The past perfect tense is used to show that an action had completed before another action took place.

Form: Subject + had + past participle form of the verb

She had written a letter.

I had finished my dinner.

She had gone out.

You had misread the instructions.

They had left.

Notes

If we are talking about two actions that occurred in the past, the past perfect tense is used for the earlier action.

After she had taken her lunch she went to the movies.

After he had consulted the doctor, he went to work.

Before he went to the US, he had finished his studies.

Complete the following sentences using appropriate simple past and past perfect tense forms.

1. When I ……………… (reach) the station, the train ………………….. (leave).

2. I ……………….. (realize) that I …………….. (meet) him before.

3. When we ……………… (arrive) at the party, she ……………. already ……………. (go) home.

4. I ………………. (wonder) who ………………… (leave) the door open.

5. I …………….. (think) I ……………… (send) the money a week ago.

Answers

1. When I reached the station, the train had already left.

2. I realized that I had met him before.

3. When we arrived at the party, she had already gone home.

4. I wondered who had left the door open.

5. I thought I had sent the money a week ago.