Structure of Past Perfect Tense
PAST PERFECT TENSE
This post includes detailed expressions about Past Perfect Tense and its structures in english. Please follow the list about Structure of Past Perfect Tense;
The tenses simply show the time of an action.
Past Perfect Tense indicates a past action which is completed before another past action.
The Structures of Past Perfect Tense
POSITIVE FORM (+):
- Subject + HAD ( auxilary verb- have ) + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
NEGATIVE FORM (-):
- Subject + HAD ( auxilary verb- have ) + NOT + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
QUESTION FORM (?):
- HAD ( auxilary verb- have ) + Subject + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
SHORT ANSWER FORM (?):
- YES/NO + Subject + had / had not
| POSITIVE (+) | NEGATIVE (-) | QUESTION (?) |
|---|---|---|
| I had started | I had not (hadn’t) started | Had I started |
| You had started | You had not (hadn’t) started | Had you started |
| He had started | He had not (hadn’t) started | Had he started |
| She had started | She had not (hadn’t) started | Had she started |
| It had started | It had not (hadn’t) started | Had it started |
| We had started | We had not (hadn’t) started | Had we started |
| You had started | You had not (hadn’t) started | Had you started |
| They had started | They had not (hadn’t) started | Had they started |
Positive Sentences ( Sbj + had + V3 )
Examples:
- I went there after I had completed the task.
- She had come late to the school.
- My father and mother had been married for two years when I was born.
- Until he went to England, he had never spoken English.
- If you had studied hard last year, he would have passed all his exams.
- She had done her homework so she was happy.
- He had lived in Florida for ten years before he moved to California.
- They had gone out when you called.
- The woman had cried till the morning.
- I had returned to university.
- He had left when I went to the club.
- By the time we came, she had finished the project.
Negative Sentences ( Sbj +had + not + V3 )
Examples:
- I had not (hadn’t) completed the task.
- She had not (hadn’t) come late to the school.
- They had not (hadn’t) been married when I was born.
- Until he went to England, he had not (hadn’t) spoken English.
- You had not (hadn’t) studied hard.
- She had not (hadn’t) done her homework so she was sad.
- He had not (hadn’t) lived in Florida.
- They had not (hadn’t) gone out when you called.
- The woman had not (hadn’t) cried till the morning.
- I had not (hadn’t) returned to university.
- He had not (hadn’t) left when I went to the club.
- By the time we came, she had not (hadn’t) finished the project.
Question Sentences ( Had + Sbj + V3 )
Examples:
- Had you completed the task?
- Had she come late to the school?
- Had they been married when I was born?
- Had he spoken English until he went to England?
- Had she done her homework?
- Had he lived in Florida?
- Had they gone out when you called?
- Had the woman cried till the morning?
- Had you returned to university?
- Had he left when I went to the club?
- Had she finished the project ,by the time we came?
