Past Perfect

This tense refers to a non-continuous action that was already completed in the past. Such sentences are formed by using the siple past formo f the auxiliary verb “to have”, followed by the past participle form of the verb.

 

Structure; had+past participle.

Positive, negative and question forms.

Positive	Negative	Question
I had seem him.	I had not seen him.	Had I seen him?
They had eaten it.	They hadn’t eaten it.	Had they eaten it?
He’d gone.	He hadn´t gone.	Had he gone?

 

Common mistakes

Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I didn't been to London.	I hadn't been to London.	The helping verb had (negative - hadn't) is used in the past perfect.
When I saw him, I noticed that he had a haircut.	When I saw him I noticed that he had had a haircut.	The action (haircut) which happened before another past action must be put into the past perfect to make the time order clear to the listener.
He told me has been to London.	He told me he had been to London.	His original words were: ''I have been to London.'' However, in reported speech we move the tense back - the present perfect ( have been) becomes past perfect (had

 

1.       Different Usages:

Completed Action Before Something in the Past;

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples: I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

                    I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

 

2.       Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs);

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples: We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

                    By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect; Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary. Example: She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

 

3.       Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs;

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.

Examples: Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct

     Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

 

4.       MOREOVER;

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:  She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

 

5.       HOWEVER;

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:  She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct

                     She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct