44 Pluperfect/Past Perfect "HAD" Tense 2 Flashcards
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The past perfect tense is used when a past action was completed prior to another past action.
But this is not the only use for this tense . Straightforward “HAD” sentences are also used.
Expressions such as “ya”, “antes”, “nunca”, “todavía” and “después” will often appear in sentences where one action was completed before another.
Past participle used as an adjective:
The door is closed.
The adjective agrees with the subjects gender.
La puertA está cerradA.
Past participle used in the past perfect tense:
I had closed the door.
Only the “Habí–xxx “ part changes, with the subject, the past participle (the base form ending in “o”) remains the same.
Yo había cerrado la puerta.
Past participle used as an adjective:
The doors are open.
Las puertas están abiertas..
Past participle used in the past perfect tense:
Juan had opened the doors.
Juan había abierto las puertas.
They had had many good years.
Habían tenido muchos buenos años.
They had many good years.
Tuvieron muchos buenos años.
When the parents arrived, the children had already eaten.
Cuando llegaron los padres, los niños ya habían comido.
I had eaten prior to calling them.
Yo había comido antes de llamarles.
The past perfect tense is used when a past action was completed prior to another past action. Expressions such as “ya”, “antes”, “nunca”, “todavía” and “después” will often appear in sentences where one action was completed before another.
This idea of a past action being completed before another past action need not always be stated;
IT CAN BE IMPLIED
Juan had closed the window before leaving.
Juan había cerrado la ventana antes de salir. (stated)
Juan had closed the window.
Juan había cerrado la ventana. (implied)
I had not lived.
(yo) No había vivido.
You had not lived.
(tú) No habías vivido.
The auxiliary verb and the past participle are never separated.
Object pronouns are placed immediately before the auxiliary verb.
