Year 2 · Unit 1 · Lesson 2 of 5
The Past Perfect: What Happened First
When we arrived, the concert started. / When we arrived, the concert had started.
These sentences tell two different stories. What is the difference?
In the first, the concert started as we arrived (we saw the beginning). In the second, it started before we arrived (we missed the beginning). Had started is the past perfect: it shows which past action happened first.
Master the essentials
Form
had + past participle.
had finished · had gone · had seen
Use
The earlier of two past actions.
"When I got to the stop, the bus had left."
Time words
Often used with before, after, by the time, already, just and never…before.
"By the time the firefighters arrived, the fire had spread."
Negatives and questions
hadn't + past participle; Had + subject + past participle?
"She hadn't heard the news." · "Had you ever seen snow?"
Irregular past participles
Learn the third form.
go–went–gone · see–saw–seen · write–wrote–written · eat–ate–eaten
Reasons
The past perfect often explains a past situation.
"I was tired because I had walked all day."
Don't overuse it
If events are told in the order they happened, the past simple is enough.
"I got up, had a shower and left."
See it done
1. Combine: "The bus left. Then we reached the stop."
The bus left first, so it takes the past perfect: "When we reached the stop, the bus had (already) left."
2. Correct: "I didn't recognise the town because it changed so much."
The changes happened before the visit: "…because it had changed so much."
Common mistake: Using the past simple form after had: "He had went home." The past perfect needs the past participle: "He had gone home."
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the correct form.
1.When we arrived, the film ___.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived. Answer: B. had already started.
Correct. The film started before we arrived.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived. Answer: B. had already started.
Not quite. The film started before we arrived. Answer: B. had already started.
2.By the time the ambulance came, the man ___ up.
Correct. "By the time" + past → past perfect for the earlier action.
Not quite. "By the time" + past → past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: A. had got.
Not quite. "By the time" + past → past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: A. had got.
Not quite. "By the time" + past → past perfect for the earlier action. Answer: A. had got.
3.She was nervous because she ___ on a plane before.
Not quite. Her experience before that moment: past perfect. Answer: C. had never flown.
Not quite. Her experience before that moment: past perfect. Answer: C. had never flown.
Correct. Her experience before that moment: past perfect.
Not quite. Her experience before that moment: past perfect. Answer: C. had never flown.
4.After they ___ lunch, they went back to work.
Not quite. Lunch came first: past perfect. Answer: D. had eaten.
Not quite. Lunch came first: past perfect. Answer: D. had eaten.
Not quite. Lunch came first: past perfect. Answer: D. had eaten.
Correct. Lunch came first: past perfect.
5.He had ___ to the market.
Not quite. "Went" is the past simple, not the past participle. Answer: B. gone.
Correct. Had + past participle: gone.
Not quite. Had + past participle: gone. Answer: B. gone.
Not quite. Had + past participle: gone. Answer: B. gone.
6.I couldn't get in because I ___ my keys.
Correct. Losing the keys happened before.
Not quite. Losing the keys happened before. Answer: A. had lost.
Not quite. Losing the keys happened before. Answer: A. had lost.
Not quite. Losing the keys happened before. Answer: A. had lost.
7."When I phoned, Sara had left." Which happened first?
Correct. Had left = earlier.
Not quite. Had left = earlier. Answer: A. Sara left..
Not quite. Had left = earlier. Answer: A. Sara left..
Not quite. Had left = earlier. Answer: A. Sara left..
8.___ you ever seen snow before that trip?
Not quite. A past perfect question: Had you ever seen…? Answer: C. Had.
Not quite. A past perfect question: Had you ever seen…? Answer: C. Had.
Correct. A past perfect question: Had you ever seen…?
Not quite. A past perfect question: Had you ever seen…? Answer: C. Had.
9.The streets were wet because it ___ all night.
Not quite. The rain happened before the streets were wet. Answer: D. had rained.
Not quite. The rain happened before the streets were wet. Answer: D. had rained.
Not quite. The rain happened before the streets were wet. Answer: D. had rained.
Correct. The rain happened before the streets were wet.
10.Which sentence uses the past perfect correctly?
Not quite. had + past participle (written). Answer: B. She had written the letter before lunch..
Correct. had + past participle (written).
Not quite. had + past participle (written). Answer: B. She had written the letter before lunch..
Not quite. had + past participle (written). Answer: B. She had written the letter before lunch..
Join the sentences
Join each pair into one sentence using the past perfect. Then check below.
1. The volunteers finished the mural. Then the visitors arrived. (By the time…)
2. I read the book. Then I watched the film. (…after…)
3. The match started. Then we got to the stadium. (When…)
1. By the time the visitors arrived, the volunteers had finished the mural.
2. I watched the film after I had read the book.
3. When we got to the stadium, the match had started.
Next: the Lesson 2 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.