• Had we booked the tickets before they were sold out?
• Had he heard about the new job before the interview?
• Had they received the package before leaving home?
• Had she completed the assignment before the deadline?
• Had we packed our bags before the trip started?
• Had he visited that museum before it closed down?
• Had you tried that dish before today?

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes in language use is crucial for effective communication.

Here are some tips to help you steer clear of frequent errors:

• Watch Subject-Verb Agreement : Ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).
• Avoid Double Negatives : Using two negatives in a sentence can lead to confusion. For example, “I can’t hardly wait” should be “I can hardly wait.”
• Be Consistent with Verb Tenses : Stick to one tense throughout a piece of writing, unless there’s a specific reason for a shift.
• The Past Perfect Tense is a verb form that is used to describe an action that took place before another action or a specific point in the past.
• The Past Perfect Tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle form of the main verb (e.g., had + eaten).
• Time expressions like “before,” “by the time,” “already,” “until,” and “hadn’t” are commonly used with the Past Perfect Tense.
• The Simple Past Tense describes an action that happened at a specific point in the past, while the Past Perfect Tense describes an action that occurred before another past action.
• “Hadn’t” is the contraction of “had not” and is used in negative sentences (e.g., “She hadn’t finished her work.”). “Didn’t” is the contraction of “did not” and is used in negative sentences in the Simple Past Tense (e.g., “She didn’t finish her work.”).
• Yes, the Past Perfect Tense can be used in reported speech to convey information that was said or thought in the past (e.g., “He said he had already seen the movie.”).
• Yes, adverbs like “already,” “just,” “never,” “yet,” and others can be used with the Past Perfect Tense to provide additional information about the timing of the action.

Free Grammar and Vocabulary Worksheets Resources

• Worksheet Tenses
• English Worksheets
• Action Verbs Worksheets
• Past Perfect Tense Worksheets

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• The Past Perfect Progressive Tense
• The Future Perfect Tense
• Passive Voice
• Conjugation
• Conjunctions
• Preposition
• Use after, as soon as, the moment that, until before using the past perfect simple. Ex: After she had moved out , I found her notes./ I didn’t say anything until she had finished talking.
• Use before, when, by the time before the past simple: Ex. Before I knew it, she had run out the door. / By the time he phoned her, she had found someone new.

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• The past perfect simple, to refer to the action that happened first or earlier
• The past simple to refer to the action that happened second or later
• After Sofie had finished her work, she went to lunch. (First she finished her work and then she went to eat lunch.)
• I washed the floor when the painter had gone. (First the painter left and then I washed the floor.)
• Harold had known about it for a while. (First he knew about it, then others knew about it)
• walk > walk ed / study > stud ied / stop > stop ped / create > creat ed

• By the time Doris got to the party, everyone had gone home.
• Everyone had gone home by the time Doris had got to the party.

Contractions in the Past Perfect Simple

Punctuation tip.

• I had > I'd - After I'd used the phone, I paid the bill.
• He had > He'd / She has > She'd / It has > It'd - It'd happened so quickly, I didn't notice.
• We had > We'd / You have > You'd /They are > They'd – We'd just gotten home, when we heard the blast outside.

Negative Sentences in the Past Perfect Simple Tense

• I had not eaten at that restaurant before today.
• Samantha hadn't had time to explain her side of the story.
• My friends hadn't ever gone to France.
• My friends had never gone to the USA either.

Yes/No Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• Had you cleaned up the mess by the time they came home?
• Had Adam ever spoken to the CEO before he was fired?

Wh-Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• What had they said that made him so angry?
• Why had he agreed to work for that salary?
• How much had he drunk before you got to him?

Tag Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

• John had known about the cancer for a couple of years, hadn't he ?
• They had been in business together, hadn't they ?
• Jennifer hadn't spoken to you about it, had she ?
• They had never eaten a proper Indian meal, had they ?

