Past perfect
When we talk about something that happened in the past we sometimes want to refer back to
something that happened before that time. We can use the
past perfect
tense (
had + past participle
) to do this.

Look at these two sentences.

• John left the house at 7:30 yesterday morning.
• Mary rang John’s doorbell at 8:15 yesterday.
Both actions happened in the past so we use the past simple tense. But look at how we can
combine the sentences.
• Mary rang John’s doorbell at 8:15 yesterday but John had already left the house.
We use the past perfect (had left) because the action happened before another action in the past
(Mary rang the doorbell.)
Look at some more examples of the past perfect.
• When Mrs Brown opened the washing machine she realised she had washed the cat.
• I got a letter from Jim last week. We’d been at school together but we’d lost touch with
each other.
The past perfect is used because they were at school before he received the letter. It refers to an
earlier past.
Look at these 2 sentences.
• James had cooked breakfast when we got up.
• James cooked breakfast when we got up.
In the first sentence, the past perfect tells us that James cooked breakfast before we got up. In the
second sentence, first we got up and then James cooked breakfast.
Past perfect continuous
The past perfect can also be used in the continuous.
• I realised I had been working too hard so I decided to have a holiday.


Đây là điểm khởi đầu của câu chuyện. Sau đó nếu chúng ta muốn nói về những sự việc xảy ra trước thời
điểm này, chúng ta dùng thì past perfect (had + past participle):

When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul had already gone home.

Khi Sarah đến buổi tiệc, Paul đã đi về nhà.

Xem thêm một số ví dụ sau:

When we got home last night. We found that somebody had broken into the flat.

Tối qua khi chúng tôi về nhà, chúng tôi phát hiện ra có ai đó đã đột nhập vào ngôi nhà.

Karen didn’t want to come to the cinema with us because she had already seen the film.

Karen đã không muốn đi xem film với chúng tôi vì cô ấy đã xem bộ phim (trước đó) rồi.

At first I thought I’d done the right, but soon I realised that I’d made a serious mistake.

Thoạt tiên tôi nghĩ là tôi đã làm điều đúng đắn nhưng chẳng bao lâu sau tôi nhận ra là tôi đã phạm
phải một sai lầm nghiêm trọng.

The man sitting next to me on the plane was very nervous. He hadn’t flown before./ He had never flown
before.

Người đàn ông ngồì cạnh tôi trên máy bay đã rất hồi hộp. Trước đó anh ấy chưa đi máy bay./
Trước giờ anh ấy chưa bao giờ bay.

B Had done (past perfect) là dạng quá khứ của have done (present perfect). Hãy so sánh các câu

"Lúc bạn đến Tom có mặt ở buổi tiệc không?" "Không, anh ấy đã đi về nhà rồi."

Nhưng

“Was Tom there when you arrived?” “Yes, but he went home soon afterward.”

"Lúc bạn đến Tom còn ở đó không?" "Có, nhưng ngay sau đó anh ấy đã đi về nhà."

Ann wasn’t at home when I phoned. She was in London.

Khi tôi gọi điện Ann không có nhà. Cô ấy đã ở Luân Đôn.

Nhưng

Ann had just got home when I phoned. She had been in London.

Ann đã về nhà khi tôi gọi điện thoại cô ấy. Cô ấy đã ở Luân đôn.
EXERCISE 1:
Past Perfect - Simple Past (Statements) -
Exercise
Explanation: Past Perfect - Simple Past contrasted
Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps in the correct tense - Past Perfect or Simple Past.
Toggle example
1) After Fred (to spend) his holiday in Italy he (to want) to learn Italian.
2) Jill (to phone) Dad at work before she (to leave) for her trip.
3) Susan (to turn on) the radio after she (to wash) the dishes.
4) When she (to arrive) the match already (to start).
5) After the man (to come) home he (to feed) the cat.
6) Before he (to sing) a song he (to play) the guitar.
7) She (to watch) a video after the children (to go) to bed.

1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we had built .
2. He had not been to Cape Town before 1997.
3. When she went out to play, she had already done her homework.
4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum had made .
5. The doctor took off the plaster that he had put on six weeks before.
6. The waiter brought a drink that I had not ordered .
7. I could not remember the poem we had learned the week before.
8. The children collected the chestnuts that had fallen from the tree.
9. Had he phoned Angie before he went to see her in London?
10. She had not ridden a horse before that day.
EXERCISE 2:
Past Perfect - Negative
Complete the sentences below using the negative
form of past perfect. Use the short form.
Example: He ________ (leave) when I arrived.
He hadn't left when I arrived.
1.
The man was hit by a red car. The driver (see) him.
2.
I saw him because he (leave) for work.
3.
The girl was afraid. She (fly) on a plane before.
4.
Tamsin was happy to see John again. They (meet) for a long time.
5.
He didn't get the job because he (send) all his papers.
6. The apartment was dirty. They (clean) it for a long time.
7.
The dog was really hungry. Mary (feed) it since Monday.
8.

6. I tried to find Mr Jones but he wasn't around. Then I found out he
(die).
7. He didn't need to borrow the car because he (have)
his bike repaired.
8.
Jenny (just get) home when the phone rang.
9.
The new restaurant wasn't open any longer. It (close) down.
10.
He fed the cat because no-one (feed) it for days.
The answers are:
1. had seen
2. had driven
3. had sold
4. had changed
5. had just gone
6. had died
7. had had
8. had just got
9. had closed
10. had fed
Exercise on Past Perfect Simple
Positive Sentences in Past Perfect Simple
Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple.
1. The pupils talked about the film they (watch) .
2. I was late for work because I (miss) the bus.
3. We lived in the house that my father (build) .
4. We admired the picture that Lucy (paint) .
5. They watered the trees that they (plant) .
6. The teacher corrected the tests that the pupils (write) .

homework yet.
10. Fred answered my question although I (ask / not) him.
Exercise on Past Perfect Simple
Negative Sentences in Past Perfect Simple
Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple. Use the negative form.
1. In the shopping centre, I met a friend who I had not seen for ages.
2. The thief could walk right into the house because you had not locked the door.
3. We lost the match because we had not practised the days before.
4. At school, Jim quickly copied the homework that he had not done .
5. We ate at a restaurant last night because I had not bought anything for dinner.
6. When we came back, it was cold in the house because Alice had not closed the windows.
7. All day long, Phil was angry with me just because I had not greeted him first.
8. When I met Jane at eleven o’clock, she had not had breakfast yet.
9. I couldn’t go to the cinema with my friends last night because I had not finished my homework
yet.
10. Fred answered my question although I had not asked him.
Exercise on Past Perfect Simple
Questions in Past Perfect Simple
Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
1. (what / Bob / do) that he was kept in after school?
2. (you / eat) anything before you went to the theatre?
3. (he / live) in London before he moved to Glasgow?
4. (she / find) a new job by that time?
5. (they / book) a room before they went to Dublin?
6. (how often / you / ring) the bell before he answered the door?
7. (why / they / have) dinner before they came to the party?
8. (Carly / wash) the dishes when her mum came home?
9. (you / read) the contract before you signed it?
10. (who / live) in the house before we moved in?
Exercise on Past Perfect Simple

didn't hear
hadn't heard
Q6 - I ____ enough time to finish the exam.
didn't have
hadn't had
Either could be used here.
Q7 - If I ____, I'd have helped.
knew
had known
Either could be used here.
Q8 - If I ____, I'd tell you.
knew
had known
Either could be used here.
Q9 - No sooner ____ than I realised what was going on.
did I arrive
had I arrived
Either could be used here.
Q10 - Until last month, I _____ it before.
didn't try
hadn't tried
Answer Sheet - Past Simple or Past Perfect?
This page displays the answers to the 'Past Simple or Past Perfect?' quiz.
Q1 - By the time we ____, everyone had left.
arrived
had arrived
Q2 - I _____ a long time ago.
finished
had finshed
Either could be used here.

EXERCISE 4:
PAST TENSE OR PAST PERFECT
Fill in Past simple, past progressive or past perfect simple.
1. When they (sleep) thieves (break) in and
(steal) their paintings.
2. After he (repair) his bike he (drive) to his
grandparents.
3. Before she (have) dinner she (work) in the garden.
4. I (see) him yesterday in front of the cinema.
5. When they (listen) to music they (hear) a loud
noise.
6. He (not visit) me before he (fly) to Greece.
7. He (hear) a loud cry from outside and (rush) out.
8. While she (learn) for her test her brother (play)
football with his friends.
9. We (not play) chess last Sunday.
10. He (go) shopping after he (phone) me.
11. When we (meet) Jane at the party she (wear) a
red dress.
12. He (not drive) fast when the accident
(happen).
13. The boys (break) a window when they (play)
football in the garden.
14. Mary (not work) yesterday. She (be) ill.
15. After she (help) me with the housework she (go)
to meet her friends.
PAST TENSE OR PAST PERFECT
Fill in past simle or past perfect simple.
1. After they (see) the Tower they (go) to Westminster
Abbey.

3) Before Ken ran to Kerry's house, he him. (to phone)
4) After they their rucksacks, they rode away on their bikes. (to pack)
5) Gerry helped his grandma in the house because his father him so. (to tell)
6) The cat hid under the chair because the children so loud. (to be)
7) Before the students started to write, the teacher their mobile phones. (to collect)
8) After Max his breakfast, he left the flat. (to finish)
9) Laura repaired her glasses because her brother them. (to break)
10) By the time the show began, all friends . (to arrive)
Past Perfect - Sentences - Exercise
1) She had lived in Sweden before she went to Norway.
2) After we had eaten the cornflakes, Henry came in.
3) Before Ken ran to Kerry's house, he had phoned him.
4) After they had packed their rucksacks, they rode away on their bikes.
5) Gerry helped his grandma in the house because his father had told him so.
6) The cat hid under the chair because the children had been so loud.
7) Before the students started to write, the teacher had collected their mobile phones.
8) After Max had finished his breakfast, he left the flat.
9) Laura repaired her glasses because her brother had broken them.
10) By the time the show began, all friends had arrived.
Fill in Past simple, past progressive or past perfect simple.
1. After they (have) a cup of tea they (have) some cake.
2. They (buy) the flat two years ago.
3. When I (watch) TV the lights (go) out.
4. He (tell) me that he (see) a lion.
5. He (go) to France last year.
6. After he (call) the police he (call) the ambulance.
7. She (wash) her hair when her baby (start) to cry.
8. After he (work) hard he (feel) ill.
9. He (leave) the room after I (explain) all the facts.
10. After he (find) the key he (open) the door.