PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

USES

We use past perfect simple to talk about actions which take place before a past action which is
the starting point.

past present

past perfect action

past present

FORMS

AFFIRMATIVE
Subject + had + past participle + complements.

e.g.: She had bought a car.

NEGATIVE
Subject + had not + past participle + complements.

e.g.: She hadn’t bought a car.

INTERROGATIVE
(Question Word) + had + subject + past participle + complement?

e.g.: What had she bought?

ADVERBS
The adverbs may be the same as those for Present perfect.
We normally find a past simple sentence connected to by means of the conjunction When.
 PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

USES

We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions which had been happening for a
period of time before something else happened.

past present
past perfect continuous

past present

FORMS

AFFIRMATIVE
Subject + had + been + verb –ing + complement.

e.g.: She had been playing football.

NEGATIVE
Subject + had not + been + verb –ing + complement.

e.g.: She hadn’t been playing football.

INTERROGATIVE
(Question word) + had + subject + been + verb –ing + complement?

e.g.: What had she been playing?

ADVERBS
The same adverbs as those for Present perfect continuous.

STATIVE VERBS
There are some verbs which do not admit the continuous aspect such as To like, To know, To
have got ...