Simple past past perfect present perfect past progressive

We use the past perfect to show that something happened before something else in the past. For more information on forms of the past perfect (simple) , see Past perfect simple . For more information on forms of the past perfect continuous , see Past perfect continuous .

We use the past perfect simple to talk about actions that were completed before another action or situation in the past. We use it to focus on the result of the action.

• Anna had left when we arrived.
• Had the meeting started by the time you got there?

We usually use the past perfect simple and not the past perfect continuous when we are talking about states rather than actions, with verbs like be , have , know .

• We ’d known each other for about five years before we became friends.

• By the time we arrived at the station, the train had already left.

We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions that continued for a period of time before another action or situation in the past. We use it to focus on the duration of the action. The action may or may not have continued up to the moment we are talking about it.

• I ’d been living in Italy for three years when we first met.
• When I woke up, I saw that it had been raining .

We often use already with the past perfect to emphasize that the action happened earlier. We also often use just to show that the action happened a very short time before.

• She had already been working for two hours by the time we got there.
• Sam had just left when we arrived.