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The past perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action took place once or many
times before another point in the past. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present
perfect exercises.
Past Perfect Forms
The past perfect is formed using had + past participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the
subject and had. Negatives are made with not.
Statement: You had studied English before you moved to New York.
Question: Had you studied English before you moved to New York?
Negative: You had not studied English before you moved to New York.
Complete List of Past Perfect Forms
Past Perfect Uses
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past
The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It
can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
Examples: