Table of contents
Notes on past perfect tenses
| A past perfect verb always includes: |
|---|
| had (for singular or plural) + a past participle |
Examples
- They announced that he had resigned for personal reasons.
- He reported that productivity had declined.
| A past perfect continuous verb includes: |
|---|
| had (for singular or plural) + been + an -ing verb |
Example
- When he took over, productivity had been declining for two years.
| A past perfect passive verb includes: |
|---|
| had (for singular or plural) + been + a past participle |
Example
- The new software had been purchased before his arrival.
| Note: |
|---|
| The past simple tense is used when events are described in the order in which they occurred. |
Example
- In March 2005 she started a management course at Monash University. Three months later she found a part-time job.
| Note: |
|---|
| The past perfect tense is used when, in describing the past, we briefly refer to an even earlier event |
Example
- When she began her part-time job in June 2005 she had already started a management course at Monash University.
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