PAST PERFECT [had + past participle] Examples: You had studied English before you moved to New York
k Had you studied English before you moved to New York! You had not studied English before you moved to New York USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past
"he #ast #erfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past $t can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past Examples: $ had never seen such a beautiful beach before $ went to %auai $ did not have any money because $ had lost my wallet "ony knew $stanbul so well because he had visited the city several times Had &usan ever studied "hai before she moved to "hailand! &he only understood the movie because she had read the book %ristine had never een to an opera before last night 'e were not able to get a hotel room because we had not oo!ed in advance (: Had you ever visited the ) & before your trip in *++,! -: Yes. $ had een to the ) & once before USE " #uration Before Something in the Past $%on&Continuous 'er s(
'ith Non/0ontinuous 1erbs and some non/continuous uses of 2ixed 1erbs. we use the #ast #erfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past Examples: 'e had had that car for ten years before it broke down -y the time (lex finished his studies. he had een in 3ondon for over eight years "hey felt bad about selling the house because they had o)ned it for more than forty years (lthough the above use of #ast #erfect is normally limited to Non/0ontinuous 1erbs and non/ continuous uses of 2ixed 1erbs. the words 4live.4 4work.4 4teach.4 and 4study4 are sometimes used in this way even though they are N5" Non/0ontinuous 1erbs *+P,RTA%T Specific Times )ith the Past Perfect
)nlike with the #resent #erfect. it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the #ast #erfect (lthough this is possible. it is usually not necessary Example: &he had visited her 6apanese relatives once in 7889 before she moved in with them in 788, +,RE,'ER $f the #ast #erfect action did occur at a specific time. the &imple #ast can be used instead of the #ast #erfect when 4before4 or 4after4 is used in the sentence "he words 4before4 and 4after4 actually tell you what happens first. so the #ast #erfect is optional :or this reason. both sentences below are correct Examples:
&he had visited her 6apanese relatives once in 7889 before she moved in with them in 788, &he visited her 6apanese relatives once in 7889 before she moved in with them in 788,
H,-E'ER
$f the #ast #erfect is not referring to an action at a specific time. #ast #erfect is not optional 0ompare the examples below ;ere #ast #erfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time :or this reason. &imple #ast cannot be used Examples: &he never sa) a bear before she moved to (laska Not Correct &he had never seen a bear before she moved to (laska Correct A#'ERB P.ACE+E%T "he examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always. only. never. ever. still. <ust. etc Examples: You had previousl/ studied English before you moved to New York ;ad you previousl/ studied English before you moved to New York! ACT*'E 0 PASS*'E Examples: =eorge had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic>s license ACTIVE 2any cars had een repaired by =eorge before he received his mechanic>s license PASSIVE
