Past Perfect
1. Use of the Past Perfect
1.1. together with the Simple Past
Mary had read the book before she watched a film.
1.2. the past equivalent of the Present Perfect
He had played hockey.
2. Signal words
no unambiguous ones
3. Form
had + past participle *
4. Examples
4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Past Perfect – regular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
I had played handball. |
I'd played handball. |
You had played handball. |
You'd played handball. |
He had played handball. |
He'd played handball. |
4.2. Affirmative sentences in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
I had ridden the bike. |
I'd ridden the bike. |
You had ridden the bike. |
You'd ridden the bike. |
He had ridden the bike. |
He'd ridden the bike. |
4.3. Negative sentences in the Past Perfect – regular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
I had not played handball. |
I hadn't played handball. |
I'd not played handball.* |
You had not played handball. |
You hadn't played handball. |
You'd not played handball.* |
He had not played handball. |
He hadn't played handball. |
He'd not played handball.* |
* This form is rarely used.
4.4. Negative sentences in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
I had not ridden the bike. |
I hadn't ridden the bike. |
I'd not ridden the bike.* |
You had not ridden the bike. |
You hadn't ridden the bike. |
You'd not ridden the bike.* |
He had not ridden the bike. |
He hadn't ridden the bike. |
He'd not ridden the bike.* |
* This form is rarely used.
4.5. Questions in the Past Perfect – regular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
Had I played handball? |
There are no contracted forms. |
Had you played handball? |
Had he played handball? |
4.6. Questions in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs
Long forms |
Contracted forms |
Had I ridden the bike? |
There are no contracted forms. |
Had you ridden the bike? |
Had he ridden the bike? |
5. Be careful!
Past Perfect |
Simple Past |
The match had started |
when he arrived. |
Simple Past |
Simple Past |
The match started |
when he arrived. |
* past participle:
- regular verbs → infinitive + -ed
- irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs