Grammar
Tense: Past continuous – Grammar in use
1st Part
Grammar in use
2nd Part
Form
3rd Part
To be
4th Part
Drills
1st Part
Grammar in use
- Topic : Past + EN ( past perfect)
- Skills : Grammar
Use
We can use the past perfect for past statements and anteriority.
It also shows the order of two past events. The past perfect shows the earlier action and the past simple shows the latest one.
ENONCIATION : Contexte passé
We use the past perfect for :
1) ANTERIORITY (Antériorité d’une action par rapport à une autre dans le passé)
2) ASSESSMENT (Bilan d’une situation dans un contexte passé)
| FOCUS ON | ACTIONS |
|---|---|
| The Past Perfect focuses on the result of an action or its consequences IN THE PAST. Comme le present perfect, le past perfect a une valeur de résultat et exprime le bilan d’une action (cf present perfect) mais dans UN CONTEXTE PASSE. |
The train had left the station when I arrived. He had studied Spanish for several months before he travelled to Spain. The team had won five matches in a row before they lost the championship match. |
| The Past Perfect focuses on the result of an action or its consequences IN THE PAST. Comme le present perfect, le past perfect a une valeur de résultat et exprime le bilan d’une action (cf present perfect) mais dans UN CONTEXTE PASSE. |
He had already met him before. (= he already knew him) She had not tested ginger yet. It was the first time they had set foot in the US. |
Adverbs and phrases used with the Past perfect
| finally | ever | just | Since (début action) |
| recently | never | already | By the time |
| simply | always | still | until that time |
| once/ twice / ten times .. | yet | For (duration) | |
| It was the first time… | before | after |