ESL Grammar

Past Perfect Tense: Definition & Useful Examples in English

Are you struggling to understand the Past Perfect Tense? You’re not alone! This grammatical concept can be tricky to grasp, but it’s an important one to master if you want to communicate effectively in English. In this article, we’ll break down the Past Perfect Tense and provide you with clear examples of when and how to use it.

The Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. It’s formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, the action of eating breakfast (using the Past Perfect Tense) was completed before the action of going to work (using the simple past tense).

Past Perfect

Understanding Past Perfect Tense

If you want to talk about something that happened before another event in the past, you need to use the Past Perfect Tense. This tense is also known as the Pluperfect Tense and is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” and the past participle of the main verb.

For example, “I had finished my homework before I went to bed.” Here, the action of finishing homework is in the past, and it happened before the action of going to bed, which is also in the past.

The Past Perfect Tense is used in various situations, such as:

  • To describe an action that happened before another past action
  • To describe a hypothetical situation in the past
  • To express regret or disappointment about something that happened in the past

It is important to note that the Past Perfect Tense is not used when the order of events is clear from the context. In such cases, the Simple Past Tense is used.

Here are some examples of the Past Perfect Tense in action:

  • “She had already eaten breakfast when her friend arrived.”
  • “I had never seen such a beautiful sunset before I visited Hawaii.”
  • “They had regretted their decision to sell the house after the property values skyrocketed.”

In summary, the Past Perfect Tense is used to talk about an action that happened before another event in the past. By using this tense, you can provide a clear timeline of events and help your reader or listener understand the sequence of actions.

Formation of Past Perfect Tense

To form the Past Perfect Tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” and the past participle of the main verb. This tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. Here are the three types of sentences in Past Perfect Tense:

Affirmative Sentences

To form an affirmative sentence in Past Perfect Tense, you need to follow this formula:

For example:

Negative Sentences

To form a negative sentence in Past Perfect Tense, you need to add “not” after “had.”

Interrogative Sentences

To form an interrogative sentence in Past Perfect Tense, you need to invert the subject and “had.”

It’s important to note that the Past Perfect Tense is often used with time expressions such as “before,” “by the time,” “already,” and “just.” Using these expressions can help indicate the order of events in the past.

Usage of Past Perfect Tense

When we use the Past Perfect Tense, we are talking about an action that happened before another action in the past. Here are some common situations where we use the Past Perfect Tense:

Completed Action Before Something in the Past

We use the Past Perfect Tense to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example:

  • You had already eaten when I arrived.
  • She had finished her homework before she went to bed.

In both of these examples, the Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.

Duration Before Something in the Past

We also use the Past Perfect Tense to talk about a duration of time that had passed before another action in the past. For example:

  • They had been married for 10 years before they got divorced.
  • He had lived in New York for 5 years before he moved to Los Angeles .

In these examples, the Past Perfect Tense is used to talk about a duration of time that had passed before another action in the past.

Unfulfilled Past Conditions

We can also use the Past Perfect Tense to talk about a condition in the past that was not fulfilled. For example:

  • If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
  • She would have passed the test if she had studied more.

In these examples, the Past Perfect Tense is used to talk about a condition in the past that was not fulfilled.

Overall, the Past Perfect Tense is a useful tool for talking about actions that happened before another action in the past, durations of time that had passed before another action in the past, and conditions in the past that were not fulfilled.

Common Mistakes in Past Perfect Tense

When using the Past Perfect Tense, there are some common mistakes that people make. Here are a few examples of those mistakes:

Incorrect Form

One of the most common mistakes when using the Past Perfect Tense is getting the form wrong. Remember that the Past Perfect Tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” If you use the wrong form of the verb, your sentence will not make sense.

Inappropriate Context

Another common mistake is using the Past Perfect Tense in an inappropriate context. The Past Perfect Tense is used to talk about an action that was completed before another action in the past. If you use it in the wrong context, your sentence will not make sense. For example, “I had eaten breakfast when I woke up.” This sentence doesn’t make sense because you can’t eat breakfast after you wake up.

Confusing Past Simple and Past Perfect Tense

Sometimes people confuse the Past Simple and Past Perfect Tense. The Past Simple is used to talk about a completed action in the past, while the Past Perfect Tense is used to talk about an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, “I ate breakfast before I went to work” (Past Simple) vs. “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work” (Past Perfect Tense).

Incorrect Word Order

Another common mistake is getting the word order wrong. Remember that the auxiliary verb “had” always comes before the main verb in the Past Perfect Tense. For example, “I had finished my work before I went home” (correct) vs. “I finished had my work before I went home” (incorrect).

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can use the Past Perfect Tense correctly and make your sentences more clear and accurate.

Past Perfect Exercise

Exercise 1:

Exercise 2:

Past Perfect Chart

Past Perfect

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between simple past and past perfect tense?

Simple past tense is used to describe an action that happened and ended in the past. On the other hand, past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.

How do you form the past perfect tense?

To form the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

What are some common uses of the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is commonly used to show the order of two past events. It is also used to talk about completed actions that happened before another action in the past.

What are some common irregular verbs in past perfect tense?

Some common irregular verbs in past perfect tense include “had gone”, “had seen”, “had done”, “had been”, and “had taken”.

How do I use past perfect tense in my writing effectively?

To use past perfect tense effectively in your writing, it is important to understand the context and the order of events. Use it to show completed actions that happened before another action in the past. Be careful not to overuse it and make sure it is clear to the reader what is happening in the story.

Related Posts:

Participle phrases

“I had finished the work” where is the second action here ?

ESLBUZZ

Mastering Past Perfect Tense: Your Ultimate Guide to Perfecting English Grammar

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: October 26, 2023

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Are you struggling with the Past Perfect Tense in English grammar? Do you find it confusing to differentiate between the Past Perfect and the Simple Past Tenses? If so, you’re not alone. Many English learners struggle with the Past Perfect Tense, but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Past Perfect Tense. We’ll start with the basics, such as how to form the Past Perfect Tense and when to use it. Then, we’ll dive deeper into more complex aspects of the tense, including its usage in reported speech and conditional sentences. With plenty of examples and exercises, you’ll be a Past Perfect Tense expert in no time!

Past Perfect Tense – Image

Mastering Past Perfect Tense: Your Ultimate Guide to Perfecting English Grammar

Understanding Past Perfect Tense

If you’re learning English grammar, you’ve probably come across the Past Perfect Tense. This tense allows you to talk about actions that were completed before another action in the past. In other words, it’s used to describe an event that occurred before another event that is also in the past.

The Past Perfect Tense can also be used in reported speech to describe something that was said or done before the time of reporting. For instance, “She told me that she had finished her homework.”

It’s important to note that the Past Perfect Tense is not used to describe a specific time in the past but rather to show the sequence of events.

Let’s take a look at some examples to better understand the Past Perfect Tense:

  • Before I went to bed, I had brushed my teeth.
  • By the time I got to the party, everyone had left.
  • She had already seen the movie, so she didn’t want to watch it again.

As you can see, the Past Perfect Tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.

Formation of Past Perfect Tense

In this section, we will explore how to form the past perfect tense in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.

Affirmative Sentences

To form the affirmative past perfect tense, we use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding “-ed” to the base form of the verb. For irregular verbs, the past participle is formed differently. Here are some examples:

  • I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.
  • She had studied for three hours before taking the exam.
  • They had visited Paris several times before moving there.

Negative Sentences

To form the negative past perfect tense, we use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by “not” and the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples:

  • I had not seen that movie before last night.
  • She had not finished her homework before going to bed.
  • They had not traveled abroad before last year.

Interrogative Sentences

To form the interrogative past perfect tense, we invert the subject and the auxiliary verb “had.” Here are some examples:

  • Had you eaten breakfast before you went to work?
  • Had she studied for three hours before taking the exam?
  • Had they visited Paris several times before moving there?

It is important to note that the past perfect tense is often used in conjunction with the simple past tense to indicate the order of events in the past. By using the past perfect tense, we can show that one action was completed before another action took place.

Usage of Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. In this section, we will discuss the three main uses of the past perfect tense.

Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The past perfect tense is often used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. For example:

  • By the time I arrived at the party, the guests had already eaten all the food.
  • She had finished her homework before she went to bed.

Duration Before Something in the Past

The past perfect tense can also be used to describe a duration of time that occurred before another action in the past. For example:

  • They had been married for ten years before they decided to have children.
  • He had lived in New York City for five years before he moved to Los Angeles.

Unfulfilled Past

The past perfect tense can also be used to describe an action that was expected to happen in the past but did not. For example:

  • I had hoped to see the movie, but it was sold out.
  • She had planned to go to the concert, but she got sick.

In conclusion, the past perfect tense is a useful tool for describing past actions and their relationships to other past actions. By understanding its various uses, you can improve your English writing and speaking skills.

