Unit 14 - Past Perfect

Past Perfect

Unit 14 - Past Perfect

The Past Perfect is used to connect two past times: a previous past time with a later one. In practice it is used to talk about events that happened bafore a certain past time. For example:
- When I arrived, the plane had left. - Before I left (past time), the plane left (previous past time)
- Before I went to Canada, I hadn't been abroad. - I went to France (past time), and before that time I never went abroad (previous past time).

Form

The Past Perfect is made with had and the past participle. For example:
- I had eaten
- She had played
- They had flown
and so on.

Usage

As mentioned the Past Perfect connects two past times: a past situation and another one before it. There are few rules, so here are some examples to help you see how it's used.
- I wasn't busy yesterday. I had already finished my work.
I wasn't busy in one past time, because previously I had finished my work.
- I ate a small lunch, because I'd already eaten a big breakfast.
I ate lunch at one past time, and I ate breakfast at a previous past time.
- When I arrived, the concert had just started.
I arrived in the past, and the concert started sometime before.

Past Perfect - Present Perfect

The Present Perfect connects the past and the present, for example:
- I haven't eaten today, so I want some food.

The Past Perfect connects two past times, for example:
- I hadn't eaten yesterday, so I wanted some food.

Similarly:
- We don't need an umbrella because the rain has stopped.
- We didn't need an umbrella, because the rain had stopped.

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Grammar Exercises

Example: Before I ate lunch, I _______.

a) had exercised for a long time.
b) had a lot of hunger.

The answer is: a) had exercised for a long time.
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1. Before I took chemistry, I ______ any science classes in my life.
a) had not taken
b) have not taken

2. I have not seen that movie, but I ____ to see it.
a) wanted
b) want

3. Before they visited Italy, they _____ been to Europe
a) had not
b) have not

4. Before I took dance class, I ____ afraid of dancing.
a) was
b) am

5. Since I have not cleaned my apartment in a month, I desperately ____ to clean it.
a) needed
b) need

6. I was very hungry, so I _____ a pizza.
a) order
b) ordered

7. Since the road is closed, we _____ take that route.
a) can not
b) am not

8. I am worried how I will do on the test today, since I ____ studied for the test.
a) have not
b) had not

9. Before I visited Tom's family for Thanksgiving, I ______ met his parents.
a) have not
b) had not

10. I want to go to a museum, since I _____ visited one.
a) have never
b) had never

Answers

"a","b","a","a","b","b","a","a","b","a"

Wife: Did you get my text about picking up the apples at the store?
Husband: Actually, I did not. I had already left the store by the time you sent me the text.

Professor: Ok, class. Let’s open the textbooks to Chapter 13. This is one of the most important parts of the story. In this chapter, by the time the main character finds the antidote, the whole town had already been affected by the virus.

Joe: Did you eat a lot at the buffet?
Erica: No I did not. I had already eaten a few hours before we went, so I just ate a few items.