Past perfect GRAMMAR

Past perfect GRAMMAR

Content In this lesson you will learn the past perfect tense. Learning Outcomes Learn the uses and forms of the past perfect. Learn how the past perfect differentiates from other past tense forms. Learn to create sentences using the past perfect. www.english-maestro.mn 1

Please note We use the past perfect to indicate the order of events in the past. Specifically, to describe events that happened before other events. Example: He had decided to become a drummer before he learned how to play drums the decision to be a drummer happened before learning how to play drums. www.english-maestro.mn 2

Please note (Subject) + had + past participle Examples: Had eaten Had lived Had worked Had gone Had bought Had been Had had www.english-maestro.mn 3

Please note The verb to have is in the past tense (had) and the past participle of a main verb is used. Example: He had worked as a teacher before he became principal. www.english-maestro.mn 4

Please note We also use the past perfect to keep the order of events clear when there is no specified time given. Example: She had already decided to become a pilot when she took flying lessons. Here there is no time expression, but the decision to become a pilot came before the flying lessons so we use the past perfect. www.english-maestro.mn 5

Please note The Past Perfect is commonly used in reports. Example: She told her boss that she had accepted another position. In the example, her acceptance of another job is being reported. Her actual words were I have already accepted another position Notice that the job acceptance happened first. Then she told her boss. www.english-maestro.mn 6

Please note The Past Perfect tense is commonly used with verbs like: realize, remember, know, and understand. Example: She didn t know where she had parked her car. www.english-maestro.mn 7

Speaking Read the following two sentences. What s the difference? She has spelt the word correctly. She had spelt the word correctly. Which one of these sentences describes something that just happened? Which one of these sentences describes something that happened further in thewww.english-maestro.mn past? 8

Speaking Correctly match the clauses. He had already seen the movie, so we watched something else. He has already seen the movie, so let s watch something else. www.english-maestro.mn 9

Please note We use the past perfect when describing actions or events that happened before other events or actions. In the example on the previous page we saw two past events, with one caused by the other. Why did we watch something else? Because he had seen that film already. www.english-maestro.mn 10

Writing Write three sentences using the past perfect. EX) I had already arrived at work when I realized I forgot the report. 1) 2) 3) www.english-maestro.mn 11

Writing Complete the sentences with the past perfect. 1) In the examination, the scientists noticed something that they (overlook) before. 2) When I returned to the hospital, the doctor could hardly believe how much I (recover) since my last visit. www.english-maestro.mn 12

Writing Complete the sentences with the past perfect. 3) The man drowned after trying to save a girl who (fall) in the river. 4) The local council removed all the safety equipment because vandals (repeatedly steal) them. 5) By the time the fire was put out, it (destroy) hundreds of homes. www.english-maestro.mn 13

Writing Complete the sentences with the past perfect. 6) Jane (leave) before I phoned her office. 7) They decided to give him the job before the interview (end). 8) I (be) to Romania before so I knew what to expect when I went back there. www.english-maestro.mn 14

Writing Complete the sentences with the past perfect. 9) I (have) Japanese food and knew I liked it. 10) I arrived at the office and realized I (forget) my keys at home. 11) She took the cake out of the oven when she (realize) it was in there for too long. www.english-maestro.mn 15

Writing Look at the image. Write two sentences in the past perfect. 1) 2) www.english-maestro.mn 16

Writing Look at the image. Write two sentences in the past perfect. 1) 2) www.english-maestro.mn 17

Writing Identify and correct the mistakes. 1) We had travelled 50 miles when we have realized we were lost. 2) They forgot their wallet when they finished the food at the restaurant. 3) They had stole all the stuff by the time we had arrived home. www.english-maestro.mn 18

Writing Identify and correct the mistakes. 4) When I had finished school I had had so much debt from student loans. 5) My friend had called me when I am in the shower. 6) The kids had ated before so they are not hungry. www.english-maestro.mn 19

Writing Identify and correct the mistakes. 7) We arrived at the party before anybody arrived at the party. 8) I already knew that band before they became famous. 9) My wife wasn t divorced officially when we first met. www.english-maestro.mn 20

Please note The past perfect is not used for emphasizing how long ago an event occurred. We would use a time expression instead. Example: Her great grandfather was shot when the War of 1818 occurred in this town. www.english-maestro.mn 21

Please note In describing the past, we use the past perfect in the same contexts that we use the present perfect. The only difference is that the narrative is in the past, not the present. Example: Past: Then they saw the train. It had finally arrived. Present: Now we see the train. It has finally arrived. www.english-maestro.mn 22