Past perfect

Pattern I had left you had left he had left she had left it had left we had left you had left they had left I hadn't left you hadn't left he hadn't left she hadn't left it hadn't left we hadn't left you hadn't left they hadn't left had I left? had you left? had he left? had she left? had it left? had we left? had you left? had they left?

Usage 1. Past actions that happened before other past actions: When I got to the airport, the plane had already left (the plane left before I got there).

2. Time clauses with after and before, but only when it's absolutely necessary for the clear understanding of the sequence of the actions:

After I had woken up, I took a bath = After I woke up, I took a bath (better sentence, because the sequence of events is obvious by using after). Before I took a bath, I had brushed my teeth.= Before I took a bath, I brushed my teeth (better sentence, the sequence of events is made obvious by using before) Conclusion In time clauses with after or before, it doesn't sound natural to use the past perfect, because after and before are sequencers on their own and don't need another sequence word. Practice Fill in the blanks with the verbs in the past simple, past perfect or past continuous: 1. When I ____________(get back) home, my wife ___________(already/ leave). 2. I ________(call) her after she ________(call) me first.

3. While he_________(do) his homework, I ___________(use) the computer, because I _________(do) my homework the day before. 4. When I ________(be) a kid, I _________(can) play with friends after I __________(eat) lunch. 5. Before the Rolling Stones __________(record) Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan _______________(sing) it a thousand times.

Answer key
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