Past perfect use and structure.

1. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST PERFECT
Affirmative
I
You
He, she it
had started
(‘d started)
had taken
(‘d taken)
We
You
They
had started
(‘d started)
had taken
(‘d taken)
S + had (‘d) + Past Participle
When I arrived at the office, the meeting had finished.
By the time the police arrived, the thief
had already left.
1

2. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST PERFECT
Negative
I
You
He, she it
had not started
(hadn’t started)
had not taken
(hadn’t taken)
We
You
They
had not started
(hadn’t started)
had not taken
(hadn’t taken)
S + had not (hadn’t) + Past Participle
When they finally met, they realised they hadn’t forgotten each other.
2

3. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST PERFECT
Interrogative Short answers
Had
I
you
he, she it
we
you
they
started ?
taken?
Yes, I
you
he, she it
we
you
they
had.
No, hadn’t
Had + s + past participle?
Had the film started when you entered the cinema?
3

4. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST PERFECT. Use
4
PRESENTPAST
“I have never been on a
plane before now”
She said she had
never been on a
plane before then.

5. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST PERFECT. Use
5
PRESENTPAST
“We don’t need to queue
because I’ve already
bought the tickets”
Jack bougth the
tickets for the
cinema.
LAST
SATURDAY
“We didn’t need to
queue because
I had already bought the
tickets”

6. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST SIMPLE OR PAST PERFECT.
6
PAST PRESENT
I saw a beautiful bird
in my garden.
I went to get my camera.
The bird flew away.
I returned with my camera.
“When I returned with my
camera, the bird had flown
away”

7. Unit 2. Grammar (I). The past tense
PAST SIMPLE OR PAST PERFECT.
7
PAST PRESENT
I saw a beautiful bird
in my garden.
I went to get my camera.
I returned with my
camera.
The bird flew away.
“When I returned with my camera,
the bird flew away”