Past Perfect Tense in English: Rules, Uses, Examples and Exercise

Structure: HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE

If you have two completed actions or situations, and you want to show the sequence between them, use the past perfect tense for the action that happened first. [Si vous avez deux actions ou situations terminées dans le passé et que vous souhaitez montrer leur ordre chronologique, utilisez le plus-que-parfait pour l’action qui s’est produite en premier.]

Two completed/finished actions

• I checked the documents for errors at 9 AM. (past)
• I sent them to my boss at 10 AM. (past)
• It is now 11 AM.

So:

I HAD CHECKED the documents for errors before I sent them to my boss. 

OR

I sent the documents to my boss after I HAD CHECKED them for errors.

Sometimes, we can just use the past tense, but this style is informal.

I checked the documents for errors before I sent them to my boss.

OR 

I sent the documents to my boss after I checked them for errors.

USAGE:

A. When discussing steps in the past:

• First, I peeled the potatoes. D'abord, j'ai épluché les pommes de terre.
• Second, I boiled them. Ensuite, je les ai fait bouillir.
• So: I HAD PEELED the potatoes before I boiled them. J'avais épluché les pommes de terre avant de les faire bouillir. (Formal conversation and formal writing)

B. When emphasizing [mettre l'accent]:

A: Did you check the document before you sent it to me?
B: Yes, I did.
A: Why are there still many errors?
B: I had checked it first before I sent it to you.

PRACTICE EXERCISE

Past Simple or Past Perfect?

Instructions: Write the correct form of the verb: past simple or past perfect.

Example:
Before Steven [DO] → did his homework, he [STUDY] → had studied at the library.

All the actions and situations in these sentences happened in the past.

1.

She [LIVE] in Sweden before she [GO] to Norway. She is now in Denmark.

2.

After we [EAT] the cornflakes, Henry [COME] in.

3.

Before Ken [RUN] to Kerry's house, he [PHONE] him.

4.

Laura [REPAIR] her glasses because her brother [BREAK] them.

5.

By the time the show [BEGIN] , all friends [ARRIVE] .

6.

After they [PACK] their backpack (sac à dos), they [RIDE] away on their bikes.

7.

Gerry [HELP] his grandma in the house because his father [TELL] him so.

8.

The cat [HIDE] under the chair because the children [BE] so loud.

9.

Before the students [START] to write, the teacher [COLLECT] their mobile phones.

10.

After Max [FINISH] his breakfast, he [LEAVE] the flat.