Past Perfect Simple Versus

1.

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
VERSUS
PAST PERFECT
CONTINUOUS

2.

PAST PERFECT
FORM: had+ V ed/V3
USE: one action happened
before the other
TIME EXPRESSIONS:
Yesterday by ___ o’clock
Before some time in the past
When the concert began

3.

Examples
The train had just left when I arrived at the
station.
She had just left the room when the police
arrived.
I had just put the washing out when it started
to rain.

4.

She had left when he arrived.
Now
had left
Past Perfect
arrived
Past Simple

5.

Concept questions
Are we talking about the past?
2. How many actions are there in
the past?
3. Did both actions happen at the
same time?
4. Did one action happen before
the other?
5. Which action happened first?
1.

6.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
FORM: PAST PERFECT CONT -> had+been+Ving
PRESENT PERF CONT -> have\has +been+Ving
I have been reading this book since morning
He has been reading this book since morning
USE: 1) duration of an activity up to a past point
in time
2) result of an activity at a past point in
time
TIME EXPRESSIONS:
Yesterday since _______
For some time in the past

7.

They had been swimming in the
water for two hours when they
were rescued
Swimming for two hours
NOW
were
rescued

8.

Concept questions
1.
How long were they swimming in the water?
2.
Did they stop swimming when they were rescued?

9.

I opened the window and saw the
streets were wet. It had been
raining.
evident
result
raining
wet streets
activity stops
opened window
NOW

10.

Concept questions
1.
Was it raining when I opened the door?
2.
Did it stop raining a short time before this?
3.
How did I know?