Past perfect tense with examples and exercise.

Tenses

In this article, I have explained the past perfect tense with examples and exercises. I have explained the positive sentences, negative sentences, Interrogative sentences, and "WH" interrogative sentences with examples.

Past perfect Tense

Introduction

The past perfect tense is used to express an action that has happened in the past usually a long time ago. It is used to express an action that has accrued in the past before another action in the past. For example, I had lived in Pakistan. The sense of this sentence refers to completing an action in the past and particularly a long time ago.

Used

• Express an action that happened in the past a long time ago.
• Express an action that happened in the past before another action accrued
• Express  completed action before something happened in the past
• The past perfect tense is used with past indefinite tense

Rules

The past form of auxiliary Have is used in sentences. The helping verb had is used in the sentences. First of all, the subject is used, after the subject helping Had is used. After helping had past participle or 3^rd form of the main verb is used as a main verb. Ate the end of the sentence object is used.

Structure of Sentence

We are going to discuss the structure of the positive sentences, negative sentences, interrogative sentences, and Wh interrogative sentences.

Positive Sentences

The positive sentence starts with a subject, after the subject helping verb had is used. After the helping verb had 3^rd form or past participle is used as a main verb. In the end, an object is used.

Structure

Subject + Auxiliary had + Main verb III + Object

Subject + Had + VIII + Object

Examples

• They had left the country last year.
• He had left the village.
• She had quarreled with her neighbor.
• We had met him in his office.
• They had come to help him.
• She had sold her cycle.
• Children had broken the windows.
• You had seen him.
• I had returned your books.
• She had deceived him.
• The patient had died.

Negative sentences

Negative sentences start with a subject after the subject helping verb had is used. After the helping verb had, not is used. Past participle or 3^rd form of a verb is used as a main verb. At the end of the sentence, the object is used.

Structure

Subject + Helping Verb had + Main verb III + object

Subject + Had + VIII + Object

Examples

• They had not left the country last year.
• He had not left the village.
• She had not quarreled with her neighbor.
• We had not met him in his office.
• They had not come to help him.
• She had not sold her cycle.
• Children had not broken the windows.
• You had not seen him.
• I had not returned your books.
• She had not deceived him.
• The patient had not died.

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences start with helping the verb had, and then the subject is used. After the subject past participle or 3^rd form of the verb is used as a main verb, then the object is used.

Structure

Helping verb had + subject + Main verb III + Object

Had + subject + VIII + Object

Examples

• Had they left the country last year?
• Had he left the village?
• Had she quarreled with her neighbor?
• Had we met him in his office?
• Had they come to help him?
• Had she sold her cycle?
• Had children broken the windows?
• Had you seen him?
• Had I returned your books?
• Had she deceived him?
• Had the patient died?

Interrogative + Negative Sentences

Interrogative + Negative sentences start with helping verb "Had" After "Had" subject is used. After the subject, "Not " is used then the Past participle or 3rd form of the verb is used as a main verb. At the end of the sentence, an object is used.

Structure

Helping Verb Had + Subject + Not + Main Verb III + Object

Helping Verb Had + Subject + Not +M. VIII + Object

Examples

• Had they not left the country last year?
• Had he not left the village?
• Had she not quarreled with her neighbor?
• Had we not met him in his office?
• Had they not come to help him?
• Had she not sold her cycle?
• Had children not broken the windows?
• Had you not seen him?
• Had I not returned your boos?
• Had she not deceived him?
• Had they not patient died?

(WH) Interrogative Sentence

(WH) Interrogative sentences start with (WH) words like Who, How, When, Where, Which, Why, etc. then the helping verb "Had" is used. After the helping verb, the subject is used, then 3rd form of the main verb is used as a main verb. At the end of the sentence, the object is used.

Structure 

(WH) Words + Helping Verb Had +  Subject + Main Verb III + Object

Why + Had + Subject + VIII +Object

Examples

• Why had they left the country last year?
• When had he left the village?
• When had she quarreled with her neighbor?
• Where had we met him in his office?
• Why had they come to help him?
• When had she sold her cycle?
• How had children broken the windows?
• Where had you seen him?
• When had I returned your books?
• How had she deceived him?
• When had the patient died?

Exercise

1. The patient had died before the doctor came

   The patient had not died before the doctor came.

   Had the patient died before the doctor came?

   Had the patient not died before the doctor came?

   What had the patient died before the doctor came?

2. We had left the country before you came to see us.

   We had not left the country before you came to see us.

   Had we left the country before you came to see us?

   Had we not left the country before you came to see us?

   What had we left the country before you came to see us?

3. We had completed our degrees before we selected for the job.

   We had not completed our degrees before we selected for the job.

   Had we completed our degrees before we selected for the job?

   Had we not completed our degree before we selected for the job?

   How had we completed our degrees before we selected for the job?

4. The teacher had left the class when I reached college.

   The teacher had not left the class when I reached college.

   Had the teacher left the class when I reached college?

   Had the teacher not left the class when I reached college?

   Why had the teacher left the class when I reach college?

5. She had deceived her friend before I met her.

   She had not deceived her friend before I met her.

   Had she deceived her friend before I met her?

   Had she not deceived her friend before I met her?

   How had she deceived her friend before I met her?

6. You had left home before I called you.

   You had not left home before I called you.

   Had you left home before I called you?

   Had you not left home before I called you?

   Why had you left home before I called you?

7. I had completed my work before you came to see me 

   I had not completed my work before you came to see me.

   Had I completed my work before you came to see me?

   Had I not completed my work before you came to see me?

   When had I completed my work before you came to see me?

8. I had written the letter before he informed me.

   I had not written the letter before he informed me.

   Had I written the letter before he informed me?

   Had I not written the letter before he informed me?

   How had I written the letter before he informed me?

9. She had established her school before 2020.

   She had not established her school before 2020.

   Had she established her school before 2020?

   Had she not established her school before 2020?

  Where had she established her school before 2020?

10. They had played cricked before last year.

   They had not played cricket before last year.

   Had they played cricket before last year?

   Had they not played cricket before last year?

   How had they played cricket before last year?

You might like 

Present Indefinite tense

Past Indefinite tense

Sentence and types of sentence

Noun and types of noun

Pronoun and Types of the pronoun

Adjective and types of adjective

Verb and types of verb

Adverb and types of adverb