Exercises – Past Perfect Simple

• After Loren had turned on the alarm, she locked the door. (turn on)
• By the time Simone arrived , the police had already left. (arrive)
• Had you known about the contract they signed? (know)
• After the company _____Joe, he began to work on his first project. (hire)
• _____you _______ the news before you saw it on TV? (hear)
• Michael didn’t want to see the movie because he _______ the book yet. (not read)
• The concert ______ already _______when we _______ the stadium. (begin/ enter)
• Until Anne ________ Mark, she ____ never ______in love. (meet, be)
• Bill __________ for years before he finally _______. (smoke/ quit)
• _______ Sara ever _______to London by herself before then? (drive)
• How many fish ______ the boys _____ by the time it started raining? (catch)
• You ________ them to go to the beach, hadn’t you? (forbid)
• The girls _______ in weeks? That’s why they ______ so much afterwards. (exercise / hurt)
• hadn't read
• had/begun/entered
• met/had/been
• had smoked/quit
• had forbidden
• hadn’t exercised / hurt

Examples - Past Perfect Simple

• After Sofie had finished her work, she went to lunch.
• I washed the floor when the painter had gone.
• Harold had known about it for a while.
• I didn't say anything until she had finished talking.
• After she had moved out, I found her notes.
• Before I knew it, she had run out the door.
• By the time he phoned her, she had found someone new.
• I had had enough of his complaining.
• After I'd used the phone, I paid the bill.
• It'd happened so quickly, I didn't notice.
• We'd just gotten home, when we heard the blast outside.

Yes/No Questions

Wh- questions, tag questions.

• John had known about the cancer for a couple of years, hadn't he?
• They had been in business together, hadn't they?
• Jenifer hadn't spoken to you about it, had she?
• They had never eaten a proper Indian meal, had they?

The Past Perfect Simple Tense

Table of contents, introduction, what is the past perfect tense.

Forms of the past perfect simple Tense

Use of the past perfect simple

Time expressions, examples sentences.

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Present Perfect / Simple Past Key

Try our latest video exercises.

Present perfect with a specific time in the past

The present perfect expresses the idea of “an action that was finished at some unspecified point in the past”. Saying “I have done it yesterday” is basically the same as saying “I finished doing it yesterday at some unspecified point in the past”. It doesn’t really work, does it; it’s either “at some point” or “yesterday”, not both. If you want to include the time when the action took place, you must use the simple past tense (the “-ed” form), e.g.

However, the simple past is ambiguous. “I did it yesterday” can be used to express that you finished it yesterday as well as that you left the work unfinished and will continue doing it later, as in “I did it yesterday, and I am also going to do it tomorrow”. If you want to express that the action is already completed, you can use verbs like “finish” or “complete” in the simple past:

Note that there is one case where “when + present perfect” can be used: to express surprise or mistrust. Say, a friend of yours told you how he enjoyed the view from the Eiffel Tower, and you weren’t aware of the fact that he had ever been to Paris. You could ask

It is an expression of surprise. You aren’t really asking when he visited Paris; you express that the fact he did surprised you.

There is another common situation in which the rule can be (seemingly) broken. For example, it is perfectly fine to say:

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Using the Present Perfect Tense

Are you wondering when to use the present perfect tense? Or I should say, "have you learned" when to use the present perfect? We use this tense to talk about an action that started in the past and   has a connection to the present.

[Note: Click here to learn  how to form   the present perfect.]

Use #1:   Describe past situations / things that have a strong connection to the present

We use the present perfect simple to describe an action  or state that started at an unknown or unspecified time in the past  AND has a connection to the present .

Learners are sometimes confused by this. They ask, if this tense is called the "present" perfect, why are we talking about "past" actions? Excellent question.

With this tense we're talking about the past   and the present . These actions or situations may have started and ended in the past but we are focusing on the effect of this action now in the present moment. Let's look at some examples to try to make this clearer:

• Your poor grades have become a problem. (The result now is that there is a problem.)
• Have you seen Selma? (Where is she now?)
• She 's gone to school. (She left home and is at school now.)
• Take off your shoes. I have just cleaned the floor. (A short while ago I mopped the dirty floor and it is clean now.)
• I can't find my keys. Have you seen them? (I lost my keys and can't find them now.)
• Have you done your homework? (Is your homework finished now?)
• I started but I haven't finished my homework yet. (My homework is not finished now.)
• I've been sick all day. (I'm still sick now.)

In each of these examples we are focusing on the result now or why the action is important at this present time.