Time Expressions in Past Perfect Tense

Past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. We use time expressions to indicate when the action happened. Here are some common time expressions used with the past perfect tense:

By the time

We use “after” to describe an action that happened after another action in the past. For example:

  • After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.
  • She called me after she had arrived at the airport.

We use “before” to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. For example:

  • They had left before I arrived.

We use “by the time” to describe an action that was completed before a specific time in the past. For example:

  • By the time I got to the party, everyone had already left.
  • She had finished her work by the time her boss came in.

We use “once” to describe an action that happened immediately after another action in the past. For example:

  • Once I had finished my presentation, I felt relieved.
  • Once she had completed her studies, she got a job.

We use “until” to describe an action that continued up to a specific time in the past. For example:

  • I had been waiting for her until she arrived.
  • They had been playing games until their parents came home.

We use “when” to describe an action that happened at the same time as another action in the past. For example:

  • I had just finished cooking when my friends arrived.
  • They had already left when I got there.

Past Perfect Tense

Common Mistakes in Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect Tense is a tense that is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. It is important to use this tense correctly to avoid confusion and convey the intended meaning. However, many learners of English make common mistakes when using the Past Perfect Tense. In this section, we will examine some of these mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using the Simple Past Tense Instead of the Past Perfect Tense

One of the most common mistakes learners make is using the Simple Past Tense instead of the Past Perfect Tense. This mistake occurs when learners describe two actions that happened in the past, but they use the Simple Past Tense for both actions.

Mistake 2: Using the Past Perfect Tense for Actions in the Present

Another mistake learners make is using the Past Perfect Tense to describe actions that are happening in the present. This mistake occurs when learners confuse the Past Perfect Tense with the Present Perfect Tense.

For example, instead of saying “I have lost my keys,” learners might say “I had lost my keys.” This mistake can cause confusion because it suggests that the action happened in the past, not the present.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to Use the Auxiliary Verb “Had”

Another common mistake learners make is forgetting to use the auxiliary verb “had” in the Past Perfect Tense. This mistake occurs when learners use the past participle without the auxiliary verb.

For example, instead of saying “I had eaten breakfast,” learners might say “I eaten breakfast.” This mistake can cause confusion because it is not clear which tense is being used.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.”

What is the difference between the past perfect and the present perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that was completed before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just finished. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work” (past perfect) vs. “I have eaten breakfast every day this week” (present perfect).

What are some common uses of the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is commonly used to show the sequence of events in the past, to talk about an action that happened before a specific time in the past, or to express regret or disappointment. For example, “She had finished her homework before she went to bed” or “I wished I had studied harder for the exam.”

What are some examples of sentences using the past perfect tense?

  • “He had already left when I arrived at the party.”
  • “She had never seen such a beautiful sunset before.”
  • “I had been waiting for the bus for over an hour when it finally arrived.”

How can I practice using the past perfect tense correctly?

One way to practice using the past perfect tense correctly is to write sentences or stories that include past actions and use the past perfect tense to show the sequence of events. Another way is to read and listen to English materials that use the past perfect tense and try to identify when and how it is used.

The past perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb \"had\" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, \"I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the difference between the past perfect and the present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action that was completed before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just finished. For example, \"I had eaten breakfast before I went to work\" (past perfect) vs. \"I have eaten breakfast every day this week\" (present perfect).

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some common uses of the past perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The past perfect tense is commonly used to show the sequence of events in the past, to talk about an action that happened before a specific time in the past, or to express regret or disappointment. For example, \"She had finished her homework before she went to bed\" or \"I had wished I had studied harder for the exam.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do you form the past perfect continuous tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The past perfect continuous tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb \"had\" followed by \"been\" and the present participle of the main verb. For example, \"I had been studying all night before the exam.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some examples of sentences using the past perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

  • \"He had already left when I arrived at the party.\"
  • \"She had never seen such a beautiful sunset before.\"
  • \"I had been waiting for the bus for over an hour when it finally arrived.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I practice using the past perfect tense correctly?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

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MD SHAHIN MIA

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

very nice lessons

Past Perfect 1

i finished my homework i went to bed

Reducing Adverbial Clauses

i finished my homework i went to bed

Time clauses with “while” and “when” can be reduced by deleting the subject and “be” verb.

  • While I was eating dinner, I watched television.
  • While eating dinner, I watched television.
  • When you are in Rome, (you) do as the Romans do.
  • When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

If there is no “be” verb, change the verb in the subordinating clause to its  -ing  form. Sometimes the subordinator (when or while) can be deleted as well.

  • When I opened the door, I saw a strange sight.
  • When opening the door, I saw a strange sight.
  • Opening the door, I saw a strange sight.

Note: If the subjects are different, you may not reduce the adverbial clause.

  • While I was taking a shower, my sister called from California.
  • While taking a shower, my sister called from California.
  • Be careful when reducing time clauses that come at the end of sentences.
  • We saw many beautiful birds while we were fishing in the lake.
  • We saw many beautiful birds while fishing in the lake.
  • We saw many beautiful birds fishing in the lake.

In the last sentence, the meaning is ambiguous: Are we fishing or are the birds fishing?

Different times

  • After I finished my homework, I went to bed.
  • After finishing my homework, I went to bed.
  • After I had finished my homework, I went to bed.
  • After having finished my homework, I went to bed.
  • Having finished my homework, I went to bed.
  • Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.
  • Before leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend.

Other clauses

  • Sometimes clauses with because can be reduced.
  • Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
  • Being a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.
  • As a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

Grammar: Participial Phrases

Exercise on Simple Past and Past Perfect

Exceptions 1.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).

  • The removal van arrived had arrived before they finished had finished packing.
  • Before they moved had moved to this town, they lived had lived in Chicago.
  • After the kids ate had eaten their lunch, they took had taken a little nap.
  • After school we always met had always met at the youth club.
  • Soon after sunrise we cycled had cycled to an observation point that I never hear had never heard of before.
  • When I came had come home, my mother already prepared had already prepared dinner.
  • When Monica finished had finished her homework, she went had gone out to play with her friends.
  • When we met had met Andrew, we told had ask him about our plans.

Learn ESL

Adverb Clause of Time And Exercises

Adverb Clause of Time

You might know that an adverb clause is a  dependent clause  that functions as an adverb in a sentence. There are different kinds of adverb clauses in English; in addition, the subordinators can distinguish the different types of adverb clauses. In this lesson, you will learn how to use an adverb clause of time.

Adverb Clause of Time

The adverb clause connectors, such as after, before, when, while/as, by the time, since, until/till, as soon as/once, as long as/so long as, and whenever can be used to form adverb clauses of time. Examples:

  • After I am done with my homework, I will study the adverb clause of time.
  • As soon as we finish Step 4, we will start the TOEFL iBT preparation program.
  • As long as some troublemakers exist around here , you will not be able to improve your business.

Related Articles:

  • Adverb Clause Of Contrast/ Concession 
  • Adverb Clause Of Purpose
  • How To Use Adverb Clause Of Reason/ Cause?

Exercise 1:

Directions: Complete the following. Pay special attention to verb tenses.

  • Last night, I went to bed after I ______________________________my homework.
  • Tonight, I will go to bed after I _________________________my homework.
  • Ever since I was a child, I ____________________________________ afraid of dogs.
  • Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she _____________________basketball.
  • Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you _________________ it in to the teacher tomorrow.
  • By the time, I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier __________________________ the mail.
  • I have known my best friend since her _____________________________ ten years old.
  • A black cat ran across the road as I ____________________________my car to work this morning.
  • By the time I leave this city, I _______________________________ here for four months.
  • Whenever Mike __________________________________ angry, his nose gets red.
  • I ____________________________ to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I do not have time to do that because I have to study.
  • We will have a big party when __________________________________.
  • The next time I ______________________________to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
  • I had fried chicken the last time I ____________________________ at that restaurant.

Exercise 2:

Directions: Make sentences with until from the given situations.

  • I can’t pay my bills. I haven’t gotten my paycheck yet.

        I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.

  • We can’t leave yet. We have to wait for Carmen.
  • Tell me the truth, or I am not going to leave this room.
  • Finally, he arrived. Before that, it had been a dull party.
  • Dinner won’t be ready for a while. I think we should just sit here by the fire.
  • When I go to bed at night, I like to read. After a while, I get sleepy.

Exercise 3:

Directions: Combine the ideas by using either as soon as or once . ( As soon as and once basically have the same meaning. but as soon as is more immediate. Often, just is used with as soon as to emphasize the idea of “immediately”:

  • I’ll call him just as soon as I get home.
  • The taxi will get here in five minutes or so. Then we can leave for the airport.

      As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.

