The past perfect tense: how we form it and why we use it - English In A Minute

What is the past perfect tense? How do we use the past perfect and why do we use it? James is jumping with joy to tell us all about the past perfect tense! Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English!

Watch the video, then answer this:
I _____ at the restaurant because I _______ earlier.
A)didn’t eat/had eaten
B)hadn’t eaten/ate
C)hadn’t eaten/had eaten

Learn English with our free English videos everyday on BBC Learning English's website and YouTube channel. Learning English is easy! Improve your English with our free English videos and lessons on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and English exams.

We like receiving and reading your comments - please use English when you comment.

[emyeman]

Useful video thanks 😍
By the time I arrived school, the bell had rung.

[ahmedfarraj]

Hi
Amazing, wonderful and useful
I can't thank you enough
Anyway, it's my turn to practice
1. Before I went to work, I had had breakfast.
2. John had called me before I left my office.
3. After she had met her daughter's, she got back home.
4.He hadn't phoned his best friend before he traveled.
5. They had brushed their teeth before they got dressed.

[Ndens]

It's SO nice, thank you so much! Now I can finally understand it.

[ItsmeM.A.K]

By the time I watched this video I hadn't known how to use this grammar, but I got it now thanks

[Spock]

by the time I watched this video I had already given a Thumbs up.

[naveed_]

wow great work . appreciated by me from pak

[aftabhusain]

*Quiet nice video* ...
Is it only rule to use past perfect

[muhammadusama]

And how to we use past perfect continuous ???

[ОлегБогданов-яг]

I wish I had learned English long ago.

[glaucous]

I had studied for one hour when I saw this lesson.

[dr.joelvillavicenciogastel]

By the time I saw this video, I had not know how to describe two past actions

[sitisarah]

When i arrived at class the exam had started five minutes ago, cmiiw

[nafeel]

If there are 4 actions, what about 1- past perfect, 2 past tense 3 action-? 4th action -?

[erkansamc]

When i arrived airport the plain had been just taking of. Right?

[norahamdy]

by the time I attended my lecture, the instructor had started

[royliza]

By the time I reached station, the train had left,

By the time I reached home, mom had already made food

[jesusblancoblanco]

By the time we arrived she had already cleaned the house and had organised the room

[AntoniaCrivillesRojo]

When I reached home my mum had already left....

[DuongTrongHue]

By the time I got home, my wife had done cooking

[harounsanfo]

By the time I went to the meeting place, people had already gone.