Grammar (1ère D) The Past perfect tense

Example: the terrorists had left when the army arrived.

Rule: had+past participle of the main verb

Different forms:

  • In the affirmative form:

Subject+Had +Past participle of the verb

  • In the interrogative form:

Had+Subject+ Past participle of the verb+?

  • In the negative form:

Subject+Had+ Not +Past participle of the verb

Use of the past perfect

The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to show that one event happened before another in the past. It clearly indicates which one happened first.

First event

Second event

Sentence 1

Poko had gone out

when her husband arrived at home

Sentence 2

I had saved my file

before the computer crashed.