Past Perfect Simple Timeline

We form the past perfect simple by using the auxilliary verb had and the -ed form of the regular verb (the past participle) irregular verb forms have to be learned:

For example:

"I had already done the shopping by the time she came home."

"I was late for work, by the time I arrived the client had already left. "

The past perfect simple can be used to show how often something happened in the past.

For example:

I'd visited the city many times before.

It can also be used to express unfulfilled wishes or dreams. Sometimes called the Third Conditional.

For example:

" If I had won the lottery I would have bought a new car." Note: If I had done something I would have done something else.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Overview | Simple Present | Simple Future | Simple Past
Present Continuous | Future Continuous | Past Continuous
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Future | Present Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect Simple
The Future

The past perfect continuous tense is used to talk about longer situations that continued up to the moment in the past we are talking about.