Past Perfect Tense| Definition, rules, formula, Examples

Past Perfect Tense is used to express the completed actions of the past time. It can also be used to express something that happened before something else. Following are some examples of Past Perfect Tense:

I had spoken.
You had spoken.
He had spoken.
We had spoken.
They had spoken.
I knew he was there before I had seen him come.
The patient had died before the doctor came.
I had won the race before the bell rang.

Helping Verb of Past Perfect Tense

Past Perfect Tense uses only “had” as a helping verb with all number nouns and pronouns. It usually takes 3rd form of a Verb to express Past Completed Actions.

“Had” as Helping Verb In Past Perfect Tense

“Had” together with the 3rd form of the Verb is used to express the completed actions of the past time. “Had” can be used with both singular and plural number nouns, and with the following pronouns:

I
We
You
They
He
She
It

"Had" as Helping Verb in Past Perfect Tense — “Had” as Helping Verb in Past Perfect Tense

Sentences Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Assertive, Negative, Interrogative, and Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense use “had” as a helping Verb with all number nouns and pronouns, to express the completed actions of the past time. Following are the sentence structure for different types of sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

Sentence Structure of Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense use “had” with 3^rd form of a Verb to express the completed Declarative actions of the Past. Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structure:

Subject+ had+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words.

Assertive Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Assertive Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with the Sentence Structure:

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns +had+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words.

I+Had

I had already considered your application.
I met her in London in 1998.
I had posted the letter before I bought those envelopes.
I had knocked at the door before he came out.
I had gone before he came.
I had kept quiet before the headmaster came.
I had rung the bell before he reached the school.
I had won the prize.
I had marked the presence.
I had written the application before.

We+Had

We had passed the examination.
Yesterday, we heard this news.
We had heard the news on the radio before the newspaper reached us.
We had changed our clothes before we took tea.
We had jumped out of the boat before it sunk.
We had gone.
We had caught the flu.
We had called the doctor.
We won the match.
We had prepared the dinner before the guests arrived.

You+Had

You had taken tea.
You had already taken your breakfast.
You had sold your horse.
You bought the book.
You had dug this well.
You had failed the examination.
You had written a letter to your father before I came.
You had already posted the letter to your mother.
You had broken this chair.
You had never told a lie.

They+Had

The boys had learned their lesson.
The teams had reached the playing field before the referee whistled.
All the candidates had entered the examination hall before the paper began.
The boys had plucked the flowers before the sun rose.
The police had surrounded his house before he could run away.
They had reached Murree before the snow began to fall.
The police had stopped the procession.
They had already gone from here.
They had beaten David.
They had killed the lion with their gun.

He+Had

He had played hockey.
My son had gone to school before I came home.
The washerman had pressed the clothes before the customer came.
My brother had posted a letter of congratulation before I met him.
John had not learned the lesson till yesterday.
The postman had delivered the letters before noon.
He had gone before I returned.
The wolf had killed many sheep when the villagers reached there.
My neighbor had died before the sun rose.
My uncle had sold his house.

She+Had

The girl had already sung songs.
She had milked the cow before the sun rose.
She had sold her car before she left for Saudi Arabia.
She had got up before I got up.
She had come back from Karachi.
She had returned your camera.
She had watered the plants.
She had dried the wet clothes.
She had sold the car.
She had appeared in the exams.

It+Had

It had rained.
The train had already streamed in.
The rain had stopped when we left the shop.
The sun had set when we reached home.
The sun had appeared despite the heavy fog.

Sentence Structure of Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense use “had” with “not”, to show the negativity of the action. Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structure:

Subject+ had+ not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words.

Negative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Examples of Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Negative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with the following Sentence Structure:

I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns+ had+ not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words.

I+Had+Not

I had never seen such a beautiful animal before.
I had not heard such an interesting story.
I had not fulfilled my promises.
I had not deceived you.
I had not gone to school.
I had not come before he went.
I had not reached the station before the train went.
I had not run away before the police came.
I had not planted the trees before the farmer came.
I had not reached it before the house burned.

We+Had+Not

We had not seen such a dangerous snake before.
We had not run away before he came.
We had not finished our work before you reached.
We had not reached the school before the bell rang.
We had not paid the fee before the school closed.
We had not crossed the river before the train arrived.
We had not won the match before sunset.
We had not slept before the servant bought the milk.
We had not gone before you came.
We had not rung the bell before you reached.

You+Had+Not

You had not witnessed such a wonderful scene before.
You had not run away before the police came.
You had not gone to the cinema.
You had not gone to your office.
You had not taken your lunch.
You had not gone to Lahore to see your uncle.
You had not gone for a morning walk.
You had not done your home tasks.
You had not attended English Grammar class.
You had not quarreled with your brother.

