TENSES of VERBS

Grammar Simple tenses: Present tense, Past tense and Future tense

Progressive tenses: Present progressive, Past Progressive and

Future Progressive

Perfect Tenses: Present Perfect, Past Perfect and Future Perfect

Module 2

Lesson 6

The Perfect Tenses

Module 2

Lesson 6A-2

The Past Perfect Tense

Module 2

The Past Perfect Tense Definition: The Past Perfect tense is the

tense of the verb used to describe an earlier action that took place in the past before another past action. It is used to make clear that the event or state happened before another in the past. It does not matter what event is mentioned first , the tense makes it clear which one happened first

The Past Perfect Tense Format of Past Perfect tense: had + past participle form of the verb applies to all subjects- singular or plural 1. The stranger had jumped into the swimming pool before earlier action using past perfect tense

the pool attendant could stop him. later action using past tense

2. I could not charge my purchases because I had misplaced later action earlier action

my credit card two weeks ago. specific time in the past.

Note: It is possible to use specific time or phrases with Past Perfect tense. The simple past , however, should be used when “before” or “after” is used in the sentence. ( Example # 1)

The Past Perfect Tense Conditions in the use of Past Perfect tense: 1. completed action before another past action.

o Shelley accepted Brad’s explanation because she had later action 2nd earlier action

actually witnessed what had happened in the gym. 1st earlier action

o The bus had left before I arrived at the terminal. earlier action later action

o Vanessa had drawn the Miag-ao Church from later action

memory after she had seen it during her trip to Iloilo. earlier action (optional)

The Past Perfect Tense 2. action in a reported speech (said, told, asked, thought, wondered, explained, stated, etc)

o Julia wondered whether her son had read her message.

o Peter asked if I had read “Harry Potter.”

o Lucy told Frank that Nemee had left him a newly -baked chocolate cake.

The Past Perfect Tense

3. duration before something (an event or

state) in the past

o Denise had worked at SM before an agent recruited her to work in Hongkong.

o The survivors had endured countless hardship before an Army scout located them.

o Jackie had thought of joining a religious congregation but her mother was against it.

The Past Perfect Tense

3. duration before something (an event or

state) in the past

o Denise had worked at SM before an agent recruited her to work in Hongkong.

o The survivors had endured countless hardship before an Army scout located them.

o Jackie had thought of joining a religious congregation but her mother was against it.

The Past Perfect Tense

4. action in a hypothetical past- talking about things that never happened

o If we had gone by taxi, we wouldn’t have been late for the wedding.

o I wish I had taken my umbrella. I wouldn’t have been caught by the sudden rain.

o If only John had returned home before the conflict between the military and the Muslims, he would have been safe.

The Past Perfect Tense Adverb indicators used with Past Perfect

tense:

• already, for since, yet

• after, as soon as, the moment, until

• until then, never, ever, in X (month, year)

• when, before, by the time – time expressions used with simple past when appended to a clause with past perfect tense verb.

The Past Perfect Tense Adverb indicators used with Past Perfect

tense:

• already, for since, yet

• after, as soon as, the moment, until

• until then, never, ever, in X (month, year)

• when, before, by the time – time expressions used with simple past when appended to a clause with past perfect tense verb.

The Past Perfect Tense

.

The Past Perfect Tense Write the correct form of the enclosed verb in the Past Perfect Tense. 1. After Lalaine (leave) _____, I saw her purse on the sofa. 2. ____ Susan (ever travel) _____ outside of the country before she came to Singapore? 3. Philip (quit)______ his job because he wanted a high paying position. 4. Bobby (not see) _____ that movie before you asked him about it.

The Past Perfect Tense 5. ____ you (ever do) ______this project or something like this before you attended the seminar? 6. How many songs Joan (sing) _____ before the brownout occurred? 7. By the time Josh decided to propose, Laurie (leave) _____ the country for a high paying job abroad. 8. The policeman (catch) _____several jaywalkers before the patrol car arrived

The Past Perfect Tense

If you got a score of 4 or less in the practice exercises, please review the notes on Past Perfect tense before taking the quiz.

Please look over the uploaded “Learning about Verbs” notes in Quia and check whether there are other facts you need to include in your Cheat Sheet.

The Past Perfect Tense Write the correct form of the enclosed verb in the Past Perfect Tense. 1. After Lalaine (leave) had left, I saw her purse on the sofa. 2. Had Susan (ever travel) ever travelled outside of the country before she came to Singapore? 3. Philip (quit) had quit his job because he wanted a high paying position. 4. Bobby (not see) hadn’t seen that movie before you asked him about it.

The Past Perfect Tense

5. Had you (ever do) ever done this project or something like this before you attended the seminar? 6. How many songs Joan (sing) had sung before the brownout occurred? 7. By the time Josh decided to propose, Laurie (leave) had left the country for a high paying job abroad. 5. The policeman (catch) had caught several jaywalkers before the patrol car arrived

The Past Perfect Tense

End of Module 2, Lesson 6A-2