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FORM Past Perfect
[HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Examples:
I had studied a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they met John.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in 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.
Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive 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.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike 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.
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. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect
EXAMPLES
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanics license. ACTIVE
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanics license. PASSIVE
FORM Past Perfect Continuous
[HAD BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLES:
I had been waiting there for two hours before she finally arrived.
She had only been studying English for two years before she got the job.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect Continuous (had been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had only been studying).
USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now.
EXAMPLES:
They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
James had been teaching at the University for more than a year before he left for Asia.
USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past
Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason was tired because he had been jogging.
Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I was reading when my roommate returned.
The reading will be interrupted.
I had been reading for an hour when my roommate returned.
The reading stopped just before my roommate returned.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years, before he moved to Paris. ACTIVE
The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.