They+Had+Not

The students had not made a noise before the teacher reached.
They had not already created disorder.
These children had never seen a lion.
The guests had not reached there before evening.
They had never seen such an attractive sight.
They had not smoked.
They had not eaten apples.
They had never rung the bell.
They had not informed the police before the thieves ran away.
They had not caught the time.

He+Had+Not

He had not gone to school before you reached.
The cook had not gone before I came home.
The farmer had not gone to the fields before the sun rose.
The peon had not rung the bell before I entered the school.
He had not boarded the train before this.
He had not gone out of the school before the inspector arrived.
The hunter had not set the net before the sun rose.
He had not eaten six bananas.
The wolf had not killed the sheep before he killed the shepherd.
He had not drawn the map of China.

She+Had+Not

She had not worn shoes yet.
She had not gone to her house during lunch break.
She had not taken her medicines.
She had not insulted you.
She had not engaged.
She had not won the prize.
She had not written an application against you.
She had not caught the flu.
She had not cooked the food.
She had not sold her gold jewelry.

It+Had+Not

The sun had not set before 5’O clock.
The match had not ended when I reached the stadium.
The wisdom had not flown the roofs away before the earthquake came.
The sun had not set when I left the house.
The rain had not stopped before it was 6’O clock.
The sun had not set before I reached home.

Sentence Structure of Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense that have Word of Question to ask questions, take “had” after them and before the subject of the sentence. So, Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with Word of Question follow the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ had+ Subject+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense without Word of Question, take “had” at the start of the sentences to express the interrogative nature of the action. Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with “had” at the start have the following structure:

Had+ Subject+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

Word of Question+Had+?

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with Word of Question follow the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns+ had+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Why had the laborers called off the strikes before they received wages?
Why had he finished his work till sunset?
How had the lion carried away the cow before sunset?
Why had the police lathi-charged the people before they raised slogans?
Who had built such a grand building before Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal?
Since when had the shopkeeper decorated the shop?
Why had the people returned before the caravan reached?
Why had you bought a ticket before boarding the train?
Why had the people failed to catch the thief before the police came?
Why had John returned the loan?
Where had the people gone leaving the village after the flood came?
Who had delivered a speech before mine?

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense Without Word of Question

Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense that have “had” at the start of the sentence to ask the question follow the following Sentence Structure:

Had+ I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Had+I+?

Had I sold my property before 1986?
Had I completed my work before the clock struck four?
Had I taken tea before he came?
Had I broken the glass when you met me?
Had I failed my exams?
Had I posted the letter before you?
Had I gone from here?
Had I killed the lion?
Had I broken this cup?
Had I dried my hair with the hair-dyer machine?

Had+We+?

Had we seen him before?
Had we built a house?
Had we learned a lesson before you come?
Had we crossed the river before the train came?
Had we won the match before the sunset?
Had we already gone before you came?
Had we reached a time?
Had we seen you before?
Had we gone to church before went to the cinema?
Had we disrespected you?

Had+You+?

Had you informed me of the decision till today?
Had you finished the novel before I came?
Had you offered your Namaz before the Azan?
Had you already studied the history of Islam?
Had you decorated the house before the guests arrived?
Had you visited the zoo?
Had you come back before we reached?
Had you broken this plate?
Had you seen this movie before?
Had you attended his funeral prayer?

Had+They+?

Had the students attempted the paper before the end of time?
Had they climbed the tree before it fell?
Had they welcomed them warmly?
Had they been injured in a car accident?
Had they gone to Lahore before you came?
Had they cooked the food?
Had they misbehaved with you?
Had they beaten the thief severely?
Had they taken their breakfast?
Had they killed the snake with this stick?

Had+He+?

Had he applied for the job?
Had John made a century before 4’O clock?
Had the patient died before the treatment started?
Had he saved enough money before he bought a car?
Had he climbed up the tree before the bear reached?
Had the student misbehaved with the teacher before the headmaster came?
Had the officer accepted a bribe before the police arrived?
Had he not killed the snake before?
Had the clerk dismissed the peon without the order of the officer?
Had the thief unlocked the door before the watchman came?
Had your brother already passed this examination?
Had the wounded died before he received medical aid?
Had the thief broken in before the police reached?
Had his father died before he was born?

Had+She+?

Had she bought a ticket for London on March 28?
Had she finished her work?
Had she come late?
Had she rung the bell?
Had she cooked the food before we reached?
Had she bought this book already?
Had she written a letter to her younger sister?
Had she died before you came?
Had she never told a lie?
Had she sold her white horse already?

Had+It+?

