Unit # 2 Activity Nº 1 (Past Perfect)

Introduction

these are the uses for the past perfect and also some examples to understand

Past Perfect – Use

[had + past participle]

Examples:

•You had studied English before you moved to New York.
•Had you studied English before you moved to New York?

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:
•I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
•I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
•Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
•Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
•She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
•Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
Examples:
•We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
•By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

Exercise:

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-perfect-exercise-1.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/pastperfect/exercise1.html

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-perfect-simple/exercises

conclusion

 
is important to know how to use the past perfect to talk correct English language and also understand