Use of the Past Perfect
When do we use the Past Perfect?
1. together with the Simple Past
When two past actions are combined – the first action, which was completed before the second one began, is put into Past Perfect.
Mary had read the book before she watched a film.
After Amy had gone home it started to rain.
2. the past equivalent of the Present Perfect
He had played hockey.
Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
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The bike is new. I have bought it. | The bike was new. I had bought it. |
Past Perfect – Simple Past | Simple Past - Simple Past |
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The match had started before he arrived. | The match started when he arrived. |