Use #2: Describe past actions or conditions that continue in the present

It's usually easier for learners to understand the second use which is for actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present moment.

The tense helps to answer " how long ago " something has been happening (in relation to now) or for how long a period of time  something has been happening. 

FOR / SINCE

We often use the words " since " (after a specific time) or " for " (a period of time) with this usage.

• We have lived here for  25 years.(We came here 25 years ago and still live here.) 
• My parents have been married since   1967. (They're still married.)
• We 've waited 20 minutes already for the bus. (We are still waiting.)
• My daughter has been sick for a week.
• I haven’t slept for two days.
• We haven’t seen each other since high school.
• I haven’t had a drink since the accident.
• He hasn’t dated anyone since his wife left him.
• I haven’t smoked a cigarette for three months now.

Note : we cannot use the present perfect tense with a completed time word. For example:

• Wrong:   We have seen the movie last night.  (Correct: we saw the movie last night.)
• Wrong :  Yesterday, I had worked very late. (Correct: Yesterday, I worked very late.)

With finished time words we use the present simple.

Use #3:  To ask about whether we ever   had past experiences

We frequently use the present perfect tense to ask or talk about whether someone has  experienced something during their life (at any time in the past until this moment).

EVER / NEVER / BEFORE

Often, we use the words " ever " (in questions) and " never ".  We will sometimes also add the word " before ."

• Have you ever   eaten fried insects?
• No, I haven't   tried fried insects and never will.
• Has  Jimmy ever   been this sick before?
• Have you taken private English lessons?
• I ' ve never travelled by train before.
• Have the children  ever   done something like this before?
• Never   in my life have I been so much in love.

Adverbs that are frequently used with the present perfect tense:  Already / yet / just / still

The following words (adverbials) are often used with the present perfect tense:

Just describes something that happened a short time before this moment.

• I 've just   received your email and will read it now.
• He 's just   arrived , I hear the car pulling to the garage.
• I'm so excited. Lady Gaga has just   released her latest album.

Just about means that something that was started is almost finished .

• I 've just about   finished this novel.
• Have you finished the report yet? Just about .
• I 've just about   used up all the milk.

Already has two main meanings:

1. Already = before this time (before now)

• Where's that letter? I 've already   mailed it.
• Can I help you clean? I 've already   swept to the floor but you can vacuum the carpet.
• We 've already   eaten at that restaurant so let's go somewhere else.

2. Already = so soon (something happened quickly or earlier than expected)

• We need to take the trash out. I 've already   taken it out.
• Has my boyfriend arrived already? I'm still getting dressed.
• You don't have to ask. Your mother has already   ironed your shirt.

Yet = at this time , until this time , as soon as this time

Note :  Yet usually comes at the end of the sentence. We use yet with negative statements and questions.

• Have my parents arrived yet?   (They are expected to arrive soon.)
• Have you finished the report yet?   (It should be done or finished soon.)
• He hasn't called yet.   (Until this time he hasn't called but he should call soon.)
• It's 3 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet .

We use still in negative sentences with the present perfect to emphasize an action or situation happening or existing before now and continuing into the present:

• I can't believe you still   haven't written your paper.
• He said he sent an email an hour ago but I still  haven't received it.
• We still   haven't decided what to eat for lunch. 

If you need to review how to form   the present perfect tense please check this page. I go over the positive and negative forms, questions, review the irregular past participles and spelling changes and give lots of examples.

• Main Grammar Page
• Using the Present Perfect

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PRESENT PERFECT - PAST PERFECT

Gapfill exercise.

Home of English Grammar

Gap Filling Tenses Exercise

Fill in the blanks.

1. He ……………………………………. absent since Monday.

Use the present perfect to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present.

2. Suddenly I realized that we ……………………………….. before.

The past perfect is used to talk about the earlier of the two past actions.

3. I ………………………………… my homework before I went out to play.

Please select 2 correct answers

Either the simple past or the past perfect is possible here.

4. She said that she ………………………………… the letter.

A present perfect in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.

5. The train …………………………………. before we reached the station.

The past perfect is used for the earlier of the two past actions.

6. He ………………………………. the watch shortly after he …………………………….. it.

7. when i reached his house, i found that he ……………………………….., 8. he started shouting before i …………………………… a word..

