Form
had + past participle (the same for all subjects)
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|
| She had left. / I'd finished. | He hadn't seen it. (had not) | Had you studied? Where had they been? |
Short answers: Yes, I had. · No, they hadn't.
Use
- An action before another past action: When I arrived, the film had already started. (film first, arrival second)
- Reason for a past situation: She was tired because she had worked all day.
- Reported speech: He said he had seen her.
- First time / best ever in the past: It was the first time I had flown.
Words used with it
already, just, never, before, by the time, after, hardly ... when, no sooner ... than.
Watch out
- Use the past participle:
She had went → She had gone. I had saw → I had seen. - No did:
He didn't had seen → He hadn't seen. - Only use it when two past actions need ordering; otherwise use the past simple.
En español
Pasado perfecto (had + participio) = lo que ya había pasado antes de otro momento del pasado: Cuando llegué, la película ya había empezado.
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