The past perfect simple and continuous

ADRIAN DOFF erklärt grundlegende Grammatikpunkte anhand eines kurzen Dialogs.

1 The main events of the story (in the order they happened) are described in the simple past.

2 Tanya uses the past perfect simple tense to look back from a point in the past to an earlier event (= what had happened before Ian and his girlfriend returned to the car). The past perfect simple is formed with had + past participle (“had rolled”).

3 These are question and negative forms of the past perfect simple: had + subject + past participle (“had he left”), hadn’t + past participle (“hadn’t put”).

4 Another example of the past perfect simple to talk about an earlier action.

5 Here, the past perfect simple again refers to an earlier event. The sentence is also an example of reported speech. The police officer’s actual words were: “You’ve broken the lockdown rules.”

6 We can use the past perfect simple after the conjunctions after or when, to link two actions in sequence. (= First, they paid everything, then they tried to get their money back.)

7 Tanya uses the past perfect continuous tense to look back from a point in the past to an earlier activity that went on over a longer period. Here, it is also reported speech. The insurance company’s actual words were: “You were driving illegally because you weren’t keeping to the lockdown rules.”

2. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Immie is talking to her mum about the difficulties of buying a used car.

Immie: I’ve had a look at the website, Mum.

Silvia: Did you find it helpful? Immie: Of course. I mean, I don’t know the first thing about buying a car, do I? I would have known to check the bodywork for scratches, dents and rust, but I probably wouldn’t have thought to check the tyres and the lights. It also says to check all the electrics, such as the lights and windows.

Silvia: What about under the car’s bonnet? Does the website say anything about that? Immie: Well, it says it’s important to check the fluid levels. But I wouldn’t know how to do that – and I think I’d be a bit embarrassed to try to check it in front of the dealer.

Silvia: I know what you mean. If you like the car, we can have it checked at the local garage. Why don’t you arrange a test drive to start with?

3. ARRANGING A TEST DRIVE

Immie is calling the used-car dealer to arrange an appointment.

Bob: Hello. Ferryhill Cars, Bob speaking.

Immie: Oh, hi there. I’m calling about a car that’s advertised on your website. It’s a Toyota Yaris. Is it still for sale?

Bob: Just a sec, I think we have two at the moment. Is it the blue one for £1,595?

Immie: Yes, that’s the one.

Bob: That’s a fantastic little car. It’s in really good nick because it’s had only one previous