Two things happened in the past. One happened first. Use the Past Perfect for the earlier action.

The later action stays in the Past Simple.

Look at five more sentences:

The Past Perfect uses had + the past participle. Had is the same for every subject.

For a negative, use hadn’t (had not) + the past participle.

For a question, put had before the subject.

These words help you see the earlier action.

Word	What it shows	Example
when	Links two actions. The earlier action has had.	When I arrived, she had left.
because	Gives a reason. The reason happened first.	He was sad because his friend had moved.
already	It was done earlier than expected.	The shop had already closed.
never / ever	Up to that time in the past.	I had never seen snow before that day.
before / after	The order is already clear.	After he had eaten, he went out.

With before and after, the order is already clear. Many speakers use the Past Simple. The Past Perfect is also correct.

A story tells actions in order. Use the Past Simple for each step.

Use the Past Perfect when you go back to an earlier action.

Click the tense that completes the sentence correctly.

• 1
  When she got home, she the door. (open)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — These steps happen in order. Use the Past Simple.
• 2
  When we got to the theater, the movie . (start)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — The movie started first. It is the earlier action.
• 3
  I was not hungry because I lunch. (eat)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — Eating lunch is the earlier action. It gives the reason.
• 4
  When I called her, she me the news. (tell)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — I called, and then she told me. Use the Past Simple.
• 5
  He was sad because he his keys. (lose)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — Losing the keys is the earlier action. It gives the reason.
• 6
  When the bell rang, the students the room. (leave)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — The bell rang, and then they left. Use the Past Simple.
• 7
  The test was easy because we the lesson. (study)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — Studying is the earlier action. It gives the reason.
• 8
  When we saw the house, someone the windows. (break)

  Past Perfect Past Simple

  ✓ Correct — Breaking the windows is the earlier action.

Type the correct verb form for the verb given.

• 1
  When I arrived at the party, she . (already / leave)
• 2
  He was amazed because he anything like it before. (never / see)
• 3
  She the exam easily because she studied hard. (pass)
• 4
  When the police arrived, the thief everything. (take)
• 5
  She was embarrassed because she his name. (forget)
• 6
  When I got home, I the lights on. (see)
• 7
  We could not buy the house because someone it. (already / sell)
• 8
  He could not open the door because someone the lock. (break)

Type the negative Past Perfect for the verb given.

• 1
  She was hungry because she since morning. (not / eat)
• 2
  He failed the test because he for it. (not / study)
• 3
  It was their first meeting. They before. (not / meet)
• 4
  The boss was angry because we him about the problem. (not / tell)
• 5
  I got lost because I the map. (not / bring)
• 6
  When she called, I the dishes. (not / finish)
• 7
  The soup was cold because they it. (not / cook)
• 8
  He was surprised because he the news. (not / hear)

Type the missing words of speaker B’s question, using the words given.

• 1
  A: The train was gone when I got there.
  B: before you arrived? (it / leave)
• 2
  A: Tom was nervous at the airport.
  B: before? (he / ever / fly)
• 3
  A: The class was easy for Mia.
  B: the lesson? (she / study)
• 4
  A: Sam looked very tired.
  B: well before the trip? (he / sleep)
• 5
  A: The window was broken.
  B: it? (who / break)
• 6
  A: They were lost in the city.
  B: there before? (they / ever / be)
• 7
  A: She was angry when I arrived.
  B: What ? (happen)
• 8
  A: Everyone was happy at the party.
  B: the news? (they / hear)

Click the action that happened first.

• 1
  When we got to the airport, the plane had taken off.

  The plane took off. We got to the airport.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: the plane took off.
• 2
  She was tired because she had worked all night.

  She was tired. She worked all night.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: she worked.
• 3
  When the teacher came in, the students had already started.

  The students started. The teacher came in.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: the students started.
• 4
  I had finished my homework when my mom called.

  I finished my homework. My mom called.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: I finished.
• 5
  He was sad because his friend had moved away.

  He was sad. His friend moved away.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: his friend moved.
• 6
  When we sat down, the waiter had already brought the menus.

  We sat down. The waiter brought the menus.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: the waiter brought the menus.
• 7
  Before I called him, he had sent me a text.

  He sent me a text. I called him.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: he sent a text.
• 8
  I found my wallet after I had looked everywhere.

  I found my wallet. I looked everywhere.

  ✓ Correct — The verb with “had” is the earlier action: I looked everywhere.

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

• Form: had + past participle. Had is the same for every subject.
• Negative: hadn’t + past participle. Question: Had + subject + past participle?
• Ask: Which action happened first? That action uses the Past Perfect.
• Reasons: a reason that happened first uses the Past Perfect (because she had studied).
• Story steps in order use the Past Simple.
• Do not use the Present Perfect (has eaten) for the earlier past action.

✓ Mark this lesson complete