past perfect
Completed before then
The past perfect is a verb tense describing an action completed before another past action: I had already eaten when she arrived.
It combines "had" with a past participle.
The past perfect establishes sequence—distinguishing what happened first from what happened next: By the time we got there, the show had ended.
Possessed previously
- auxiliary verbVerb modifying main verb
- tenseStrained or nervous
- conjugationVerb form variation system
- participleVerb form as adjective
verb forms · aspect · indicative · subjunctive · inflection · syntax · mood · irregular verbs
Superior rank or importance
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- anteriorityState of coming before
- beforehandIn advance
- previouslyBefore the present moment
Involuntary past memory
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- time jumpNarrative leap across time
had
Possessed previously
- auxiliary verbVerb modifying main verb
- tenseStrained or nervous
- conjugationVerb form variation system
participle · verb forms · aspect · indicative · subjunctive · inflection · syntax · mood · irregular verbs · preterite
precedence
Superior rank or importance
- antecedentSomething that precedes
- anteriorityState of coming before
- beforehandIn advance
flashback
Involuntary past memory
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- prologueIntroductory literary section
accomplished
Highly skilled, expert
- fulfilledCompletely satisfied, realized
- achievedSuccessfully completed a goal
- concludedBrought to completion
finalized · completed · finished · done · resolved · consummated · sealed · settled · executed · realized
- verb tensespresent tense, future tense, present, future, simple present
- perfect tenseshave done, had been
- verb grammarconjugation, tense, verb form, infinitive, verb tense
- verb aspectsperfective, progressive, habitual, stative, continuous
past perfectsimple present
Verb form for general truths
future perfect · simple past · past simple · simple future · present tense
past, perfect, perfectly, imperfect, perfection, perfected, perfecting, perfectionist, perfectionism