The past perfect
----------------------------------------------------------- Time of speaking Past < ------------------------------ . -------------------------- . ----------------------------> Future --------------Past perfect ----------------Action 1 --------------------- Action 2 |
The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.
-Ann has just left. If you hurry you will catch her.
-When I arrived Ann had just left.
- I have lost my case.
- He had lost his case and had to borrow Tom's pyjamas.
Unlike the present perfect, the past perfect is not restricted to actions whose time is not mentioned.
- He had left his case on the 4:30 train
It is used to show that a past action was prior to another one
I telephoned Jane at 4:30, but she had already left
- The oak tree, which had stood in the churchyard for 300 years, suddenly crashed to the ground