The Past Perfect Simple is used:
to describe an action which was completed before a specific point of time in the past.
She had finished the housework by midnight.
to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. (We use the Past Perfect Simple for the first action and the Past Simple for the action which followed.)
The match had already started by the time we got to the pitch.
Ben had spent three months before Jen noticed him.
1st action: Ben had spent three months
2nd action: Jen noticed him
Jen hadn’t noticed Ben until he got some bling.
1st action: Jen hadn’t noticed Ben
2nd action: he got some bling
When the bill arrived, Ben realized he had forgotten his wallet at the florist’s.
1st action: he had forgotten his wallet
2nd action: the bill arrived
3rd action: Ben realized
Time Exresssions Used in Past Perfect Simple
before + point in time
by + point in time
before, after, when, by the time, already, ever, never,
just, until
When he stopped laughing, everyone had left.
I had gone to bed when the phone rang.
After I had drunk coffee, I left home.
After John had written the letter, he posted it.
Before I left home, I had drunk coffee.
Before I came home, I had done some shopping.
I didn't turn off the TV until everybody had gone to bed.
When we arrived, my mother had already cooked the dinner.
Use of Time Expressions
When + simple past, past perfect
When the police arrived, the thieves had gone away.
When + past perfect, simple past
When he had completed the project, he went on holiday.
After + past perfect/simple past, simple past
I slept after I (had) watched my favorite program.
Before + simple past, past perfect/simple past
Before I learnt English, I (had) learnt Turkish.
By the time + simple past, past perfect
By the time we got to the pitch, the match had already started.
Until+ simple past, past perfect
Until she got married, she had worked in a bank.
Until + past perfect, simple past
Until he had finished his work, we didn’t disturb him.
By + point in time, past perfect
By Friday, I had finished my project.
Had you cleaned up the mess by the time they came home?
Had Adam ever spoken to the CEO before he was fired?
John had known about his illness for a couple of years before he died.
My mum had cleaned my room when I arrived home.
By the time we finished our homework, the film had already finished.
By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robbers had escaped.
When I arrived home, the children had gone to bed.
to describe an action which was completed before a specific point of time in the past.
She had finished the housework by midnight.
to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. (We use the Past Perfect Simple for the first action and the Past Simple for the action which followed.)
The match had already started by the time we got to the pitch.
Ben had spent three months before Jen noticed him.
1st action: Ben had spent three months
2nd action: Jen noticed him
Jen hadn’t noticed Ben until he got some bling.
1st action: Jen hadn’t noticed Ben
2nd action: he got some bling
When the bill arrived, Ben realized he had forgotten his wallet at the florist’s.
1st action: he had forgotten his wallet
2nd action: the bill arrived
3rd action: Ben realized
Time Exresssions Used in Past Perfect Simple
before + point in time
by + point in time
before, after, when, by the time, already, ever, never,
just, until
When he stopped laughing, everyone had left.
I had gone to bed when the phone rang.
After I had drunk coffee, I left home.
After John had written the letter, he posted it.
Before I left home, I had drunk coffee.
Before I came home, I had done some shopping.
I didn't turn off the TV until everybody had gone to bed.
When we arrived, my mother had already cooked the dinner.
Use of Time Expressions
When + simple past, past perfect
When the police arrived, the thieves had gone away.
When + past perfect, simple past
When he had completed the project, he went on holiday.
After + past perfect/simple past, simple past
I slept after I (had) watched my favorite program.
Before + simple past, past perfect/simple past
Before I learnt English, I (had) learnt Turkish.
By the time + simple past, past perfect
By the time we got to the pitch, the match had already started.
Until+ simple past, past perfect
Until she got married, she had worked in a bank.
Until + past perfect, simple past
Until he had finished his work, we didn’t disturb him.
By + point in time, past perfect
By Friday, I had finished my project.
Had you cleaned up the mess by the time they came home?
Had Adam ever spoken to the CEO before he was fired?
John had known about his illness for a couple of years before he died.
My mum had cleaned my room when I arrived home.
By the time we finished our homework, the film had already finished.
By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robbers had escaped.
When I arrived home, the children had gone to bed.