  • The rice will be done in about ten minutes. Immediately after that, we can eat.
  • First, I have to graduate. Then I can return home.
  • Spring will come and the weather will be nice again. Then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
  • My roommate walked into the room. Immediately, I knew that something was wrong.
  • Your English will get better. Then you will begin to feel more comfortable living in the United States.
  • Immediately after the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
  • I’m watching a baseball game on TV, but it will be over in a few minutes. Then I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4:

Directions: Using the given information, make a sentence in which you use just after, just before , or just as . Notice that just adds the idea of “immediately.”

  • I got to the airport at 8:15. My plane left ten minutes later. I got to the airport just before my plane left.
  • You shouldn’t eat a heavy meal and then go to bed immediately afterward.
  • I went to bed at 11:00. The phone rang at 11:05.
  • We were sitting down to eat. At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
  • I was getting on the bus. At that moment, I remembered that I had left my briefcase at home.
  • I got up to give my speech. Immediately before that, I got butterflies in my stomach.
  • The guests will come at 7:00. At 6:55, I’ll light the candles.
  • I was bending over to pick up my pencil. My pants split.

Exercise 1.

  • Last night, I went to bed after I did my homework.
  • Tonight, I will go to bed after I do my homework.
  • Ever since I was a child, I was afraid of dogs.
  • Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she was playing
  • Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you give it to the teacher tomorrow.
  • By the time I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier had sent the mail.
  • I have known my best friend since she was ten years old.
  • A black cat ran across the road as I was driving my car to work this morning.
  • By the time I leave this city, I will be here for four months.
  • Whenever Mike is angry, his nose gets red.
  • I was going to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I don’t have time to do that because I have to study.
  • We will have a big party when you come .
  • The next time I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
  • I had fried chicken the last time I was at that restaurant.

Exercise 2.

  • I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.
  • We can’t leave yet until Carmen come.
  • Tell me the truth, until I leave this room.
  • Finally, he arrived until it had been a dull party.
  • Dinner won’t be ready for a while until we sit here by the fire.
  • When I go to bed at night, I like to read until I get sleepy.

Exercise 3.

  • As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.
  • As soon as the rice is done, after that, we can eat.
  • As soon as I graduate, I can return home.
  • One the spring comes the weather will be nice again and then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
  • Once my roommate walked into the room immediately, then I knew that something was wrong.
  • Once your English gets better, then you will feel more comfortable living in the United States.
  • As soon as the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
  • I am watching a baseball game on TV, but as soon as it’s over, I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4.

  • I got to the airport just before my plane left.
  • You shouldn’t go to the bed just after eating a heavy meal.
  • I went to the bed just before the phone rang.
  • Just as we sat down to eat, someone knocked on the door.
  • Just as I got on the bus, I remember that I had left my briefcase at home.
  • I got butterflies in my stomach just before I got up to give my speech.
  • I will light the candles just before the guests come.
  • My pants split just as I bent myself to pick up my pencil.

Conclusion:

Attempt the adverb clause of time exercises, then compare your answers with the given answers above. In addition, please feel free to write your feedback about the article (adverb clause of time) using the comment section below.

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How to use be going to, difference between despite and in spite of, gerunds and infinitives exercise with answers.

i finished my homework i went to bed

Last night, I went to bed after I ______________________________my homework. Tonight, I will go to bed after I _________________________my homework. Ever since I was a child, I ____________________________________ afraid of dogs. Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she _____________________basketball. Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you _________________ it in to the teacher tomorrow. By the time, I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier __________________________ the mail. I have known my best friend since her _____________________________ ten years old. A black cat ran across the road as I ____________________________my car to work this morning. By the time I leave this city, I _______________________________ here for four months. Whenever Mike __________________________________ angry, his nose gets red. I ____________________________ to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I do not have time to do that because I have to study. We will have a big party when __________________________________. The next time I ______________________________to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. I had fried chicken the last time I ____________________________ at that restaurant.

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______ my homework, I went to bed.

A. After I had finished

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Ejercicios del pasado perfecto I

Escribe los verbos en el past perfect simple en afirmativo o negativo, según corresponda, en las siguientes oraciones.

1 When I arrived at the cinema, the film (start)

When I arrived at the cinema, the film had started.

2 If you (listen)

If you'd (had) listened to me, you would have done a better exam.

3 We (meet)

We'd (had) met them somewhere before that day.

4 My daughter said to me that she (study)

My daughter said to me that she'd (had) studied very hard for this exam.

5 The forest burnt easily because it (not rain)

The forest burnt easily because it'd not (had not / hadn't) rained during the winter.

6 Patrick (live)

Patrick had lived in Spain before he moved to London.

