Advertisement
Advertisement
pluperfect
[ ploo-pur-fikt ]
noun
- Also past perfect. a verb construction, in English made up of the past tense auxiliary verb had followed by the past participle of the main verb, used to express an action or state that was already complete before a particular point of reference in the past, such as He had cleaned the place up before I arrived and Yesterday she told me she had been in the hospital for a week.
adjective
- past perfect. Grammar. designating a verb construction used to express an action or state that was already complete before a particular point of reference in the past.
- more than perfect:
He spoke the language with pluperfect precision.
pluperfect
/ pluːˈpɜːfɪkt /
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of pluperfect1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of pluperfect1
Discover More
Example Sentences
Note that in forming the pluperfect subjunctive certain writers often use fuisset for esset.
The verbal forms in-ara and-iera were used then as now as the equivalent of the pluperfect or the preterit indicative.
The same applies to similar citations under Perfect and Pluperfect.
The perfect tense value is often represented by the present (and the pluperfect by the imperfect) after despus or hace (ago).
In the earliest Latin the pluperfect is not uncommonly used with the value of the aorist perfect.
Advertisement
Word of the Day
[sted-fast]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse