Past perfect

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Use

We use the ‘past perfect’ to describe an action in the past, which occurred prior to another completed action.
Key words are: before and after.
It is useful to use the ‘past perfect’ when the order of action is unclear and it is then necessary to emphasise and define which action happened first.
It is often used in conjunction with the ‘past simple’.
e.g. I had worked (1) in England before I moved (2) to Germany.
action (1) = past perfect
action (2) = past simple

Form

had + past participle

Positive Sentences

I had completed (1) my studies before I got (2) my first job.
He drove (2) to Frankfurt aftrer he had given (1) a presentation to the managers.

Negative Sentences

She had not finished (1) the report before she left (2) the office.
We called (2) the customer after we had discussed (1) the problem.

Questions

Had Jim repaired (1) the machine before he took (2) lunch?
Had Sally received (1) the email before she wrote (2) the report?

Short Form

I had not written – I hadn’t written

Compare with the Past Simple

We can use the ‘past simple’ if the order of events is clear:
e.g. I left the office (1) and drove (2) home.

We can use the ‘past perfect’ when the order of action is unclear and it is then necessary to define and emphasise which action happened first.
It is often used in conjunction with the ‘past simple’.
e.g. I had worked (1) in England before I moved (2) to Germany.
action (1) = past perfect
action (2) = past simple

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