Past Perfect Vs. Past Perfect Progressive – Grammar & Verb Tenses

Summary

This video explains the differences between the past perfect and past perfect progressive tenses in English. It details their formation, functions, and usage with time markers, illustrating how the past perfect describes two completed actions at different times, while the past perfect progressive highlights a continuing action leading to a completed one. Examples clarify these concepts, and viewers are invited to practice identifying the appropriate tense based on context and time markers. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding and using these tenses effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 The past perfect tense is formed with 'had' plus the past participle of a verb.
• 😀 The past perfect progressive tense uses 'had been' plus an -ing verb.
• 😀 The past perfect indicates a completed action before another past action.
• 😀 The past perfect progressive shows a continuing action leading up to another past action.
• 😀 Common time markers for the past perfect include 'by the time,' 'when,' 'before,' and 'after.'
• 😀 Time markers for the past perfect progressive also include 'by the time,' 'when,' 'before,' and 'after,' with additional markers like 'for' and 'since.'
• 😀 The structure of past perfect questions starts with 'had' even when using 'have' as the main verb.
• 😀 Negative forms of the past perfect progressive use 'had not' plus 'been' plus an -ing verb.
• 😀 Time markers can help determine which tense to use based on the context of actions.
• 😀 Understanding these tenses improves clarity in expressing timelines in past events.

Q & A

What are the two tenses discussed in the transcript?

The two tenses discussed are the past perfect and the past perfect progressive (or past perfect continuous).

How do you form the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb 'had' plus the past participle of the main verb.

What distinguishes the past perfect from the past perfect progressive?

The past perfect indicates two completed actions occurring at different times, while the past perfect progressive indicates a continuing action that leads up to a second completed action.

What are some common time markers for the past perfect tense?

Common time markers for the past perfect include 'by the time,' 'when,' 'before,' and 'after.'

What additional time markers are used with the past perfect progressive?

In addition to the common markers used for past perfect, the past perfect progressive often uses 'for,' 'since,' and 'all.'

Can the past perfect or past perfect progressive sentences start with a dependent clause?

Yes, both types of sentences can start with a dependent clause that contains the simple past verb, but a comma is needed.

How do you form a negative past perfect progressive sentence?

A negative past perfect progressive sentence is formed using 'had' plus 'not' plus 'been' plus the -ing form of the verb.

What does the example 'Water had been dripping from the ceiling for days' illustrate?

This example illustrates the past perfect progressive tense, showing that the action of dripping continued until the moment it was noticed.

In the question, 'Had you had dinner by the time your friends got to your house last night?', what tense is being used?

This question uses the past perfect tense to ask if dinner was completed before the friends arrived.

What should you consider when choosing between past perfect and past perfect progressive?

You should consider the meaning of the actions and look for additional time markers to determine the best tense.