Remember that, as with the present perfect, you need the PARTICIPLE of the main verb when you use the past perfect. verbs: IRREGULAR verbs: REGULAR PAST past participle = past simple (-ed) past participle must be learnt Meaning – the PAST PERFECT takes the PRESENT PERFECT one stage back into the past (sometimes it’s called ‘the past in the past’): When Dave arrived, Jenny had already gone (past) (past perfect) In this example we are talking about an event that happened in the past (Dave arrived), and when that happened, something else was already in the past (Jenny had gone). We often use. | 243 Remember that as with the present perfect you need the past participle of the main verb when you use the past perfect. regular verbs past participle past simple -ed irregular verbs past participle must be learnt Meaning - the past perfect takes the present perfect one stage back into the past sometimes it s called the past in the past When Dave arrived Jenny had already gone past past perfect In this example we are talking about an event that happened in the past Dave arrived and when that happened something else was already in the past Jenny had gone . We often use the past perfect when reporting what people have said - see next Language point. Exercise 1 Q These people have all been very busy this afternoon. Use the information to make sentences saying what each of them had done by three o clock. The first one has been done for you. 1 Candace fall asleep By three o clock Candace had fallen asleep 2 Fiona do the shopping By three o clock__ 3 James write six letters By three o clock__ 4 Simon mend the video By three o clock__ 5 Liz pay all the bills By three o clock__ 6 Justine finish her book By three o clock__ 7 Adam do his homework By three o clock__ 244 8 Liam make some rolls By three o clock_ 9 Ann clean four cars By three o clock_ 10 Brenda order the pizzas By three o clock_ Exercise 2 Q Rewrite these sentences in the past perfect tense. The first one has been done for you. 1 Terry fell off the ladder. Terry had fallen off the ladder. 2 James is going out. 3 They were watching the film. 4 He s feeding the cat. 5 Will Su buy the food 6 I m writing the letter. 7 The bus is leaving early. 8 I wasn t working in the office. 9 Did Henry see the doctor 10 Are you phoning them Language point 86 - reported speech When we report what someone said we can
