Past perfect tense
It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a
long time ago) and action which has occurred in past before another action in
past.
For example,
I had lived in America. (The sense of time in this sentence refers to a
completed action in past and especially a long time ago)
The students had gone before the teacher came. (The first part of sentence “The student has
gone” is sentence of past perfect tense, it says about an action which occurred
before another action in past which is “the teacher came”. The second part “the
teacher came” is sentence of past simple tense. So such a sentence which
express an action in past before another action in past comprises two parts
where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense)
Rules.
Auxiliary verb “had” is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past
participle) is used as main verb in sentence
Structure of sentence
Positive sentence
• Subject + auxiliary
verb + main verb (past participle) + object
• Subject + had + 3rd
form of verb or past participle + object
Examples.
He had taken the exam last
year.
A thief had stolen my
watch.
Negative sentence
• Subject + auxiliary
verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + object
•Subject + had + not +
3rd form of verb or past participle + object
“Not” is written after
auxiliary verb in negative sentence.
Examples.
He had not taken the exam
last year.
A thief had not stolen my
watch.
Interrogative sentence
• Auxiliary verb + subject
+ main verb (past participle) + object
• Had + subject + 3rd form
of verb or past participle + object
Interrogative sentence
starts with auxiliary verb “had”
Examples.
Had he taken the exam last
year
Had a thief stolen my
watch?