Past Perfect Tense (Formula, Examples & Exercise)

Past perfect tense indicates the finished or completed actions of the past. For example, I had taken two doses of medicine before the fever vanished.

Signal Words

• before yesterday
• already
• when
• until that day

Structure / Formula

Subject + had + Past participle (v3)

He	had	traveled last year.
He/she/it /I/we/they	had	Past participle(V3)

Positive Sentences

To make the positive sentences, we use this structure,

Subject + had + Past participle (V3)

Examples of positive sentences

• The players had lost heart before the match finished.
• Chris had completed the assignment before he went to school.

Negative Sentences

We add ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative.

Subject + had + not + Past participle (V3)

Examples of negative sentences.

• The players had not lost heart before the match finished.
• Chris had not completed the assignment before he went to school.

Question Sentences

To make the question, ‘had’ come at the start of the sentence and question mark at the end.

Had + subject + Past participle (V3) + ?

Examples of question sentences.

• Had the players lost heart before the match finished?
• Had Chris completed the assignment before he went to school?

Example Sentences

1. He had drawn the sketch of a map.

2. The match had finished when I reached the stadium.

3. Had she lived in this house?

4. I had not planted the flowers.

5. John had traveled to Venice until last month.

6. They had eaten mangoes.

7. The hero had not fought with cannibals.

8. He had read his favorite book before yesterday.

9. The players had lost heart before the match finished.

10. I had drafted my plan before I started work.

View also: Past Perfect Tense Practice Test

Exercise

1. The mechanic ________ my bike before I reached the workshop. (fix)
2. She _______ the marathon. (win)
3. He _______ all his money. (spend)
4. The queen _______ the golden crown. (wearr)
5. The old sailor _______ many oars. (utilize)
6. The student _______ many hours before the exam started. (study)
7. The farmer _______ wheat last year. (grow)
8. We _________ her yesterday. (visit)
9. The patient ________ consciousness before the doctor’s arrival. (regain)
10. I ________ my work before you came. (finish)

Answers

1. The mechanic had fixed my bike before I reached the workshop.
2. She had won the marathon.
3. He had spent all his money.
4. The Queen had worn the golden crown.
5. The old sailor had utilized many oars.
6. The student had studied many hours before the exam started.
7. The farmer had grown wheat last year.
8. We had visited her yesterday. (visit)
9. The patient had regained consciousness before the doctor’s arrival.
10. I had finished my work before you came.