INCONNU
12-26-2006, 09:12 AM
Past Perfect
FORM Past Perfect
[HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Examples:
I had studied a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they met John.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in Past
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
EXAMPLES:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
EXAMPLES:
We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell you what happens first so the Past Perfect is optional. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect
EXAMPLES:
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanics license. ACTIVE
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanics license. PASSIVE
Simple Present
FORM Simple Present
EXAMPLE: [ to run]
I run
you run
he runs
she runs
it runs
we run
they run
USE 1 Repeated Actions
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
EXAMPLES:
I play tennis.
She does not play tennis.
The train leaves every morning at 8 am.
The train does not leave at 9am.
She always forgets her purse.
He never forgets his wallet.
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the sun.
The sun does not circle the Earth.
USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
EXAMPLES:
Cats like milk.
Birds do not like milk.
California is in America.
California is not in the United Kingdom.
Windows are made of glass.
Windows are not made of wood.
New York is a small city. (It is not important that this fact is untrue.)
USE 3 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Sometimes speakers use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
EXAMPLES:
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He does not need help now.
He has a car.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Simple Present
EXAMPLES:
Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE
Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE
FORM Past Perfect
[HAD] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
Examples:
I had studied a little English when I came to the U.S.
They had never met an American until they met John.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Past Perfect (had met), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (had never met).
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in Past
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.
EXAMPLES:
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 1992?
Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before in 1988.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-progressive Verbs and some non-progressive uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.
EXAMPLES:
We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell you what happens first so the Past Perfect is optional. Both sentences below are correct.
EXAMPLE:
She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect MUST be used at all times. Compare the two sentences below.
EXAMPLE:
She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Past Perfect
EXAMPLES:
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanics license. ACTIVE
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanics license. PASSIVE
Simple Present
FORM Simple Present
EXAMPLE: [ to run]
I run
you run
he runs
she runs
it runs
we run
they run
USE 1 Repeated Actions
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
EXAMPLES:
I play tennis.
She does not play tennis.
The train leaves every morning at 8 am.
The train does not leave at 9am.
She always forgets her purse.
He never forgets his wallet.
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the sun.
The sun does not circle the Earth.
USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
EXAMPLES:
Cats like milk.
Birds do not like milk.
California is in America.
California is not in the United Kingdom.
Windows are made of glass.
Windows are not made of wood.
New York is a small city. (It is not important that this fact is untrue.)
USE 3 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
Sometimes speakers use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.
EXAMPLES:
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He does not need help now.
He has a car.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Simple Present
EXAMPLES:
Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE
Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE