Past perfect tense
Learn the past perfect tense (had + past participle) for an action before another past action, with negatives, questions, time words and quizzes.
In this lesson
The past perfect tense describes an action that was completed before another point or action in the past. It shows which of two past events happened first. We form it with had plus the past participle of the main verb, for every subject: When the police arrived, the thieves had already left.
Key point
Past perfect = subject + had + past participle. Use it for the earlier of two past actions; use the simple past for the later one.
How do you form the past perfect tense?
The past perfect uses the auxiliary had followed by the past participle of the main verb. Had is the same for I, you, he, she, it, we and they.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Subject + had + past participle | She had done her homework. |
| Negative | Subject + had + not + past participle | She had not (hadn’t) done her homework. |
| Question | Had + subject + past participle? | Had she done her homework? |
| Short answer | Yes or No + subject + had or hadn’t | Yes, she had. / No, she hadn’t. |
Regular past participles end in -ed (completed, started). Irregular ones must be learnt (eaten, seen, gone, swum). See our list of regular and irregular verbs.
When do you use the past perfect tense?
1. An action that happened before another past action
Use the past perfect for the action that happened first, and the simple past tense for the action that happened second.
Examples
- When the police arrived at the place, the thieves had already left.
- When we arrived, the train had left.
In both sentences, the action in the second part (the thieves left, the train left) happened first, so it takes the past perfect.
2. An action that started in the past and continued up to a later past time
The words for and since are often used in these sentences.
Examples
- I had known him for three years.
- She had lived in France since 1948.
Time expressions
Common words with the past perfect are already, just, never, before, by the time, by then, after and when: By the time I got home, everyone had eaten.
Common mistake
When we arrived, the train has left. → When we arrived, the train had left.
How do you make positive sentences?
Examples
- I had eaten apples.
- I had seen him.
- I had completed the task.
- You had finished the work.
- We had swum.
- They had gone out.
- He had started.
- He had left his book.
- She had eaten apples.
- She had done her homework.
In speaking, had is often shortened to ‘d: I’d seen him, they’d gone out.
Note
The short form ‘d can mean had or would. If a past participle follows, it means had: She’d left = She had left. Learn more in our lesson on contracted forms.
How do you make the negative?
The negative uses had, then not, then the past participle of the main verb: subject + had + not + past participle. The short form is hadn’t.
Examples
- I had not eaten apples.
- I had not done the exam.
- We had not seen each other before.
- You had not completed the task.
- They had not submitted the assignments.
- She had not eaten oranges.
- My friends had not travelled to Venice.
- She had not forgotten to call him.
- He had not done his homework.
- Eliza had not made the kite.
Common mistake
They hadn’t went out. → They hadn’t gone out.
How do you ask questions in the past perfect?
To make a question, move had to the beginning of the sentence and leave the rest of the sentence as it is.
Examples
- Had I seen him before?
- Had we finished the work?
- Had they travelled to Venice?
- Had they written the exam?
- Had she met you before?
Short answers use had: Had she met you before? Yes, she had. / No, she hadn’t.
Tip
Draw a quick timeline. Put the two past actions on it. The one closer to the start of the line takes had + past participle.
What is the difference between the past perfect and the present perfect?
The present perfect tense (have or has + past participle) connects the past to now. The past perfect (had + past participle) connects an earlier past to a later past time. To focus on how long an activity had been going on, use the past perfect continuous tense. For more practice, see the British Council B1 to B2 lesson on the past perfect and the British Council grammar reference on the past perfect.
Summary
- Form: had + past participle, for every subject (They had gone out).
- Use it for the earlier of two past actions; the later one takes the simple past.
- Negative: hadn’t + past participle. Question: Had + subject + past participle?
- Common time words: already, just, never, before, by the time.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use the past perfect instead of the simple past?
Use the past perfect when you need to show that one past action happened before another. If the order is already clear, for example with after or before, the simple past is often enough.
Does had change with he, she or they?
No. Had is the same for every subject: I had left, she had left, they had left.
What does “I’d” mean in “I’d finished”?
Here I’d means I had, because a past participle (finished) follows. In I’d like a cup of tea, it means I would.
What is the difference between “had gone” and “went”?
Went is the simple past and tells you what happened. Had gone shows the action happened before another past moment: When I called, she had gone home.
Practise this lesson
5 questions
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