Simple Past vs Past Perfect Simple

Form
Simple Past
2nd column of irregular verbs

Past Perfect Simple

had + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example:
I spoke

Example:
I had spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed

regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed

Example:
I worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding ed:

Example:
I had worked

when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:
love - loved
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:
admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:
travel - travelled
after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Use
We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back
from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.

Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?
Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened
before/up to a certain time in the past?
Simple Past
some time in the past

Past Perfect Simple

before/up to a certain time in the past

Example:
Example:
Jane got up at seven. She opened her
Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never
birthday presents and then the whole family
been to the zoo.
Taken and adapted from: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper, on april 20th, 2009

went to the zoo.

Signal Words
Simple Past

first

then

Past Perfect Simple

already
up to then
before that day

after*

*Note: "After" is only used as a signal word for Past Perfect if it is followed by a subject + verb, meaning that
one action had been completed before another action began (the new action is in Simple Past).
Example:
After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.
However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore
in Simple Past.
Example:
After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted.

More exceptions with signal words

When
Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. Compare the following
examples:
Example:
When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time)
When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes. (second action happened after the
first action had been completed)
When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions. (second action had been
completed when the first action took place)

Before
"Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after "before" is a new
action, use Simple Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not completed) before a certain time in
the past, use Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:
Example:
Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.
Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book about elephants.

Exercise 1 Choose the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).

1. The wind (blow) ________________ away the leaves that we (collect) __________________.
2. She (throw) ___________________away the letter that she (write) ______________________
3. They (show) _____________________me the pictures, they (take) _______________________during
their holidays.
Taken and adapted from: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper, on april 20th, 2009

4. In the evening, the children (tell) ______________ their daddy what they (see)
______________________at the zoo.
5. The boy (be)_____________ very sorry for what he (do) _____________________________

Exercise 2 Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).
1. My friend (eat) _________________________ up all the biscuit we (bake) __________________
2. The teacher (correct) __________________________ the tests we (write) ______________________
3. I (give) __________________________them some of the candies I (buy) _______________________
4. My sister (see / not) _________________________ the note that I (lay) ____________________on
the kitchen table for her.
5. We (want) _____________________ to watch a film that we (see / not) _______________________
before.

Exercise 3 Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect)
1. When Simon (go) ___________ out to play, he (do) __________________ his homework.
2. Jenny (come) ___________________ home, (sit) ___________________ down and (read)
_________________a good book
3. Before that day in winter, the African boy (See) ______________________________snow in his life.
4. She (give) ___________________me the book that she (read) _______________________
5. We (visit) _____________________ the museum that our friend (tell) _________________ us about a
month before.

Exercise 3 Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or past perfect simple).
1. When he (wake up) ____________________, his mother (already / prepare)___________________
breakfast.
2. We (go)_______________________ to London because the Queen (invite)____________________ us
for tea.
3. He (hear) ____________________ the news, (go) ____________________ to the telephone and (call)
______________________a friend.
4. When she (start) ___________________ to learn English, she (already / learn) _______________
French.
5. Jane (already / type) _____________________ ten pages when her computer (crash)
____________________
6. By the time he (arrive) ________________________ at the pub, they (run) __________________ out
of beer.
7. Before that day we (never / think) ________________________ of going to Japan.
8. I (know) _________________________ him for a long time before I (meet)
________________________ his family.
9. They (not / know) _________________________ where to meet because nobody (tell)
_________________ them.
10. It (be) _____________cloudy for days before it finally (begin) _____________________ to rain.

Taken and adapted from: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper, on april 20th, 2009