Helping English

Past Perfect Tense: is used to describe an action completed before a specific time in the past.

Formula:  Subject+ had+ past participle (3^rd form of the verb) + complement

Note: Past Perfect is often used with Simple Past. 

Examples:

1. I had left the house before it started to rain.
2. They had taken their meals before the guests arrived.
3. I asked her what places she ___________(visit) in Europe.  [ had visited]
4. The bus ______________(stop) before we stepped out. [ had stopped]
5. He ___________(already shower) when we arrived at 8:00. [had already showered]
6. Jim ____________(leave) the gym when I got there.
7. They ________(approve) the plan even before it was discussed in the meeting.
8. The culprit ___________(plead) guilty before the jury gave verdict.
9. The sun ___________(rise) long before we woke up.
10.  He ____________(apply) for a new position before he resigned from the present job.

Answer Key:  6 had left – 7 had approved – 8 had pleaded – 9 had risen – 10 had applied