Past Perfect Tense
See also: Free-English-Study: Past Perfect Tense.
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Past perfect tense is used to indicate that one action occurred before another action in the past. In other words, past perfect tense indicates the first of the two actions.* For example, When I woke up this morning, my roommate had left already. After I had eaten my dinner, I went to see a movie. Before I arrived at the theater, the movie had already begun. Sometimes, when the meaning is clear from context, the simple past tense can be used. After I had gone shopping, I stopped at the health spa. After I went shopping, I stopped at the health spa.
The most common error with the past perfect is using it where it does not belong. | When I was young, I had been a cowboy. When I was young, I was a cowboy.
| (Incorrect: no reference to other events) (Correct) |
| Yesterday the Johnsons had opened their new business. Yesterday the Johnsons opened their new business.
| (Incorrect) (Correct) |
*In some very unusual cases, the past perfect tense can refer to the second past action.
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