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Past perfect

PAST PERFECT

I) HOW TO BUILD:

subject + had + past participle

A few examples: (on the right)

- 'I do the dishes.' =>      I had done the dishes.

- 'It is hot.' => It had been hot.

- 'We visit London.'  =>   We'd visited London.

- 'We can help you.' =>   We had been able to help you.

(There is no past participle for "can", we use 'be able to'.)

II) HOW TO USE:

🔹1° An action before another action in the past:     

Example 1 : 

--Yesterday, the bus had already left when Sarah arrived at the bus stop.

Example 2 :

--We played cards after the children had gone to bed.

Example 3 :

--I had never been to an opera before 'last night'.

🔹 2° Type 3 conditional

If + past perfect  ---> would have + past participle

If Tom had been able to pilot a rocket, he would have gone to the Moon.

🔹 3° Regrets

      wish + past perfect

I wish Bob had passed his driving test.   /    We wish he hadn't failed his exam.

🔹4°  Indirect speech

John: 'I have seen two aliens.'   (direct speech)       

John said that he had seen two aliens.      

        'I have seen... '   =>    he said he had seen...

        'I lost my wallet...' =>    he said he had lost... 

🌍EXERCISE  - 

Sonia (call) her mother after she (fed) the dog. / Sonia called her mother after she had fed the dog.

I (see/never) such a beautiful beach before. / I had never seen such a beautiful beach before.

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English exercise "Past perfect" created by lili73 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from lili73]
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1. After we (eat) at the cafeteria, we (go) to the zoo.
2. Pat (watch) TV. after she (finish) her homework.
3. When I arrived at the car park, I (find out) that my car (disappear).
4.The children were amazed because they (see/never) a bear before.
5. By the time the film (end) , Sonia (eat) a lot of popcorn.
6. We (have) the car for ten years before it (break) down.
7. She (understand) the film she saw yesterday because she (read) the book.