Either the simple past or past perfect can be used here

9. She ……………………………… as a nurse for well over three decades.

10. he ……………………………….. at the gate for a long time., 11. it ………………………………….. 40 minutes by train..

We use the simple present tense to talk about facts.

12. I cannot let ……………………………… of him.

Let is followed by an infinitive without to.

• He has been absent since Monday.
• Suddenly I realized that we had met before.
• I finished / had finished my homework before I went out to play.
• She said that she had posted the letter.
• The train had left before we reached the station.
• He lost the watch shortly after he had bought it.
• When I reached his house, I found that he had already gone.
• He started shouting before I had said a word.
• She has been working as a nurse for well over three decades.
• He has been working at the gate for a long time.
• It takes 40 minutes by train.
• I cannot let go of him.

Past Perfect 1

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Can someone help with this Past Perfect sentence, please?

On FCE we have the following exercise:

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. d. She had to finish her homework before she went out. (until) She had to stay in ________________ her homework.

I'm having a hard time to grasp the two events rule on this one! "She had to stay in until she finished her homework." Sounds perfectly fine to me! Why do I end up with "She had to stay in until she HAD finished her homework."

• sentence-structure
• past-perfect

2 Answers 2

The goal of such exercises is to foster precision in the choice of tenses. There are times, especially in writing, when there is a need for perfect clarity in respect to the sequence of events. Unfortunately, the examples chosen in the exercises often do not establish a context where precision is required in order to avoid ambiguity.

A native speaker might say:

I can't party until I do my homework.

intending that sentence to mean "until I have done my homework", and that's exactly how another native speaker would understand it.

The speaker is explaining why he is unable to party now. He has something important to do first.

I can't party until I have done my homework. I can't party until I've done my homework.

There, have done expresses completion.

The past tense version of "until I have done my homework" would be

I couldn't party until I had done my homework. I couldn't party until I'd done my homework.

There, the would-be reveler is explaining why she was unable to party yesterday, perhaps, or last week, or at some other time in the past.

Again, the perfect (here, the past perfect) expresses completion.

Both "until she finished" and "until she had finished" are valid sentences. In context, they mean the same thing.

In general, "had [verb]ed" means that the action was completed at some specified time in the past. "I had seen Bob yesterday." This is usually used with respect to some other action. "I had seen Bob before he saw me."

A plain "[verb]ed" means simply, action completed in the past. "I saw Bob."

The difference is often very subtle. Usually we use "had" when we want to indicate that the action is completed, as opposed to an action that might be ongoing.

• 1 I find it interesting to contrast OP's example with They had to work until they dropped. I don't disagree with anything you say above, but I can't see how to use that line of thinking to explain why Past Perfect ...until they had dropped is a complete no-no in my superficially similar alternative. –  FumbleFingers Commented Mar 23, 2017 at 20:33
• 2 (Personally, I think OP's one is something of a "trick question" - trying to confuse hapless students by including had as part of the Simple Past form of to have to = to be obliged to .) –  FumbleFingers Commented Mar 23, 2017 at 20:37
• @FumbleFingers Oh, maybe so. Yes, "had" can have the completely different meaning as you say. –  Jay Commented Mar 24, 2017 at 13:12

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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

Table of Contents

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

• Present perfect form
• Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

• Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished . 
• Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
• Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

• What have you already done today?
• What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
• What have you just finished before answering these questions?
• Have you just had some food?
• Have you already finished your homework?
• Have you already studied today?
• Have you just had a phone call?
• Have you already had lunch today?
• Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
• Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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Kristof Abrath Teacher, Trainer, Course Designer Teaching in English on 4 different continents since 2006.

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Exercise on Simple Past and Past Perfect

Exceptions 1.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).

• The removal van arrived had arrived before they finished had finished packing.
• Before they moved had moved to this town, they lived had lived in Chicago.
• After the kids ate had eaten their lunch, they took had taken a little nap.
• After school we always met had always met at the youth club.
• Soon after sunrise we cycled had cycled to an observation point that I never hear had never heard of before.
• When I came had come home, my mother already prepared had already prepared dinner.
• When Monica finished had finished her homework, she went had gone out to play with her friends.
• When we met had met Andrew, we told had ask him about our plans.