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English grammar

had done: the earlier past

B1 · Intermediate Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

When you are already telling a story in the past and you need to step further back, use had + the past participle. The train had left when we arrived means the leaving came first. Nothing changes for the person: had for everybody. You only need it when the ORDER would otherwise be unclear; after after, before and then the order is already obvious and the past simple is enough. It is also what turns I did not have my card into the reason: I could not pay because I had left my card at home.

Pattern

had + past participle · By the time we arrived, the train had left.

Examples

  1. When we arrived, the film had already started.

  2. She could not get in because she had lost her key.

  3. By the time the doctor came, the pain had stopped.

  4. I had never seen so much snow before that winter.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: When I arrived, the meeting already started.

    Right: When I arrived, the meeting had already started.

    The earlier of two past events takes had + the participle.

  • Wrong: He had went home early.

    Right: He had gone home early.

    After had you need the third form, not the past simple.

  • Wrong: I had eaten lunch and then I had gone out.

    Right: I had eaten lunch and then I went out.

    Once then makes the order clear, the second verb is a plain past simple.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The shop had close by the time I got there.
    2. The shop had closed by the time I got there.
    3. The shop has closed by the time I got there.
    4. The shop closed by the time I had got there.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The shop had closed by the time I got there.

    The closing came before the arriving, so it takes had + participle.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She told me she has already eaten.
    2. She told me she already eat.
    3. She told me she had already eaten.
    4. She told me she had already ate.
    Show answer

    Answer: C She told me she had already eaten.

    Her eating came before her telling.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I had never drive a van before that day.
    2. I had never driven a van before that day.
    3. I have never driven a van before that day.
    4. I never drove a van before that day for the first time.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I had never driven a van before that day.

    before that day sets a past point, and the experience comes before it.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. After he had signed the form, he had posted it.
    2. After he has signed the form, he posted it.
    3. After he sign the form, he had posted it.
    4. After he had signed the form, he posted it.
    Show answer

    Answer: D After he had signed the form, he posted it.

    Only the earlier action needs the past perfect; the later one is past simple.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    The room was empty; everyone _____ home.

    1. had gone
    2. had went
    3. was gone home
    4. has gone
    Show answer

    Answer: A The room was empty; everyone had gone home.

    Their leaving happened before the room was found empty.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    I did not recognise her because she _____ her hair.

    1. had cut
    2. was cut
    3. had cutted
    4. has cut
    Show answer

    Answer: A I did not recognise her because she had cut her hair.

    The haircut came first and explains the second event.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    By the time the ambulance arrived, he _____ up.

    1. had woken
    2. had wake
    3. has woken
    4. was woken
    Show answer

    Answer: A By the time the ambulance arrived, he had woken up.

    By the time … almost always introduces a past perfect.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    They _____ each other for years before they married.

    1. had known
    2. had knew
    3. had been knowing
    4. have known
    Show answer

    Answer: A They had known each other for years before they married.

    know is a state verb, so had known and not had been knowing.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    The train had already left when we arrived

    Show answer

    Answer: The train had already left when we arrived.

    already sits between had and the participle.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    She had not told anyone about the letter

    Show answer

    Answer: She had not told anyone about the letter.

    The negative goes between had and the participle.

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