The Past Perfect Tense: Popular Situations
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Here are a few conversation topics in which the past perfect tense can work well.
1. Talking about past hopes or desires.I had always wanted to travel, and finally I had the opportunity to work abroad.
My sister was so happy that day because she had wanted a promotion for a long time.
2. Describing past thoughts related to events.I thought I had passed the test, but I hadn't.
He thought he had locked his car, but he must have forgotten.
3. Talking about bad or good timing.I had just finished chapter 20 when I found out that the test had been cancelled.
He had just started writing his essay when a virus attacked his computer.
4. Talking about accidents, such as traffic accidents or sporting accidents.I had avoided hitting the car in front of me, but then another car crashed into mine.
Before the runner fell and sprained his ankle, he had been in the lead.
5. Talking about a major storm/weather event.Luckily, I had just reached my house when the earthquake started.
The town had just started to recover economically when another hurricane hit it.
6. With the phrase "before ___ knew it ..."Before I knew it, I had eaten the whole bag of chocolate bars.
Before he knew it, he had been promoted to sales manager.
Challenge: Write one or two sentences for each situation above. Use stories from your life.
Practice Conversation
Bob: I saw a terrible traffic accident while I was coming to work.
Sam: Oh, really? What happened?
Bob: It looked like one car had skidded and spun around. Then the other car must have smashed into it.
Sam:
Wow. I was in an accident like that last year. A car side-swiped me. I
had spun out and another car was coming at me fast, but he managed to
brake in time.
Bob: That must have been scary!
Sam: It was. I felt lucky to be alive, and later I found out that the driver who hit me had been taken to the hospital.
Bob: Was he okay?
Sam: He had swerved off the road and hit a railing, but his airbag saved him. He was okay in the end.
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