Module 6: Mastering Verb Tenses - Lesson 6.4: Past Perfect Simple

Module 6: Mastering Verb Tenses - Lesson 6.4: Past Perfect Simple

Lesson 6.4: Past Perfect Simple

Welcome to Lesson 6.4! Today, we are moving on to the Past Perfect Simple tense. This tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before a specific point in the past. The Past Perfect Simple is essential for establishing the sequence of past events clearly, indicating which action happened earlier in time. It helps to create a timeline of past actions and is crucial in narrative and storytelling to show background events or prior actions relative to a later past event.

What is the Past Perfect Simple?

The Past Perfect Simple tense is used to indicate:

• Action Completed Before Another Point in the Past: It describes an action that was finished and completed before a specific time or another event that is also in the past.
• Earlier Past Action: It clarifies that one past action happened before another past action. It establishes a 'past in the past' relationship.
• Background Information in Past Narratives: Often used to provide background information or context about events that happened earlier in a past narrative, before the main sequence of events.

Forming the Past Perfect Simple

The Past Perfect Simple is formed using:

Formula: had + Past Participle

• 'had' is used for all subjects: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
• Past Participle: This is the third form of a verb, same as used in Present Perfect. For regular verbs, it ends in '-ed'; for irregular verbs, it varies.

Contraction is common: 'd is used for 'had' with all subjects (e.g., "I'd finished," "She'd gone"). So, I'd, you'd, he'd, she'd, it'd, we'd, they'd (e.g., "By the time I arrived, they'd already eaten.")

Examples of Past Perfect Simple Formation:

• Affirmative:
  • I had finished my work before they arrived. (I'd finished)
  • She had gone home when I called. (She'd gone)
  • We had eaten lunch by then. (We'd eaten)
  • They had already left when we got there. (They'd already left)
  • He had lived in London before moving to Paris. (He'd lived)
• Negative: (Adding 'not' after 'had')
  • I had not finished the report by Friday. (I hadn't finished)
  • She had not seen him before that day. (She hadn't seen)
  • We had not eaten yet when you phoned. (We hadn't eaten)
  • They had not arrived by 8 PM. (They hadn't arrived)
  • He had not lived abroad before. (He hadn't lived)
• Question: (Inverting 'had' and the subject)
  • Had you finished before I called?
  • Had she gone to bed already?
  • Had we eaten enough?
  • Had they left by the time you arrived?
  • Had he lived there long?

Key Uses of Past Perfect Simple:

1. Action Completed Before Another Past Action or Time:

   This is the main use. Past Perfect Simple is used to show that one past action happened before another past action, or before a specific point in past time. It clarifies the sequence of events, making it clear which action is 'further back' in the past.

   Common Time Expressions (often used to establish the later past point of reference): before, after, by the time, when, once, as soon as, already, until, till

   Examples:

   • "When we arrived at the cinema, the film had already started." (Past Perfect - film started earlier, Past Simple - our arrival later) - Sequence of events clarified.
   • "Before I went to bed, I had checked all the doors." (Past Perfect - checking doors earlier, Past Simple - going to bed later) - Order of actions emphasized.
   • "By the time she got to the station, the train had left." (Past Perfect - train leaving earlier, Past Simple - her arrival later) - Cause and effect of timing.
   • "After they had finished dinner, they went for a walk." (Past Perfect - finishing dinner earlier, Past Simple - walk later) - Action sequence indicated by 'after'.
   • "I didn't realize I had met her before until she reminded me." (Past Perfect - meeting earlier, Past Simple - realization later) - Memory and recognition across time.
2. Duration Before a Point in the Past:

   Similar to Present Perfect Simple for duration up to now, Past Perfect Simple can express a duration that continued up to a specific point in the past. It shows how long something had been going on *before* something else happened in the past.

   Common Time Expressions: for, since, how long, by then, until then (often used with 'before' or 'when' clauses to establish the 'past reference point')

   Examples:

   • "They had lived in that house for twenty years before they moved." (Duration of living in house up to the point of moving) - Length of time lived there before a later past event.
   • "She had known him since she was a child, until he moved away." (Duration of knowing someone up to a point in the past - him moving away) - Relationship duration up to a past point.
   • "How long had you been working there before you quit?" (Asking about duration of employment up to the point of quitting) - Inquiring about length of time up to a past event.
   • "By the time he was 30, he had already achieved so much." (Duration of achievements up to age 30) - Accomplishments accumulated by a certain past age.
   • "We had been waiting for hours when the bus finally arrived." (Duration of waiting up to the moment of bus arrival) - Length of waiting period before a later event. - Note: 'Past Perfect Continuous' is often more common for emphasizing duration of an action leading up to another past event, but Past Perfect Simple is also possible for completed duration).
3. Unfulfilled Hopes or Wishes in the Past (often with 'hoped', 'expected', 'thought', 'wanted' etc. in the main clause - though this can also be Second/Third Conditional context):

   Sometimes, Past Perfect Simple is used in sentences expressing hopes, wishes, or expectations that were not realized in the past. This often sets up a contrast with what actually happened.

   Common Verbs in Main Clause: hoped, expected, thought, wanted, planned, intended, etc.

   Examples:

   • "I had hoped that she would come, but she didn't." (Past hope not realized - she didn't come) - Expressing a past desire that wasn't fulfilled.
   • "We had expected the film to be good, but it was terrible." (Past expectation disappointed - film was bad) - Contrast between expectation and reality.
   • "She had wanted to go to university, but she couldn't afford it." (Past desire unfulfilled - inability to afford university) - Reason for not achieving a past goal.
   • "He had planned to travel around the world, but he got ill." (Past plan disrupted - illness prevented travel) - Interruption of a past plan.
   • "They had intended to arrive early, but they were delayed by traffic." (Past intention thwarted - traffic caused delay) - Obstacle to a past intention.

Past Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple - Key Difference: Sequence of Past Events

• Past Perfect Simple: Used for the earlier of two past actions. It establishes "past in the past." Indicates an action completed *before* another past point or event.
• Past Simple: Used for the later of two past actions, or for actions that are simply in the past without specific reference to another past event. Tells us about the main events in a past narrative in chronological order.

Examples Highlighting the Difference:

• "When I arrived, she left