PAST PERFECT VS PAST SIMPLE

Simple Past – Past Perfect Simple

Form

Simple Past	Past Perfect Simple
2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke	had + 3rd column of irregular verbs Example: I had spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I worked	regular verbs: form of have + infinitive + ed Example: I had worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding ed: when the final letter is e, only add d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Use

We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.

Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?

Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened before/up to a certain time in the past?

Simple Past	Past Perfect Simple
some time in the past Example: Jane got up at seven. She opened her birthday presents and then the whole family went to the zoo.	before/up to a certain time in the past Example: Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never been to the zoo.

Signal Words

Simple Past	Past Perfect Simple
first then	already up to then before that day after*

*Note: "After" is only used as a signal word for Past Perfect if it is followed by a subject + verb, meaning that one action had been completed before another action began (the new action is in Simple Past).

Example:

After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.

However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore in Simple Past.

Example:

After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted.

More exceptions with signal words

When

Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:

Example:

When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time)

When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes. (second action happened after the first action had been completed)

When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions. (second action had been completed when the first action took place)

Before

"Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after "before" is a new action, use Simple Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not completed) before a certain time in the past, use Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:

Example:

Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.

Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book about elephants.

Exercises on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

• Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
• Exercise on the text Orlando
• The Visitor, The Pilgrims
• Special use of signal words 1, Special use of signal words 2

Tests on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

• Test 1
• Test 2