The Past Perfect Tense is a relationship between the two action in the past. This tense defines that the actions were completed before some specific point in the past.
The Past Perfect Tense is composed of two verbs:
- Past form of auxiliary verb (had)
- Past Participle form of the main verb.
Structure 1:
Positive & Negative Form:
Subject + had/hadn’t + adverb (if have) + Past participle form of the verb + Remaining Part of the sentence (If have) + before/when + subject + past form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence (If have).
Example 1:
- You had studied before you moved to the station.
- She had left the hospital when the ambulance arrived.
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Subject= You (First Sentence), She (Second Sentence)
had + past participle form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence + before/when = had studied before (First Sentence), had left the hospital when (Second Sentence)
subject + past form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence = you moved to the station (First Sentence), the ambulance arrived (Second Sentence)
Example 2:
- They had not done this project when the teacher was present in the hall room.
- I had not got the point before the concerned about me.
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Subject = They (First Sentence), I (Second Sentence)
had not + past participle form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence + before/when = had not done this project when (First Sentence), had not got the point before (Second Sentence)
subject + past form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence = the teacher was present in the hall room (First Sentence), they concerned about me. (Second Sentence)
Structure 2:
Positive & Negative Form:
Subject + past form of the verb/(did not + present form of verb) + Remaining Part of the sentence (If have) + after + subject + had + adverb (if have) + past participle form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence (If have).
Example 1:
- They finished the work after the auditor had come.
- She left the hospital after the doctor had checked her fitness.
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Subject= You (First Sentence), She (Second Sentence)
past form of the verb/(did not + present form of verb) + Remaining Part of the sentence (If have) + after = finished the work (First Sentence), left the hospital (Second Sentence)
after + subject + had + adverb (if have) + past participle form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence (If have) = after the auditor had come(First Sentence), after the doctor had checked her fitness (Second Sentence)
Example 2:
- They had not done this project when the teacher was present in the hall room.
- I had not got the point before the concerned about me.
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Subject = They (First Sentence), I (Second Sentence)
had not + past participle form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence + before/when = had not done this project when (First Sentence), had not got the point before (Second Sentence)
subject + past form of the verb + remaining part of the sentence = the teacher was present in the hall room (First Sentence), they concerned about me. (Second Sentence)
Structure 2:
Question Form (Yes/No Question)
Had/Hadn’t + subject + adverb (if have) + past participle form of the main verb +Remaining part of the sentence (if have)?
Note: (Sometimes adverb is placed at the end of the sentence.)
Example 1:
- Had you finished the passage?
- Had he taken the topic?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Had = Had (First & Second Sentence)
Subject + past participle form of the main verb = you finished (First Sentence), he taken (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= the passage? (First Sentence), the topic? (Second Sentence)
Example 2:
- Hadn’t they come the station?
- Hadn’t he caught the point?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Hadn’t= Hadn’t (First & Second Sentence)
Subject + Past Participle Form of the main Verb = they come (First Sentence), he caught (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= the station? (First Sentence), the point? (Second Sentence)
Structure 3:
Question Form (Wh Question)
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + had/hadn’t +subject +adverb (if have) + past participle form the main verb + Remaining part of the sentence (if have)?
Note: Sometimes adverb is placed at the end of the sentence)
Example 1:
- Where had you done this job?
- What had he taken in this jar?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) = Where (First Sentence), What (Second Sentence)
Have/Has= have (First Sentence), has (Second Sentence)
Subject + Past Participle Form of Verb = you done (First Sentence), he taken (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= this job? (First Sentence), in this jar? (Second Sentence)
Example 2:
- Why haven’t they allowed it?
- Why has not he done this?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh Word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) = Why (First & Second Sentence)
haven’t/hasn’t = haven’t (First Sentence), hasn’t (Second Sentence)
Subject + Past Participle Form of Verb = they allowed (First Sentence), he done (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence = it? (First Sentence), this? (Second Sentence)
Structure 4:
Question Form (Wh Question)
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + have/has/haven’t/hasn’t + past participle form of verb + remaining part of the sentence (if have)?
Example 1:
- Who have/has performed this?
(Note: Have refers that person such as I, You, We, They. On the other hand, has refers that person such as He, She, It)
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) = Who
have/has + past participle form of verb = have/has
Remaining part of the sentence = this?
Example 2:
- Who have/has not got this moment?
To compare the sentence according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) = Who
haven’t/hasn’t = have/has not
Remaining part of the sentence = this moment?
Structure 5:
Question Form (Wh Question)
Wh Word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + Noun + have/has/haven’t/hasn’t + subject + past participle form of verb + remaining part of the sentence (if have)?
Note: Has is used for third person singular such as he, she, it, someone name)
Example 1:
- Which topics have you selected for presentation?
- Which cloths has he picked for photoshoot?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + Noun = Which topics (First Sentence), Which cloths (Second Sentence)
have/has + subject + past participle form of verb = have you selected (First Sentence), has he picked (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= for presentation? (First Sentence), for photoshoot? (Second Sentence)
Example 2:
- Which foods haven’t you taken in ballroom?
- Which gadgets hasn’t he decided to buy in this shop?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh Word (What/Who/How/How/Which etc.) + noun = Which foods (First Sentence), Which gadgets (Second Sentence)
haven’t/hasn’t + subject + past participle form of verb = haven’t you taken (First Sentence), hasn’t he decided (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence = in ballroom (First Sentence), in this shop? (Second Sentence)
Structure 6:
Question Form (Wh Question)
Wh Word ( What/Who/How/Which etc.)+ Noun + Preposition + Noun + have/has/haven’t/hasn’t + Subject + Past participle form of Verb + Remaining Part of the sentence (if have)?
(Note: Has is used for third person singular such as he, she, it, someone name)
Example 1:
- What kinds of birds have you liked to see?
- Which types of foods has he liked to eat?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + Noun + Preposition + Noun = Which kinds of birds (First Sentence), Which types of foods (Second Sentence)
have/has= have (First Sentence), has (Second Sentence)
Subject + Past Participle Form of Verb = you liked (First Sentence), he liked (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= to see? (First Sentence), to eat? (Second Sentence).
Example 2:
- Which types of products haven’t you found in the shop yet?
- Which types of gadgets hasn’t he stored in this shop yet?
To compare the two sentences according to the structure,
Wh word (What/Who/How/Which etc.) + noun + preposition + noun = Which types of products(First Sentence), Which types of gadgets (Second Sentence)
haven’t/hasn’t= haven’t (First Sentence), hasn’t (Second Sentence)
Subject + Past participle Form of Verb = you found (First Sentence), he stored (Second Sentence)
Remaining Part of the sentence= in the shop yet? (First Sentence), in this shop yet? (Second Sentence)
In conclusion, the present perfect tense is a versatile and commonly used grammatical structure in English. Its application extends to various contexts, such as describing life experiences, achievements, or changes that have occurred over a period leading up to the present. Additionally, the present perfect is frequently employed when discussing actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or when the exact timing is not crucial to the message.
Understanding the nuances of the present perfect tense is essential for effective communication, as it allows speakers and writers to convey a sense of connection between past actions and their current implications.
