Past We form the Past Perfect with had and the past participle of a verb (e.g. worked, slept):

Study this example:

When we talk about an event or situation in past time we use the Past Simple (e.g. flew); if we talk about an event before that time, we use the Past Perfect (e.g. had been). Here is another example:

Note that we can use never and already before the past participle (e.g. been, bought).

If we talk about a series of past events in order, we use the Past Simple:

• A: I saw a beautiful bird in my garden.
• B: I went to get my camera.
• C: The bird flew away.
• D: I returned with my camera.

We need the Past Perfect to make it clear that one of the events is not in order:

• D: I returned with my camera.
• C: The bird had already flown away. (= The bird had gone before I returned.)

Also, compare these sentences using when:

Past Perfect: When I returned with my camera, the bird had flown away. (= The bird went before I returned.)

Past Simple: When returned with my camera, the bird flew away. (= The bird went after I returned.)

The Past Perfect is used in reported speech:

• ‘I have suffered from diabetes for many years.’
• She told the doctor that she had suffered from diabetes for many years.

You will have more practice with reported speech later in this course.