Past Perfect Tense| Use, Rules, Formula, Examples

Past Perfect Tense can be defined as that type of past tense in which Verb is used to indicate the completed action of the past time. It means that any action that had been started during past time, and also completed during past time, can be expressed in Past Perfect Tense.

Rules to form Past Perfect Tense Sentences

Following rules must be followed to form Past Perfect Tense Sentences.

• First, write the Subject or doer of the past time completed action.
• Then, use the helping verb “had”, with all types of Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns.
• Then, write the 3rd Verb to show that the action is complete by the Subject.
• Then, write the Object on which the Subject had acted.
• Then, write the remaining words if there are any.

Helping Verbs of Past Perfect Tense

Past Perfect Tense only follows one helping verb, to indicate the completed actions of the past time.

• Had

“Had” As Helping Verb in Past Perfect Tense

“Had” is used as a helping verb in Past Perfect Tense Sentences with all Singular & Plural Number Nouns and Pronouns(I/We/You/They/He/She/It), to indicate the completed actions of the past time. Thus, Past Perfect Tense Sentences with “had” as a helping verb have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Nouns+had+3rd Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Assertive, Negative, Interrogative, and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structural formulas.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense take “had” as a helping verb with all types of Number Nouns and Pronouns, to indicate the Assertive/Declarative completed actions of the past time. Thus,. Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+had+3rd Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

1. I had already left by the time before she arrived at the party.
2. We had finished our homework before the movie started.
3. You had already gone to bed.
4. They had never seen such a beautiful sunset before their trip to Hawaii.
5. He had completed the project before the deadline.
6. She had just finished dinner when the guests arrived.
7. He had lived in that house for ten years before moving to the city.
8. The team had practiced for months before winning the championship.
9. By the time, I met her, she had already visited several countries.

Negative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense take “not” with the helping verb “had”, to indicate the negative completed actions of the past time. Thus, Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+had+not+3rd Verb+Object+Remaining Words

Examples of Negative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

1. I had not finished my report before the meeting started.
2. We had not eaten dinner by the time the guests showed up.
3. You had not practiced for weeks before the competition.
4. They had not left the house when I called them.
5. He had not lived in Paris for five years before moving to London.
6. She had not already left the office when the email was sent.
7. By the time, they arrived, the concert had not already begun.
8. By the time, we arrived at the airport, the plane had not taken off.
9. She had not already left the office when the email was sent.
10. He had never seen a snowstorm before his trip to the mountains.

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense takes “had” as a helping verb at the start of Sentences to indicate the interrogative/questionable nature of the completed actions of the past time. Thus, Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Had+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+3rd Verb+Object+Remaining Words+?

Examples of Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

1. Had I completed the assignment before the deadline?
2. Had we already called our friends?
3. Had you visited the museum before it closed for renovations?
4. Had they prepared the presentation well in advance?
5. Had he read the report before the team discussed it?
6. Had she finished her training before the new course began?
7. Had they solved the problem before the meeting began?
8. Had I heard of that band before their concert?
9. Had I already made all the arrangements?
10. Had we seen that movie before it won the award?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense takes “had” as a helping verb at the start of Sentences, and “not” comes after the Subject of the Sentences to show the negative nature of interrogative actions. Thus, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structural formula.

Had+I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Singular & Plural Number Nouns+not+3rd Verb+Object+Remaining Words+?

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

The following are some examples of negative-interrogative sentences in the Past Perfect Tense.

1. Had I not baked a cake before the guests arrived?
2. Had we not traveled to several countries before we moved to Australia?
3. Had you never traveled abroad until you went to Spain last year?
4. Had they not finished all their work before the holiday began?
5. Had he not waited for the bus for an hour before the bus finally arrived?
6. Had she not left the office when I left her?
7. Had the kids not already eaten breakfast by the time their parents woke up?
8. Had the movie not already started before we reached the theater?
9. Had she not already graduated from college?
10. Had they not packed their bags before the taxi arrived to take them to the airport?

Past Perfect Tense-Passive Voice

Past Perfect Tense Sentences can easily be converted to Passive Voice form, just by following the rules mentioned in the article:

• Past Perfect Tense|Passive Voice