n this lesson from the free English grammar course from Simply IELTS, you will learn the structure and formula of the Past perfect tense and how to use it in the IELTS exam.

What is the formula of the Past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action or event that was completed before a specific time in the past. It is formed with the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle form of the main verb.

Here are a few rules for using the past perfect tense:

1. Use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle form of the main verb. The past participle form of a verb is typically the base form of the verb plus -ed, but there are many irregular verbs with different past participle forms. For example: “I had finished,” “she had studied,” “they had eaten.”
2. Use the past perfect tense to describe an action or event that was completed before a specific time in the past. For example: “I had finished my homework before 6:00,” “she had studied for her exams before 7:00,” “they had eaten lunch before 8:00.”

Examples of the Past perfect tense

Here are a few examples of the past perfect tense in action:

• I had finished my homework before the phone rang.
• She had studied for her exams before I saw her.
• They had eaten lunch before the storm started.

In the negative form, the auxiliary verb “had” is followed by “not” and the past participle form of the main verb. For example:

• I had not finished my homework before the phone rang.
• She had not studied for her exams before I saw her.
• They had not eaten lunch before the storm started.

In the question form, the auxiliary verb “had” is placed before the subject and the past participle form of the main verb is placed after the subject. For example:

• Had I finished my homework before the phone rang?
• Had she studied for her exams before I saw her?
• Had they eaten lunch before the storm started?

How to use Past perfect tense in IELTS exam?

In the IELTS exam, you may be asked to use the past perfect tense to describe an action or event that was completed before a specific time in the past. It is important to use this tense correctly and consistently in your writing and speaking tasks.

Here are a few tips for using the past perfect tense in the IELTS exam:

1. Use the correct form of the auxiliary verb “had”: Make sure to use the correct form of “had” based on the subject of the sentence. The correct forms are: “I had,” “you had,” “he/she/it had,” “we had,” “you had,” “they had.”
2. Use the past participle form of the main verb: After the auxiliary verb “had,” use the past participle form of the main verb. The past participle form of a verb is typically the base form of the verb plus -ed, but there are many irregular verbs with different past participle forms. For example: “I had finished,” “she had studied,” “they had eaten.”
3. Use the past perfect tense to describe an action or event that was completed before a specific time in the past: Make sure to specify the time when the action or event was completed. For example: “I had finished my homework before 6:00,” “she had studied for her exams before 7:00,” “they had eaten lunch before 8:00.”
4. Make sure to use the correct verb tense: It is important to use the past perfect tense consistently in your writing and speaking tasks. Make sure not to mix tenses within a sentence or paragraph.

Examples of using Past perfect tense in IELTS exam

Here are a few examples of how you might use the past perfect tense in the IELTS exam:

Writing Task 1:

“Before I started cooking dinner at 6:00, I had finished all of my errands for the day. My husband had also finished his work and was ready to relax on the couch.”

Speaking Task 2:

“Before I went on my trip to the countryside, I had visited my parents several times. They had shown me around their new house and we had spent some quality time together.”

Writing Task 2:

“Many people believe that technology has already taken over our lives. While it is true that technology has become more prevalent in recent years, I do not think it has completely taken over. There are still many people who have lived simple lives and have not relied on technology as much as others.”

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