Past perfect vs past simple

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Past perfect vs past simple

Goal

Today, we will focus on the difference between past perfect and past simple. Do you know the difference at the end of the lesson?

What do you know about past perfect?

Past simple

2nd action

1. ww + ed / 2e rijtje

2. didn't + ww (=bij ontkennende zinnen)

3. Did + onw + ww (=bij vraagzinnen)

Past perfect

1st action

1. had + volt dw

2. hadn't + volt dw (=bij ontkennende zinnen)

3. Had + onw + volt dw (=bij vraagzinnen)

Hoe do you write it

The past perfect is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. It follows this structure:

Subject + had + ww+ ed

Example:

🔹 I had finished my homework before my mom came home.

🔹 She had already left when I arrived at the station.

When do we use the past perfect?

1. To express current actions.
2. To show an action before another past action.
3. To describe future plans.
4. To indicate habitual actions.

Past perfect

Past Perfect

How do we form the past perfect?

1. have + hele ww
2. have + voltooid deelwoord
3. had + voltooid deelwoord
4. am/are/is + going to

Fill in: After my sister _______ (sign) her contract, she _____working

1. signed, started
2. have signed, started
3. had signed, started
4. was signing, started

Fill in: After I ______ (take) a shower, I _____ (go) to work

1. took, went
2. had taken, went
3. took, had gone
4. had taken, had gone

past simple vs past perfect

Past simple

Past perfect

Long ago

Less long ago

What have you learned today? Explain briefly.