Pluparfait

Question 1

Describe the two steps to forming the pluperfect tense

Answer 1

1. Use the imperfect tense of avoir or être
   e. g. avais/avait… , étais/était…
2. Add the past participle
   e. g. parlé, choisi, vendu

Question 2

When do you use the pluperfect tense?

2 times

(structure)

Answer 2

When talking about one thing that happened in the past and something that happened further in the past

• Tu était parti quand je suis arrivée
  
  • You had left when I arrived
• J’avais mangé avant de partir
  
  • I had eaten before leaving

When reporting what somebody said, the reported past speech is in pluperfect

• Il a dit que Marie était partie en vacances
  
  • He said that Marie had been on holiday

Question 3

When the pluperfect uses être, the modal verb…

Answer 3

When the pluperfect uses être, the modal verb agrees with the gender and number of the subject

e.g. elles étaient allées