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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #48239: Past perfect
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Plu-perfect [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Pluperfect - Choosing your past tense... - Life accident 1 - Life accident 2 - Past Perfect Simple or V-ing - Expressing regrets - Dream and Back to reality 2/2 - Past Perfect
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Past perfect


    PAST PERFECT


    I) HOW TO BUILD:

    subject + had + past participle


    A few examples: (on the right)

    - 'I do the dishes.' =>      I had done the dishes.

    - 'It is hot.' => It had been hot.

    - 'We visit London.'  =>   We'd visited London.

    - 'We can help you.' =>   We had been able to help you.

    (There is no past participle for "can", we use 'be able to'.)



    II) HOW TO USE:

    🔹An action before another action in the past:     



    Example 1 : 

        
        

    --Yesterday, the bus had already left when Sarah arrived at the bus stop.





    Example 2 :

    --We played cards after the children had gone to bed.



    Example 3 :

    --I had never been to an opera before 'last night'.





    🔹 Type 3 conditional

    If + past perfect  ---> would have + past participle

       

    If Tom had been able to pilot a rocket, he would have gone to the Moon.






    🔹 Regrets


          wish + past perfect

    I wish Bob had passed his driving test.   /    We wish he hadn't failed his exam.


    🔹 Indirect speech


    John: 'I have seen two aliens.'   (direct speech)       


    John said that he had seen two aliens.      



            'I have seen... '   =>    he said he had seen...

            'I lost my wallet...' =>    he said he had lost... 







    🌍EXERCISE  - 

    Sonia (call) her mother after she (fed) the dog. / Sonia called her mother after she had fed the dog.

    I (see/never) such a beautiful beach before. / I had never seen such a beautiful beach before.





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    English exercise "Past perfect" created by lili73 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from lili73]
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    1. After we (eat) at the cafeteria, we (go) to the zoo.
    2. Pat (watch) TV. after she (finish) her homework.
    3. When I arrived at the car park, I (find out) that my car (disappear).
    4.The children were amazed because they (see/never) a bear before.
    5. By the time the film (end) , Sonia (eat) a lot of popcorn.
    6. We (have) the car for ten years before it (break) down.
    7. She (understand) the film she saw yesterday because she (read) the book.








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