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Past Perfect Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

Past Perfect Tense With Examples

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

Past Perfect Tense Chart with Definition, Rules, Structure, Usages, Example Sentences

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

You May Also Like

  • Past Perfect
  • Past Perfect Tense
  • Past Perfect Tense Definition
  • Past Perfect Tense Exercise
  • Past Perfect Tense Formula
  • Past Perfect Tense In English
  • Past Perfect Tense In Grammar
  • Past Perfect Tense Rules
  • Past Perfect Tense Structure
  • Past Perfect Tense Usages

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she did her home work vs she finished her home work

Last updated: April 10, 2024 • 133 views

she did her home work

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

  • She did her homework before dinner.
  • I can't believe she did her homework so quickly.
  • 20. (a) When I called on her she did her home work . (b) When I had called on her she was doing her home ...
  • ( she did her home work naming the hospital and a couple of different apartment complexes close by ) well the day she was to arrive to move ...
  • We were from 3 to 4 hours from home in our search and she was not from the area either but we could tell she did her home work and she was always on time.

Alternatives:

  • She completed her homework.
  • She finished her assignment.

she finished her home work

  • She finished her homework just in time.
  • I'm glad she finished her homework early.
  • Jul 13, 2020 ... Find an answer to your question he said" has she finished her home work ?​ english.
  • Tom said : “Has she finished her home work ?” Tom wanted to know if she had finished her homework. - He asked me : “Why did you come home so late last ...
  • Has she finished her home work . No, not yet. 3. Was he at home when you left for office? Yes, he was there. 4. Do you know swimming? Yes, I do.
  • Feb 1, 2019 ... after she finished her home work , Monica went for shopping. S2 S1. Figure 4. SBAR Shift. Subordinate Conjunction (SC) Movement: In Telugu.
  • came home from school, her mother made sure that she finished her home work first. She is grateful for what her mother did for her: “She was so on top of ...
  • after she finished her home work , Monica went for shopping. while. Telugu S2 S1 ధఞల ల , కై, చి, ఐధధ఺, కషనీ, చో, ఎఔకఠ, లమఔు, ...
  • Tom said : “Has she finished her home work ?” _ Tom wanted to know if she had finished her homework. - He asked me : “Why did you come home so late last ...
  • Oct 2, 2017 ... ... her the entire way -- filming matches, driving her to practices, washing sweaty gear and staying up while she finished her home work .
  • She wrapped up her assignment.

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The Past Perfect Simple Tense

The Past Perfect Simple Tense

Table of Contents

Introduction.

The past perfect simple tense is a grammatical construction in English that expresses an action completed before a specific point in the past. In this article, we will define this tense, explore its usage, and provide examples to illustrate it.

Let’s get started with the definition of the past perfect tense.

What is the past perfect tense?

The past perfect refers to an event that was completed at some point in the past before something else happened. It is formed by combining the auxiliary verb “ had ” with “ the past participle ” of the main verb.

Here is the formula of the past perfect simple tense:

  • She had finished .
  • We had visited .

Forms of the past perfect simple Tense

  • I had not worked = I hadn’t worked
  • I had worked = I’d worked

Use of the past perfect simple

PAST PERFECT

The past perfect simple tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. It helps establish a clear sequence of events and emphasizes the earlier completion of one action in relation to another.

Here are some common situations where the past perfect simple tense is appropriate:

  • In this example, the action of Mark leaving (past perfect) occurred before the arrival of Jane (simple past).
  • The spreading of the news (past perfect) happened before the mayor’s statement (simple past).
  • The realization of forgetting the keys (past perfect) occurred after reaching the front door (simple past).
  • The solving of the case (past perfect) preceded the events depicted in the final scene (simple past).
  • The lack of knowledge about the traffic situation (past perfect) influenced the decision not to leave earlier (conditional past).

Use the past perfect tense to show an action that was completed prior to another action that took place in the past.

Time Expressions

Time expressions are crucial for providing context and specifying the timing of events when using the past perfect simple tense. Here are some common time expressions used with the past perfect simple:

  • She had already finished her homework when her friends called to ask her out.
  • She had finished her work before the meeting started.
  • After they had left , I found the keys on the table.
  • By the time the guests arrived, we had already prepared dinner.
  • They stayed at the museum until they had seen all the exhibits.
  • When I arrived, they had already left .
  • They had known each other for years before they got married.

