Past perfect simple with time expressions

Present perfect and past perfect

Past perfect simple

with time expressions before, after, untilb1+

Past perfect simple with time expressions After the exams had finished, they had a party.When we'd done the washing-up, we watched TV.Mum phoned before she'd heard the news.The party couldn't start until Kate had arrived.We hadn't tried a house swap until this summer.For more information on forms of the past perfect (simple), see Past perfect simple.Time expressionpast perfectpast simpleAfterthe exams had finished,they had a party.Whenwe'd done the washing-up,we watched TV.Past simpletime expressionpast perfectThey had a partyafterthe exams had finished.We arrivedbeforethe train had left (or left). The party couldn't startuntilKate had arrived.We use the past perfect to talk about an action or an event that happened before something else in the past.We arrived too late. The train had just left the station. (The train left the station first, and then we arrived.)We use the past perfect with the past simple when we talk about two actions or events in the past. We always use the past perfect for the action that happened first. We can link the two actions using a time expression.afterWe use after + past perfect to talk about an action that happened before something else.After the exams had finished, they had a party. (The exams finished, and then they had a party.)We had dinner after Mum had phoned. (Mum phoned, and then we had dinner.)whenWe use when + past perfect to talk about an action that happened immediately before something else …When we'd done the washing-up, we watched TV. (We did the washing-up, and then we watched TV.)… or we can use when + past simple to talk about an action that happened after something else.When I phoned the office, Emma had already left. (Emma left the office, and then I phoned.)beforeWe can use before with past simple OR past perfect to talk about an action that happened before something else.We arrived just before the plane doors closed.Luckily, we arrived before the plane doors had closed.untilWe can use past simple negative + until + past perfect to talk about an action that didn't happen before something else happened first.The party couldn't start until Kate had arrived. (Kate arrived, and then the party could start.)We can also use the past perfect negative + until to talk about something which didn't happen before a particular time in the past.They hadn't had a foreign holiday until this summer.

Complete the sentences with words from the box.

alreadybeforebyby the timeonceonlyuntilyet

Question: 1 /

You scored 0 out of

Had you been to Paris

or was that your first time?

All the shops had closed

we got into town.

I hadn't

posted the letter when Toby spoke to me in the street.

When we got to the theatre the show had

started.