7 By the time we arrived, they (go)

By the time we arrived, they'd (had) gone.

8 He wanted to know what (happen)

He wanted to know what had happened with her book.

9 The doorman didn't let us get inside because we (forget)

The doorman didn't let us get inside because we'd (had) forgotten our identity card.

10 I (finish)

I'd (had) finished my homework before i went to bed.

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i finished my homework i went to bed

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Conditional perfect continuous

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convertir esta frase en present simple tense There are no cultures that are better than others, nor more advanced, but all are equally worthy and deserving of respect.

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Quiero aprender más el idioma inglés

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Quiero aprender mas ingles

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Puedes hacerlo ingresando a https://www.superprof.es/ y seleccionando a tu profe ideal 🙂

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Quiero aprender un poco mad el idioma inglés

Puedes aprender con ayuda de un profesor particular de https://www.superprof.es/

Puedes aprender con ayuda de un profesor particular de Superprof: https://www.superprof.es/ ¡Éxito!

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La oración 7 dice: Her bicycle was stolen at the market. Es una oración en voz pasiva. Esta oración en voz activa seria: Someone stole her bicycle at the market. El sujeto de la oración es Someone y bicycle es el objeto que recibe la acción. Al cambiar a voz pasiva se intenta resaltar el objeto que recibe la acción por sobre quien la realiza. Como se forma la voz pasiva en Ingles: El objeto (que recibe la acción) + verbo TO BE (en el mismo tiempo de la frase en voz activa) + verbo en participio pasado.

Muchas gracias por consultarnos.

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after he finished or after having finished

  • Thread starter Akasaka
  • Start date Dec 19, 2009

Senior Member

  • Dec 19, 2009

Hello everyone, I gather these two sentences are both correct. Which sentence is better? Fred went to the movies after he finished his homework. Fred went to the movies after having finished his homework. Thanks in advance.  

panjandrum

I wouldn't use the second sentence, though I may have difficulty explaining why. I think it's because having finished his homework defines a long period of time. When does it end?  

I think we also try to keep things in correct time order. We usually see things like, "I did this. Then I did that. Finally, I did another thing." Try to start out out the sentence with the thing Fred did first: "After he finished his homework, Fred went to the movies." or "Having finished his homework, Fred went to the movies." ("After" becomes unnecessary in this sentence format.)  

panjandrum said: I wouldn't use the second sentence, though I may have difficulty explaining why. Click to expand...

spatula

  • Jan 10, 2010
Akasaka said: Hi, panjandrum, Thanks for helping me. Then how about " Fred went to the movies after finishing his homework. "? Do you use this one? Click to expand...

cuchuflete

Akasaka said: Which sentence is better? 1. Fred went to the movies after he finished his homework. 2. Fred went to the movies after having finished his homework. Click to expand...
Akasaka said: 3. Fred went to the movies after finishing his homework. Click to expand...

JulianStuart

JulianStuart

spatula said: Incidentally, I'm not sure how any other English speakers feel about this, and it may be particular to my Irish family, but I'm familiar with the word 'after' being used in a construction that I don't hear very often elsewhere. Instead of saying, 'I've finished my homework,' it would instead be, 'I'm after finishing my homework.' I'm not sure how common this is though. Click to expand...

Loob

Here are my reactions: (1) Fred went to the movies after he finished his homework. Absolutely fine, no issues (2) Fred went to the movies after having finished his homework. Correct, but sounds slightly stilted (3) Fred went to the movies after finishing his homework. Also correct: formal, but less stilted than (2).  

i finished my homework i went to bed

  • English (US)

I didn't go to bed until I had finished my work. Does it make sense? Thank you. See a translation

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It sounds unnatural to say "didn't" with "had finished" in this context. try these: I didn't go to bed until I finished my work. I hadn't gone to bed until I had finished my work. I didn't go to bed until I had my work finished.

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Can’t Find Eclipse Glasses? Here’s What to Do.

You can watch a projection of the eclipse using some common household items.

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Two people kneel near an open cardboard box that they’ve fashioned into a projector for viewing an eclipse.

By Katrina Miller

Follow our live updates on the total solar eclipse .

Reliable paper-framed glasses are by far the most popular option for safely watching the total solar eclipse on Monday. But they’ve gotten more difficult to find in some places ahead of the event.

If you’ve checked everywhere — your local planetarium, public library and even online — fear not: There is still a way to watch the eclipse safely, using items around the house. Here are a few options.