These time expressions help establish the chronological relationship between past events, emphasizing the completion of one action before another in the past.

Examples Sentences

Here are the sentences with the past perfect simple tense highlighted in bold:

  • He had learned Spanish before he went to Spain.
  • President Lincoln had attended the theater before his assassination in 1865.
  • They had had lunch when I arrived.
  • She passed the exam because she had worked very hard.
  • I had finished my homework before my friends arrived.
  • By the time we reached the cinema, the movie had already started .
  • They had visited Paris twice before they decided to move there.
  • The chef realized he had forgotten to add the key ingredient to the recipe.
  • She had never seen such a beautiful sunset before she traveled to the beach.
  • Before the storm hit, most people had already evacuated the area.
  • The team had won every match in the tournament until they faced the champions.
  • After the concert, the musician revealed that she had practiced for hours every day.
  • By the time I woke up, my family had already gone for a morning walk.
  • Before the invention of smartphones, people had to rely on traditional phones.
  • The explorers had reached the summit of the mountain before the severe weather set in.
  • He had learned Spanish for years before he moved to a Spanish-speaking country.
  • The children had finished their chores before their parents returned home.
  • Before the technology upgrade, the company had used outdated software for years.
  • She realized she had left her wallet at home after arriving at the grocery store.
  • The detective had gathered enough evidence before making the arrest.
  • The flowers had bloomed beautifully in the garden before the unexpected frost damaged them.
  • If he had studied harder, he would have passed the exam.
  • If they had left home earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.

In summary, the past perfect simple tense is typically used to indicate an event that took place before another event in the past. Its form consists of the auxiliary “had ” and the past participle of the main verb. This tense is perfect for narrating events in the past or expressing a conditional situation in the past.

Related Pages:

  • Past Perfect Continuous
  • Exercises on the Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

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she <had gone><went> out after she <had> finished her homework

  • Thread starter JJXR
  • Start date Aug 17, 2018

JJXR

Senior Member

  • Aug 17, 2018

Hello to all, Thanks for reading my post. Context: Lisa told her mother yesterday about what had happened the day before. Lisa's words were: "I went out after I finished my homework." Today, Lisa's mother reports Lisa's words. Sample sentences: 1. Lisa told me yesterday that she had gone out after she finished her homework. 2. Lisa told me yesterday that she had gone out after she had finished her homework. 3. Lisa told me yesterday that she went out after she finished her homework. 4. Lisa told me yesterday that she went out after she had finished her homework. Question: What tenses should Lisa's mother use? I think the correct versions are #1 and #2. In both #1 and #2, the past perfect "had gone" indicates that the going out happened before Lisa talked to her mother. In sentence #2, the past perfect "had finished" is optional and can be replaced by the simple past "finished" because the sequence of events is clear due to the presence of the word "after." Thanks a lot for any comments, corrections or suggestions! Regards, JJXR  

owlman5

What do you mean by "correct", JJXR? I'd probably use the third version without worrying whether I had backshifted the past simple into the past perfect in order to satisfy somebody's notion of what "correct" backshifting should be. Why? Because I think it sounds simple and natural to report the sentence that way. The fourth version also sounds fine to me. It places the going out after the finishing of the homework without being too pernickety and awkward.  

lingobingo

Moderator Emeritus

  • Aug 18, 2018

In normal conversation I'd almost certainly replace the second verb with "...after finishing her homework." I'd also point out that (3) is ambiguous in that it could be taken to mean that she always goes out after finishing her homework and not just on this one occasion.  

DonnyB said: I'd also point out that (3) is ambiguous in that it could be taken to mean that she always goes out after finishing her homework and not just on this one occasion. Click to expand...

Thank you all for the responses. Sentences #1, #3, and #4 work in the context provided in post #1 , whereas sentence #2 does not. Is my understanding correct?  

Sentence 2 says the same but puts it badly/clumsily.  

Thanks lingobingo.  

choices of tenses

Hello! I have the sentence:'That evening my sister…her homework and went to bed." a) finished b)has finished c)had been finished d)had finished The answer key suggests that a) finished, is the right answer but what about d) had finished? Could past perfect be a good option? Thank you for your time!

