This document provides examples and explanations for using the past perfect tense in English. The past perfect tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before something else in the past. It can be used for actions before the main event, descriptions of ongoing actions when another past action occurred, or to indicate that something had already happened before another past action. Examples are given for the past perfect continuous tense, which is used for ongoing actions before another past action, and the past perfect simple tense, which is used for completed actions before something else in the past.

1. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

2.  for the main actions or situations in a
story:
Ex.: She opened the door and, when she
saw the murderer, she screamed.

3.  for descriptions, to set the scene and
describe actions or situations that are not
complete at a past time:
Ex.: It was raining, she was wearing a
raincoat….
 for actions or situations in progress when
another action happened:
Ex.: They were talking, when suddenly
she kissed him.

4.  to talk about an action before the main
event in the past.
Ex: When Josh arrived, the criminal had
already killed her.

5.  to talk about an action in progress before
another one in the past. Like with other
continuous tenses we don’t use it with non-action
verbs:
 Ex.: He was really angry. He had been
waiting for the train for 1 hour, when it
finally came.
 Past perfect continuous continuation:
Ex.: Victor was exhausted because he had
been studying English for the exam.
 Past perfect simple completion
Ex.: Anna was happy because she had
already studied for the exam.