Learn English as a Second Language and Use the Tenses Wisely

The Past Perfect Tense

The tenses communicate information that can make a big difference in meaning. The big difference is sometimes made with a tiny change. For example, add ed to walk and you only add two small letters, but you change the meaning. The past perfect tense is used to provide information that the action was completed before the moment of speaking or writing but it also took place before another action in the past. See an example for a better explanation.

Time = now
2nd action happened yesterday.
1st action happened three days before.

The past perfect tense is formed by combining had + the past participle (ed or en form of the verb or an irregular form).

I had packed my suitcases two days before I left for the airport.

First action = I packed my suitcases. Second action = I left for the airport.

My mother had ironed my clothes before the electricity went out.

First action = My mother ironed my clothes. Second action = The electricity went out.
Try some exercises. I will provide one action. Add another action in either the past perfect or the past tense. Each sentence you submit must have one sentence in each tense.

1. I had eaten my lunch.
2. I ran to the fire station.
3. I had left my homework at home.
4. The pilot lifted the plane into the air.
5. The professor had lectured the class on European history.

Regards,
Barbara92106

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