ENG_B1.1.
0503G
Past Perfect
Past Events
Grammar & Structure
Level B1
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Past Perfect Outline
Content
In this lesson you will learn the past perfect tense.
Learning Outcomes
• Learn the uses and forms of the past perfect.
• Learn how the past perfect differentiates from other past tense forms.
• Learn to create sentences using the past perfect.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
We use the past perfect to indicate the order
of events in the past. Specifically, to describe
events that happened before other events.
Example:
He had decided to become a drummer before he
learned how to play drums
the decision to be a drummer happened before
learning how to play drums.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
(Subject) + had + past participle
Examples:
Had eaten
Had lived
Had worked
Had gone
Had bought
Had been
Had had
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Grammar
Please note
The verb ‘to have’ is in the past tense (had)
and the past participle of a main verb is used.
Example:
He had worked as a teacher before he became
principal.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
We also use the past perfect to keep the
order of events clear when there is no
specified time given.
Example:
She had already decided to
become a pilot when she took
flying lessons.
Here there is no time expression, but the
decision to become a pilot came before the
flying lessons so we use the past perfect.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
The Past Perfect is commonly used in reports.
Example:
She told her boss that she had accepted another position.
In the example, her acceptance of another job is being
reported. Her actual words were “I have already
accepted another position”
Notice that the job acceptance happened first.
Then she told her boss.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
The Past Perfect tense is commonly used with
verbs like: realize, remember, know, and
understand.
Example:
She didn‘t know where she had
parked her car.
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Exercises
Speaking
Read the following two sentences. What‘s the
difference?
She has spelt the word correctly.
She had spelt the word correctly.
Which one of these sentences describes something that just
happened?
Which one of these sentences describes something that
happened further in the past?
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Exercises
Speaking
Correctly match the clauses.
He had already seen the movie, so we watched something else.
He has already seen the movie, so let‘s watch something else.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Grammar
Please note
We use the past perfect when describing
actions or events that happened before other
events or actions.
In the example on the previous page
we saw two past events, with one caused by the other.
Why did we watch something else?
Because he had seen that film already.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Exercises
Writing
Write three sentences using the past perfect.
EX) I had already arrived at work when I realized I forgot the report.
1) ___________________________
2) ___________________________
3) ____________________________
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Exercises
Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
1) In the examination, the scientists noticed something
that they __________ (overlook) before.
2) When I returned to the hospital, the doctor could hardly
believe how much I ________ (recover) since my last
visit.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Exercises
Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
3) The man drowned after trying to save a girl who ________
(fall) in the river.
4) The local council removed all the safety equipment
because vandals ________ (repeatedly steal) them.
5) By the time the fire was put out, it ______ (destroy)
hundreds of homes.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Exercises
Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
6) Jane ______ (leave) before I phoned her office.
7) They decided to give him the job before the interview
_______ (end).
8) I _______ (be) to Romania before so I knew what to expect
when I went back there.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Exercises
Writing
Complete the sentences with the past
perfect.
9) I ______ (have) Japanese food and knew I liked it.
10) I arrived at the office and realized I ______ (forget) my
keys at home.
11) She took the cake out of the oven when she ______
(realize) it was in there for too long.
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Exercises
Writing
Look at the image. Write two sentences in the
past perfect.
1) ______________
2) ______________
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Exercises
Writing
Look at the image. Write two sentences in the
past perfect.
1) ______________
2) ______________
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Exercises
Writing
Identify and correct the mistakes.
1) We had travelled 50 miles when we have realized we
were lost.
2) They forgot their wallet when they finished the food at
the restaurant.
3) They had stole all the stuff by the time we had arrived
home.
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Exercises
Writing
Identify and correct the mistakes.
4) When I had finished school I had had so much debt from
student loans.
5) My friend had called me when I am in the shower.
6) The kids had ated before so they are not hungry.
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Exercises
Writing
Identify and correct the mistakes.
7) We arrived at the party before anybody arrived at the
party.
8) I already knew that band before they became famous.
9) My wife wasn‘t divorced officially when we first met.
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Grammar
Please note
The past perfect is not used for emphasizing
how long ago an event occurred. We would
use a time expression instead.
Example:
Her great grandfather was
shot when the War of 1818
occurred in this town.
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Grammar
Please note
In describing the past, we use the past
perfect in the same contexts that we use the
present perfect. The only difference is that
the narrative is in the past, not the present.
Example:
Past: Then they saw the train. It had finally arrived.
Present: Now we see the train. It has finally arrived.
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ENG_B1.1.0503G
Thank you
We would like to thank
the following sources for their content
Images Shutterstock – ID 174118562
Shutterstock – ID 178026500
Shutterstock – ID 180921701
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Shutterstock – ID 100110686
Shutterstock – ID 128345762
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Thank you
for choosing to learn
with
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