Past Perfect Tense

Uses of Past Perfect Tense

Use Case 1

We use Past Perfect to talk about a past situation or activity that took place before another past situation or activity, or before a particular time in the past.

That is, when two actions happened in the past, we use past perfect to show which action happened earlier than the other.

Simple Past is used in one clause and Past Perfect in the other.

Let’s see a couple of examples:

Anand realized that the retail broker had duped him.

tenses

Anand realized – in simple past tense.
the retail broker had duped him – in past perfect tense.

I had met her in Berlin before we married in 2015.

tenses

we married in 2015 – in simple past tense.
I had met her in Berlin – in past perfect tense.

Structures

Pattern 1: Subject + had + $V_3$ + …….. before + Subject + $V_2$

Mr. Kapoor had left India before I met Shailey.

Pattern 2: By the time + Subject + $V_2$ + …..+ Subject + had + $V_3$ +……

By the time Mr. Anand reached home, she had typed all the letters.

Use Case 2

We also use Past Perfect to say what we wanted to do, but didn’t.

Verbs used in this fashion – wanted (to), hoped (to), wished (to), expect (to), mean (to), think (about + -ing).

I had wanted to visit Stonehenge before I left England, but my wife is not feeling well.

Mragank had hoped to retire at 50, but his financial conditions didn’t allow him to do so.

Subject + had + hoped/wanted/wished/expected/…. + that + Subject + verb ….
We use past perfect tense in case of non-fulfilment of action.

Subject + hoped/wanted/wished/expected + ……. + that + Subject + verb +….
We use simple past tense in case of fulfilment of action.

I had wanted to be what I am today. (incorrect)
I wanted to be what I am today. (correct)

I thought that I would meet you but I couldn’t. (incorrect)
I had thought that I would meet you but I couldn’t. (correct)




Different Sentence structures of the Past Perfect tense

We use the following helping verbs in past perfect tense (depending on person and number of subject):

tenses
‘had’ does not always function as helping verb. It may also work as main verb.

Structure of Declarative sentences

Affirmative Declarative Sentences

Pattern: Subject + had + $V_3$ + Object

Aanya had played badminton.
They had played badminton.  

Negative Declarative Sentences

Pattern: Subject + had not + $V_3$ + Object

Aanya had not played badminton.
They had not played badminton.

We can write had not as hadn’t too.

Structure of Interrogative sentences

Affirmative Interrogative Sentences

Pattern 1: Had + Subject + $V_3$ + Object?

Had Aanya played badminton?
Had they played badminton?

Pattern 2: Wh. family + had + Subject + $V_3$ + Object?

Where had Aanya played badminton?
Where had they played badminton?

Negative Interrogative Sentences

Pattern 1: Had + Subject + not + $V_3$ + Object?

Had Aanya not played badminton?
Had they not played badminton?

Pattern 2: Wh. family + had + Subject + not + $V_3$ + Object?

Why had Aanya not played badminton?
Why had they not played badminton?

In a sentence, any form of ‘have’ can be followed by ‘had’, e.g. has had, have had.

You will encounter such combinations a lot in Perfect Tense.

In such cases ‘had’ will be the main verb.

I have had enough challenges in this job. (have – helping verb; had – main verb)
He has had his dinner. (has – helping verb; had – main verb)

Extra Books and Tools


If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.
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