Past perfect tense

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?

More Examples

Positive sentences

      They had visited a doctor.

       He had slept.

       I had finished my work last year.

       It had rained heavily last month.

      The film had started before we reached cinema.

Negative sentences

      They had not visited a doctor.

      He had not slept.

      I had not finished my work last year.

      It had not rained heavily last month.

      The film had not started before we reached cinema.

Interrogative sentences

      Had they visited a doctor?

      Had he slept?

      Had I finished my work last year?

      Had it rained heavily last month?

      Had the film started before we reached cinema.