I agree with the key since there is not emphasis on that one action precedes/followes another action, there is just a succession/sequence of actions which is combined with the conjunction and .

  • That evening, my sister finished her homework and went to bed.
  • That evening, before she went to bed my sister had finished her homework first.
  • That evening, before going to bed my sister had finished her homework first.

I hope these three would work too. And I hope (1) is formal enough.

I would use (2) and (3) to emphasise finishing the homework before going to bed.

Hi Antonella,

‘had finished’ is not correct. It would have to be paired with ‘gone’ or ‘had gone’ instead of ‘went’

That evening my sister had finished her homework and gone to bed. That evening my sister had finished her homework and had gone to bed.

Only ‘finished’ works there, not ‘had finished’.

1 is okay, but the addition of ‘first’ to the end of these sentences, although not incorrect, sounds slightly ‘off’. ‘First’ is not needed with ‘before she’. It’s redundant. The emphasis is there by using ‘before she…’ The ‘first’ doesn’t add anything.

Grammar Quiz

She _______ her homework.

A. finished

B. finishes

C. has finished

Select your answer:          

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Peter ___________________ (be) to Thailand once before.

A. has been

C. have been

How often______________ you______________ sports? –Twice a week.

A. did-play

B. have-waited

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  1. SOLVED: 1. Sandy finished 3 8 of her homework before supper and another

    after she finished her homework

  2. Young girl finishing her homework

    after she finished her homework

  3. Free Photo

    after she finished her homework

  4. How to Finish Homework Faster: A Guide from Academic Professionals

    after she finished her homework

  5. How To Finish Your Homework Faster? ( 5 Best Homework Tips for Students

    after she finished her homework

  6. Make Homework Go Smoothly With These Tips and Tricks

    after she finished her homework

COMMENTS

  1. After she had completed her home work, she went to bed

    She went to bed after she completed her home work. The conjunction after indicates that she completed her home work first and later she went to bed. Share. Improve this answer. Follow edited Oct 23, 2019 at 3:04. answered Oct 23 ... OP's question looks like a homework question - which we should not answer unless their is a major concern or a ...

  2. Past Perfect Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage • Englishan

    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.

  3. PDF T036- Past Perfect and Past Tense

    1. They WENT (GO) home after they HAD FINISHED (FINISH) their homework. 2. She HAD JUST GONE (go) out when I called at her house. 3. The sun had set before I WAS (BE) ready to go. 4. When she came into the room she saw that her husband HAD ALREADY DRUNK (ALREADY DRINK) a lot of alcohol. 5.

  4. she did her home work vs she finished her home work

    Find an answer to your question he said" has she finished her home work? english. Tom said : "Has she finished her home work?" Tom wanted to know if she had finished her homework. - He asked me : "Why did you come home so late last ... Has she finished her home work. No, not yet. 3. Was he at home when you left for office? Yes, he was ...

  5. The Past Perfect Simple Tense

    She had already finished her homework when her friends called to ask her out. Before: She had finished her work before the meeting started. After: After they had left, I found the keys on the table. By: By the time the guests arrived, we had already prepared dinner. Until: They stayed at the museum until they had seen all the exhibits. When:

  6. Can someone help with this Past Perfect sentence, please?

    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."

  7. English Grammar Rules

    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.

  8. she <had gone><went> out after she <had> finished her homework

    Lisa told her mother yesterday about what had happened the day before. Lisa's words were: "I went out after I finished my homework." Today, Lisa's mother reports Lisa's words. Sample sentences: 1. Lisa told me yesterday that she had gone out after she finished her homework. 2. Lisa told me yesterday that she had gone out after she had finished ...

  9. choices of tenses

    The past perfect is possible in the following cases (though the past simple is also correct in [i]less formal[/i] situations): (a) That evening my sister had finished (OR finished) her homework*[b]before[/b] she went to bed. (b) That evening [b]after[/b] my sister had finished (OR finished) her homework, she went to bed."

  10. She _______ her homework. A. finished B. finishes C. has

    She _____ her homework. A. finished. B. finishes. C. has finished. D. finish. Select your answer: Next Quiz > Random Topics: Present Perfect or Past Simple Gerund or Infinitive Adverbs by Type Commas Will vs be going to Present Simple and Present Continuous Noun Phrases Quantifiers Grammar- Later/Latter.