Use your hands

Palms up, position one hand over the other at a 90-degree angle. Open your fingers slightly in a waffle pattern, and allow sunlight to stream through the spaces onto the ground, or another surface. During the eclipse, you will see a projection of the moon obscuring the surface of the sun.

This method works with anything with holes, such as a straw hat, a strainer, a cheese grater or even a perforated spoon. You will also notice this effect when light from the partially eclipsed sun streams through leaves on a tree.

Set up a cardstock screen

For this option, you need a couple of white index cards or two sheets of cardstock paper. First, punch a small hole in the middle of one of the cards using a thumbtack or a pin.

Then, facing away from the sun, allow light to stream through this pinhole. Position the second card underneath to function as a screen. Adjust the spacing between the two cards to make the projection of the sun larger or smaller.

Make a box projector

If you’re up for a bit of crafting, you can make a more sophisticated pinhole projector . Start with a cardboard box — empty cereal boxes are often used, but you can use a larger box, too. You’ll also need scissors, white paper, tape, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack.

Cut the piece of paper to fit the inside bottom of the cardboard box to act as a screen. Use tape to hold it in place.

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Tape a piece of aluminum foil over one of the rectangular cutouts. Punch a tiny hole in the middle of the foil with the tack or pin. The other cutout will serve as a view hole.

With your back to the sun, position the foil side of the box over your shoulder, letting light stream through the pinhole. An image of the sun will project onto the screen at the bottom of the box, which you can see through the view hole. A bigger box will create a bigger image.

Enjoy the show through any of these makeshift pinholes. And remember, during totality, you can view the sun directly with your naked eye. But you should stop looking at the sun as soon as it reappears.

Katrina Miller is a science reporting fellow for The Times. She recently earned her Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. More about Katrina Miller

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COMMENTS

  1. Past Perfect Tense: Definition & Useful Examples in English

    For example, "I had finished my homework before I went to bed." Here, the action of finishing homework is in the past, and it happened before the action of going to bed, which is also in the past. The Past Perfect Tense is used in various situations, such as: To describe an action that happened before another past action

  2. Mastering Past Perfect Tense: Your Ultimate Guide to ...

    After I had finished my homework, I went to bed. She called me after she had arrived at the airport. Before. We use "before" to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. For example: I had eaten breakfast before I went to work. They had left before I arrived. By the time

  3. Past Perfect 1

    First: I finished my homework. Then: I went to bed. I (go) to bed after I (finish) my homework. 3. ... Last night I started to make dinner at 5:30, and finished at 5:50. At 6:00, my husband came home. By the time my husband (come) home, I (make) dinner already. 7.

  4. Having finished my homework, I went to bed. =( ) I had finished my

    It is not important that Greenery Day is before Chilren's Day. === "Because I had finished my homework, I went to bed." is a good sentence, but its meaning is different from "after". "Because" works, but it creates a cause-and-effect (原因結果) relationship between finishing your homework and going to bed. "After" doesn't have the same ...

  5. Last night, I had gone to bed after I had ...

    How to use : Read the question carefully, then select one of the answers button. About grammarquiz.net. GrammarQuiz.Net - Improve your knowledge of English grammar, the best way to kill your free time. Last night, I had gone to bed after I had finished my homework. A. last night B. had gone C. after D. my homework - Adverbial Clauses Quiz.

  6. After she had completed her home work, she went to bed

    She went to bed after she completed her home work. The conjunction after indicates that she completed her home work first and later she went to bed. Share. Improve this answer. Follow edited Oct 23, 2019 at 3:04. answered Oct 23 ... OP's question looks like a homework question - which we should not answer unless their is a major concern or a ...

  7. Perfect tenses worksheet

    Perfect tenses worksheet. The perfect tenses are used to talk about actions that are completed at the time of speaking. The three forms of the perfect tenses are: The present perfect tense, the past perfect tense and the future perfect tense. I have finished my homework. (Present perfect tense) I had finished my homework before the guests arrived.

  8. Reducing Adverbial Clauses

    Having finished my homework, I went to bed. Before he left the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend. Before leaving the dance, Jerry said good-bye to his girlfriend. Other clauses. Sometimes clauses with because can be reduced. Because he was a doctor, George knew how to handle the situation.

  9. PDF T036- Past Perfect and Past Tense

    PAST or PAST PERFECT Tense : Fill in the correct verb forms! They WENT (GO) home after they HAD FINISHED (FINISH) their homework. She HAD JUST GONE (go) out when I called at her house. The sun had set before I WAS (BE) ready to go. When she came into the room she saw that her husband HAD ALREADY DRUNK (ALREADY DRINK) a lot of alcohol.