Had the court acquitted him till yesterday?
Had the plane taken off before the passengers arrived at the airport?
Had the train left before 6’O clock?
Had the train stopped before she pulled the chain?
Had that shop been closed before the police reached? (Passive Voice)
Had the meeting started before we entered the hall?
Had the plane taken off before their car entered the gate of the aero-drome?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with Word of Question take “had” after the Word of Question, and “not” comes after the subject of the sentence. Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with Word of Question follow the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ had+ Subject+ not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Word+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense without Word of Question, take “Had” at the start of the sentence to ask a question. Thus, Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense have the following Sentence Structure:

Had+ Subject+ not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentence Structure of Past Perfect Tense

Examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense

Following are some examples of Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense.

Word of Question+Had+Not+?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense with Word of Question follow the following Sentence Structure:

Word of Question+ had+ I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns+ Not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Why had the laborers not called off the strikes before they received wages?
Why had he not finished his work till sunset?
How had the lion not carried away the cow before sunset?
Why had the police not lathi-charged the people before they raised slogans?
Who had not built such a grand building before Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal?
Since when had the shopkeeper not decorated the shop?
Why had the people not returned before the caravan reached?
Why had you not bought a ticket before boarding the train?
Why had the people not failed to catch the thief before the police came?
Why had John not returned the loan?
Where had the people not gone leaving the village after the flood came?
Who had not delivered a speech before mine?

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense without Word of Question

Negative-Interrogative Sentences of Past Perfect Tense without Word of Question, take “had” at the start of the question, and “not” comes after the subject of the sentence.

Had+ I/We/You/They/He/She/It/Number Nouns+ not+ 3rd form of Verb+ Object+ Remaining Words+?

Had+I+Not+?

Had I not sold my property before 1986?
Had I not completed my work before the clock struck four.
Had I not taken tea before he came?
Had I not broken the glass when you met me?
Had I not failed my exams?
Had I not posted the letter before you?
Had I not gone from here?
Had I not killed the lion?
Had I not broken this cup?
Had I not dried my hair with the hair-dyer machine?

Had+We+Not+?

Had we not seen him before?
Had we not built a house?
Had we not learned our lesson before you came?
Had we not crossed the river before the train came?
Had we not won the match before the sunset?
Had we not already gone before you came?
Had we not reached a time?
Had we not seen you before?
Had we not gone to church before went to the cinema?
Had we not respected you?

Had+You+Not+?

Had you not informed me of the decision till today?
Had you not finished the novel before I came?
Had you not offered your Namaz before the Azan?
Had you not already studied the history of Islam?
Had you not decorated the house before the guests arrived?
Had you not visited the zoo?
Had you not come back before we reached?
Had you not broken this plate?
Had you not seen this movie before?
Had you not attended his funeral prayer?

Had+They+Not+?

Had the students not attempted the paper before the end of time?
Had they not climbed the tree before it fell?
Had they not welcomed them warmly?
Had they not been injured in a car accident?
Had they not gone to Lahore before you came?
Had they not cooked the food?
Had they not well-behaved with you?
Had they not beaten the thief severely?
Had they not taken their breakfast?
Had they not killed the snake with this stick?

Had+He+Not+?

Had he not applied for the job?
Had John not made a century before 4’O clock?
Had the patient not died before the treatment started?
Had he not saved enough money before he bought a car?
Had he not climbed up the tree before the bear reached?
Had the student not misbehaved with the teacher before the headmaster came?
Had the officer not accepted a bribe before the police arrived?
Had he not killed the snake before?
Had the clerk not dismissed the peon without the order of the officer?
Had the thief not unlocked the door before the watchman came?
Had your brother not already passed this examination?
Had the wounded not died before he received medical aid?
Had the thief not broken in before the police reached?
Had his father not died before he was born?

Had+She+Not+?

Had she not bought a ticket for London on March 28?
Had she not finished her work?
Had she not come late?
Had she not rung the bell?
Had she not cooked the food before we reached?
Had she not bought this book already?
Had she not written a letter to her younger sister?
Had she not died before you came?
Had she never told a lie?
Had she not sold her white horse already?

Had+It+Not+?

Had the court not acquitted him till yesterday?
Had the plane not taken off before the passengers arrived at the airport?
Had the train not left before 6’O clock?
Had the train not stopped before she pulled the chain?
Had that shop not been closed before the police reached. (Passive Voice)
Had the meeting not started before we entered the hall?
Had the plane not taken off before their car entered the gate of the aero-drome?

Past perfect Tense-Passive Voice

Passive Voice of Past Perfect Tense use “had been” as a helping verb with the 3rd form of the Verb. following rules must be followed while converting Active Voice of Past Perfect Tense into Passive Voice of Past Perfect Tense:

Past Perfect Tense-Passive Voice