Past Simple vs Past Perfect

Exercises

Explanation

1. Past Simple – Form and Use

Form

• Affirmative: subject + V2

• Negative: subject + did not (didn’t) + V1

• Questions: Did + subject + V1?

We use Past Simple for actions that happened once, finished, and have a clear time in the past.

Examples

• She visited her grandparents last weekend.

• We didn’t watch the game yesterday.

• Did he finish the project on Monday?

Time markers

yesterday, last month, in 2019, two hours ago, last night

2. Past Perfect – Form and Use

Form

• Affirmative: subject + had + V3

• Negative: subject + had not (hadn’t) + V3

• Questions: Had + subject + V3?

We use Past Perfect to show that one action happened earlier than another past action. It helps show sequence and makes the order of events clearer.

Examples

• I had finished my book before the class started.

• They hadn’t visited the museum before their trip to Paris.

• Had you eaten anything before you arrived?

Time markers

before, after, already, just, by the time, earlier

3. Comparing the Two Tenses

More examples

• Past Simple: Emma arrived late.

• Past Perfect: Emma had lost her keys, so she arrived late.

• Past Simple: He fell asleep.

• Past Perfect: He had worked all day, so he fell asleep quickly.

4. How to Decide: Past Simple or Past Perfect?

Ask yourself:

1. Are there two actions in the past?

2. Did one action happen earlier?

• Earlier action → Past Perfect

• Later action → Past Simple

Example:
When we got to the park, the movie had already started.
(= the movie started first)

5. Can Past Perfect appear without a second action?

Yes - if the context makes the meaning clear.

• She was tired because she had slept only three hours.

• He was excited because he had never travelled abroad.