Past Perfect Tense 111

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The Past Tense – Past Perfect

There are three aspects of the present tense: A time in
the past
= action
1) Simple past
2) Past progressive now
3) Past perfect (simple and progressive) An earlier time
________________________________________________ in the past
The past perfect (simple) tense is used to describe an action that has been completed
before another past action. It is also used to describe an action that happened in the
distant past (when it is understood that other actions have happened since that action).
• Use the helping verb “has” before a verb in past perfect simple tense to describe
all subjects (I, we, you, they, he, she, it).
[subject] [had] [past participle]
Example: It had rained a lot before she came to town.

Example: I had studied very hard for the exams.
• Use the helping verb “been” after “had” when using the verb “to be” in the
past perfect simple tense.
[subject] [had] [been][object clause]
Example: She had been late to class several times before she got detention.
Example: His family had been nice in the past.
Directions: Complete the following sentences in the past perfect simple tense.
1) She ____ _________ (to write) six letters before she got a response.
2) It ____ always _________ (to snow) here before 1978.
3) Dan ____ _________ (to be) sick for three days before he got better.
4) Li and Susan ____ _________ (to try) four times before they gave up.
5) My father’s old car ____ _________ (to run) very well before he sold it.
6) We ____ not _________ (to take) the test before.
7) My uncle ____ _________ (to visit) China several times in the past, so this visit was nothing new.
8) Our father ____ never _________ (to drive) to California.
9) I ____ _________ (to speak) to the president twice before, so I was not that nervous.
10) The old man ____ occasionally _________ (to need) help crossing the street.
Directions: Put the following sentences in past perfect simple tense.
1) I do the laundry.
______________________________________________________________________
2) It is cold.
A time in
the past
______________________________________________________________________
Directions: Now make your own sentences in the past perfect simple tense.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________
The past perfect (progressive) tense is used to describe an action that was happening
before another past action. It is also used to describe an action that was happening in the distant
past.
• Use the helping verb phrase “had been” before a verb

in past perfect progressive tense to describe all subjects
now
(I, we, you, they, he, she, it). An earlier time
in the past
[subject] [had] [been] [verb + “ing”]
Example: He had been running for twenty minutes before he collapsed.

Example: I had been trying to design a safer car for six years.
Directions: Write the correct form of the verb in the spaces below.
1) We _____ _____ _________ (to learn) English at a private school in Hampton.

2) He _____ _____ _________ (to go) to the beach everyday before the summer ended.
3) I _____ _____ _________ (to play) the piano everyday after school.
4) Li _____ _____ _________ (to talk) to her friends before class started.
5) Wang, Ted, and Ko _____ _____ _________ (to drive) all day.
6) Andy and I _____ _____ _________ (to look) for my keys for two hours before we found them.
7) The Colorado River _____ _____ _________ (to flow) for centuries before it was dammed by beavers.
8) My new car_____ _____ _________ (to make) strange noises until I took it to a mechanic.
9) Tommy_____ not _____ _________ (to save) his money for as long as he claims.
10) Nidia _____ _____ _________ (to live) in New York for ten years before I met her.
Directions: Put the following sentences in past perfect progressive tense.
1) I go to work everyday.
______________________________________________________________________
2) Sarah wears jeans all the time.
______________________________________________________________________
Directions: Now make your own sentences in the past perfect progressive tense.
1) _____________________________________________________________________
2) _____________________________________________________________________

Past Perfect Tense 111

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englishforeveryone.

The Past Tense – Past Perfect

[subject] [had] [past participle]

Example: It had rained a lot before she came to town.

[subject] [had] [been][object clause]

Directions: Put the following sentences in past perfect simple tense.

• Use the helping verb phrase “had been” before a verb

[subject] [had] [been] [verb + “ing”]

Example: He had been running for twenty minutes before he collapsed.

1) We ___ _ _______ (to learn) English at a private school in Hampton.

Directions: Put the following sentences in past perfect progressive tense.

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