The past perfect

 

Past perfect simple

We use the Past Perfect Tense to make it clear that one event happened before another, both of them happening in the past. 

HAD / HADN’T + PAST PARTICIPLE

We explained that we had thought about a comprehensive procedure on how to address security flaws, as it was certainly needed. However, they weren’t keen on the idea, and it hasn’t developed beyond the original suggestion.

We can see in this example that they had thought about the comprehensive procedure before they explained their idea. One past moment happens before another past moment. The first one uses the Past Perfect Tense.

This tense is often used with adverbs like ALREADY and JUST.

When they suggested a comprehensive procedure on how to address security flaws, we explained that we had already considered that, and that we thought it was a priority.

In this example, we can see that already is placed between had and considered, and expresses the fact that they thought of the procedure, then somebody else mentioned it. Now the speaker is explaining how those things happened in a sequence. They had already considered it, before it was suggested.

Here’s one with JUST and ALREADY:
We explained that even though they had just mentioned the idea of a comprehensive procedure on how to address security flaws, we had in fact already considered it and thought that it should be a priority.

Here we can see that the topic was considered a long time before it was later mentioned by the other person. It is like saying: we thought about this before, and you have only just mentioned it. 

When this began, you had probably already used the past perfect many times. Remember, it is for one thing in the past that happens before something else in the past. 

 

Past Perfect Continuous

We use the Past Perfect Continuous tense when we want to talk about something that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. 

 HAD + BEEN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE.

This tense is related to the Present Perfect Continuous. However, the Past Perfect Continuous is slightly different, as the continuous period does not continue until now, but instead it finishes before something else in the past. 

 

We had been waiting patiently for a decision when we were told that we should already have integrated with the new library.

In this sentence, we can see that the period of waiting starts and finishes in the past. The speaker was then given the information, also in the past. The Past Perfect Continuous goes before the Past Simple. We had been waiting followed by we were told.

If we want to make a question using this tense, then we simply invert the subject and HAD.

Had they been waiting long before they were told that they should already have integrated with the new library?

 

Here is another example.

The team had been dealing with delays throughout the project, so although they were frustrated, it meant they were prepared to handle this latest setback. 

In this example, we can see that the function of the Past Perfect Continuous is to show cause and effect. The delays throughout the project are a cause of frustration, but they are also the reason why the team is prepared and ready to handle the latest setback. 

 

When we use two different pasts together, one thing continuing for a period of time until the next thing happens, we need to use the Past Perfect Continuous. If we want to show cause and effect in the past, we use the Past Perfect Continuous.