The Past Perfect Tense - Tenses, English, Class 8 | English Class 8 PDF Download

Structure

Let’s understand them with examples

Note: Short form of had not = hadn’t

Uses
The Past Perfect Tense is used to

1. express an action that had been completed before another action started; e.g.,
(i) I had eaten before the guests arrived.
(ii) The patient had died before the doctor came.
(iii) The thief had run away before the police came.
(iv) Namita had washed utensils before the maid came.
Note: If two actions take place in past, use past perfect tense for the action taking place  first  (for  example,  the  train  had  left)  and  use  past indefinite tense for the latter (for example, before I reached the station.)

2. express an action that has completed before the beginning of second action; e.g.,
(i) She had already done her work by 6 p.m. yesterday.
(ii) She had completed her work by 9 p.m. yesterday.

3. express an unfulfilled wish of the past; e.g.,
(i) I wished that my younger brother had scored the highest marks in his class.
(ii) If only you had told the truth.
(iii) He wished that he had accepted the offer.
(iv) If only you had caught the thief.