Explanation

Past perfect

When do we use the past perfect?

You use the past perfect to discuss multiple things from the past. The past perfect is used for the event the furthest away.

For example:

I had defeated my friend Jimmy, before his parent arrived.

The other part of the sentence is written in the past simple (arrived).

 

How do we use the past perfect?

When you have a regelmatig werkwoord you use had + voltooid deelwoord + ed.

With onregelmatige werkwoorden the word changes (See - Saw - Seen). Remember the third row you had to learn!

Tabel 6: past perfect

 

Regelmatig werkwoord

Onregelmatig werkwoord

I

had defeated

had seen

She/he/it

had defeated

had seen

They/we

had defeated

had seen

You

had defeated

had seen

Opmerking. Aangepast overgenomen uit simple present versus present continuous (uitleg) door B. Trimbos, 2020. Geraadpleegd op 25 oktober 2020, van http://www.bastrimbos.com/grammar/simple_present_versus_present_continuous.htm

 

(Swan, M., 2017, pp. 48-49).