What is it?

We use past perfect to talk about past actions which were completed (!) before other past actions.

It often works with time expressions like "before," "after," "until," "by the time," etc.

Formation of the past perfect

had + past participle of a verb




I had finished my breakfast before she arrived.


1. breakfast
2. arrived

More examples

1. By the time I arrived at the restaurant, Sarah had already ordered for the both of us.

2. They had lived in a small apartment for years before they finally saved enough money to buy a house.

3. I had never seen such breathtaking scenery before visiting the Grand Canyon.

4. Although they had studied for hours, they still felt unprepared for the exam.

5. After they had finished cleaning the house, they decided to relax with a movie.

Beware the difference!

refers to the past

HAD + past participle

e.g. By the time I managed to do so, my sister had visited Paris twice.

Past perf.

refers to the present

HAVE + past participle

e.g. I have visited Paris twice.

Present perf.

Present vs. Past perfect

Quiz time!