The past perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action or event that occurred before another action or event in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
The past perfect tense is typically used to establish a clear sequence of events in the past, emphasizing that one action or event had already been completed before another took place. It helps to provide context and establish a timeframe for past events.
Spelling rules for creating 3rd form of verb:
(1) Regular Verbs (base form + “-ed”):
Examples:
- Walk + ed = Walked
- Play + ed = Played
- Talk + ed = Talked
- Jump + ed = Jumped
- Watch + ed = Watched
(2) Verbs ending in “e” (drop “e” and add “-d”):
Examples:
- Love + d = Loved
- Dance + d = Danced
- Hope + d = Hoped
- Like + d = Liked
- Live + d = Lived
(3) Verbs ending in consonant + “y” (change “y” to “i” and add “-ed”):
Examples:
- Carry – y + i + ed = Carried
- Try – y + i + ed = Tried
- Study – y + i + ed = Studied
- Comply – y + ed = Complied
- Apply – y + i + ed = Applied
(4) If the base form of the verb ends in vowel and “y”: Add “-ed” to base form of verb.
Examples:
- Play + ed = Played
- Enjoy + ed = Enjoyed
- Obey + ed = Obeyed
- Display + ed = Displayed
- Pray + ed = Prayed
(5) One-syllable verbs ending in consonant-vowel-consonant (double the final consonant and add “-ed”):
Examples:
- Stop + p + ed = Stopped
- Control + l + ed = Controlled
- Beg + g + ed = Begged
- Submit + t + ed = Submitted
- Admit + t + ed = Admitted
(6) First syllable stressed, ending in consonant-vowel-consonant (add “-ed”):
Examples:
- Open + ed = Opened
- Offer + ed = Offered
- Enter + ed = Entered
- Listen + ed = Listened
- Visit + ed = Visited
(7) Irregular Verbs (unique past participle forms):
Examples:
- Go – Gone
- Eat – Eaten
- Give – Given
- Break – Broken
- Write – Written