UNIT 6: The past perfect tense

Grammar: The past perfect tense

The past perfect tense is most often used for the following:

1. For actions that happened before a past event
2. In reported speech
3. In if (conditional) sentences

1. For actions that happened before a past event


When we want to talk about an action that happened before a past event, we often use the past perfect. Look at these examples:
  • When I got home yesterday, my father had already cooked dinner.
  • I didn't want to go to the movies with my friends because I had seenthe film already.
  • Had you seen the film before?
Notice how often words like already, just, never etc., are used with the past perfect.

2. In reported speech


The past perfect is common when we report people's words or thoughts as in the following examples:
  • John said that he had never eaten sushi before.
  • She told me that she had finished, but I knew she had not.

3. In if (conditional) sentences


The past perfect tense is used in unreal or hypothetical stituations, as in the following sentences:
  • If I had known you were in Frankfurt, I would have called you. (but I didn't know you were here so I didn't call you!)
  • She wouldn't have been able to finish, if you hadn't helped her. (but you did help her and she did finish.)
  • I would have been in big trouble if you hadn't helped me. (but you did help me so I stayed out of trouble.)
 
Taken from internet: http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/rules/pastperf.htm 

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