PAST PERFECT EXPLANATION CHART

1. Use of the Past Perfect

1.1. together with the Simple Past

Mary had read the book before she watched a film.

1.2. the past equivalent of the Present Perfect

He had played hockey.

2. Signal words

no unambiguous ones

3. Form

had + past participle *

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Past Perfect – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I had played handball.	I'd played handball.
You had played handball.	You'd played handball.
He had played handball.	He'd played handball.

4.2. Affirmative sentences in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I had ridden the bike.	I'd ridden the bike.
You had ridden the bike.	You'd ridden the bike.
He had ridden the bike.	He'd ridden the bike..

4.3. Negative sentences in the Past Perfect – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I had not played handball.	I'd not played handball.
	I hadn't played handball.
You had not played handball.	You'd not played handball.
	You hadn't played handball.
He had not played handball.	He'd not played handball.
	He hadn't played handball.

4.4. Negative sentences in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I had not ridden the bike.	I'd not ridden the bike.
	I hadn't ridden the bike.
You had not ridden the bike.	You'd not ridden the bike.
	You hadn't ridden the bike
He had not ridden the bike.	He'd not ridden the bike..
	He hadn't ridden the bike

4.5. Questions in the Past Perfect – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
Had I played handball?	There are no contracted forms.
Had you played handball?
Had he played handball?

4.6. Questions in the Past Perfect – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
Had I ridden the bike?	There are no contracted forms.
Had you ridden the bike?
Had he ridden the bike?

Wh-Questions in the Past Perfect Simple

Wh- questions are questions that require more information in their answers. Typical wh- words are what, where, when, why, who, how, how many, how much.

To create a wh-question, start with the wh-word, then add had, then the subject (a person or thing that had done the action), followed by the V3 (Past Participle) form of the verb and only then add the rest of the sentence.

Wh-Word	Auxiliary Verb	Subject	Verb in V3 (Past Participle)	Rest of Sentence
What	had	I / you / we / they he / she / it	taught	before leaving education
Why	had		changed	the subject

1. What had they said that made him so angry?
2. Why had he agreed to work for that salary?
3. How much had he drunk before you got to him?