Grammar: Groups & phrases: Verb group: Time & tense
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Past perfect | |
The form of the past perfect: Form and function
The past perfect is used to refer to a past action or event that is viewed from a point in the past. It can be seen as a past version of the present perfect (and in some cases, as a past version of the simple past). The past perfect is also used when referring to past events which did not happen, especially in the 'third conditional'.
| Form | Function |
| past perfect | expressing past in the past:
SleepStealer was ready
to go - he had filled his bag. [the time orientation in both examples is past] |
| referring to situations which did not happen:
If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared something. [In both examples, I did not know that you were coming] |
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