This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
past perfect
See the most commonly confused word associated with present perfect
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun Grammar.
COMPARE MEANINGS
Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of past perfect
First recorded in 1885–90
Words nearby past perfect
pastorate, pastorium, pastorship, pastose, past participle, past perfect, past progressive, pastrami, pastry, pastry blender, pastry brush
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use past perfect in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for past perfect
past perfect
/ grammar /
adjective
denoting a tense of verbs used in relating past events where the action had already occurred at the time of the action of a main verb that is itself in a past tense. In English this is a compound tense formed with had plus the past participle
noun
- the past perfect tense
- a verb in this tense
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012