  10. Exercise on Simple Past and Past Perfect

    When I home, my mother dinner. When Monica finished had finished her homework, she went had gone out to play with her friends. When we met had met Andrew, we told had ask him about our plans.

  11. Can someone help with this Past Perfect sentence, please?

    d. She had to finish her homework before she went out. (until) She had to stay in _____ her homework. I'm having a hard time to grasp the two events rule on this one! "She had to stay in until she finished her homework." Sounds perfectly fine to me! Why do I end up with "She had to stay in until she HAD finished her homework."

  12. Past Perfect Tense Verbs Flashcards

    (why / you / clean) _____ the bathroom before you bathed the dog?

  13. Adverb Clause of Time And Exercises

    Last night, I went to bed after I did my homework. Tonight, I will go to bed after I do my homework. Ever since I was a child, ... As soon as the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause. I am watching a baseball game on TV, but as soon as it's over, I'll take out the garbage.

  14. sentence structure

    2. While I agree that: Having finished her homework, she went for a walk. is more clear, I think context and common sense would tell us that the original sentence means the same thing: Finishing her homework, she went for a walk. Many writing guides tell us to avoid dangling modifiers, and sentences with this same structure are used as examples ...

  15. my homework, I went to bed. A. After I ...

    My mum's job is boring, but she earns … money. A. a lot of. B. much. How to use : Read the question carefully, then select one of the answers button. GrammarQuiz.Net - Improve your knowledge of English grammar, the best way to kill your free time. ______ my homework, I went to bed. A. After I had finished B.

  16. After vs Before: Similarities, Differences, and Proper Use

    After finishing his homework, he went to bed. Define Before. Before is a preposition that refers to a time or event that occurs earlier than another time or event. It can also be used as an adverb to indicate that something happened previously. ... For example, "After I finished my homework, I went to bed" versus "Before I went to bed, I ...

  17. Zero and first conditional and future time clauses

    I'll go to bed as soon as I finish my homework. When I am 65, I will retire. I won't leave until you arrive. As happens with conditional sentences, we use a comma when we begin the sentence with a time clause. But we don't use a comma if we put the time clause at the end of the sentence. When I am 65, I will retire. I will retire when I ...

  18. Demystifying Dependent Clauses: Definition, Examples, and Usage

    Because she was tired, she went to bed early. Since he missed the bus, he arrived late to work. When the sun sets, the stars become visible. ... Example: When I arrived home [dependent clause 1], after I finished my homework [dependent clause 2], and before I went to bed [dependent clause 3], I watched a movie [independent clause].

  19. Past Perfect Simple Exercises I

    10 I (finish) my homework before I went to bed. I'd (had) finished my homework before i went to bed. Puntuación: ¿Te ha gustado este artículo? ¡Califícalo! 4,01 (107 nota(s))

  20. after he finished or after having finished

    Here are my reactions: (1) Fred went to the movies after he finished his homework. Absolutely fine, no issues. (2) Fred went to the movies after having finished his homework. Correct, but sounds slightly stilted. (3) Fred went to the movies after finishing his homework. Also correct: formal, but less stilted than (2).

  21. I didn't go to bed until I had finished my work.

    It sounds unnatural to say "didn't" with "had finished" in this context. I didn't go to bed until I finished my work. I hadn't gone to bed until I had finished my work. I didn't go to bed until I had my work finished. After a little more chat,she went to bed,pleased with the conversation . これはどうゆう意味ですか?.

  22. After I ________ (finish) my homework, I ________ (go) to bed

    After I had finished my homework, I went to bed. Explanation: According to grammar Rule, The first completed action will be perfect tense and later completed action will be in simple tense. In the above question, Finishing homework is first completed action and going to bed is second completed action.

  23. ASL 3 FLVS Unit 5 Flashcards

    I FINISH HOMEWORK, FINISH BRUSH TEETH, FINISH READ BOOK, GO BED. What would be the English equivalent of the above sentence? After I finish homework, brush my teeth and read a book, I'll go to bed. Sam has just graduated from his linguistic program with a specialization in ASL. Soon he will begin a position as an interpreter at a nearby school.

  24. Can't Find Eclipse Glasses? Here's What to Do

    Set up a cardstock screen. For this option, you need a couple of white index cards or two sheets of cardstock paper. First, punch a small hole in the middle of one of the cards using a thumbtack ...