Past Perfect Simple
The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
Form of Past Perfect Simple
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Positive
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Negative
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Question
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no differences
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I had spoken.
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I had not spoken.
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Had I spoken?
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For irregular verbs, use the past participle form. For regular verbs, just add ed.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed
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Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed
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Example
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after final e, only add d
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love – loved
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final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled
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admit – admitted
travel – travelled
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final y after a consonant becomes i
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hurry – hurried
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Use of Past Perfect
§ action taking place before a certain time in the past
(putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)
Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.
Example: If I had seen him, I would have talked to him.
Signal Words
§ already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past, not the present)
§ If-Satz Typ III (If I had talked, …)
