Plus-que-parfait

B1

Pluperfect

Plus-que-parfait describes actions completed before another past event, emphasizing sequence in the past. It is formed with the imperfect tense of avoir or être plus the past participle of the main verb.

It indicates an action fully completed before another past event (e.g., something "had happened" before something else).

It us common in time clauses with avant (before), après (after), quand (when), déjà (already).

Similarities in other languages: Common in Romance languages like Spanish (había comido) and Italian (avevo mangiato). Parallels English (I had eaten with have), German (ich hatte gegessen with haben), and Dutch auxiliaries.

Plus-que-parfait with Avoir

• J’avais mangé avant la réunion.
  • I had eaten before the meeting.
• Nous avions déjà vu le film.
  • We had already seen the movie.
• L’avais-tu rencontrée avant ?
  • Had you met her before? (participle agrees with l’ = her)

Formation

**Imperfect of avoir + Past participle of the verb ** For more information, see Participe passé

Participle agrees with a preceding direct object pronoun in gender and number

• Je l’avais vue.
  • I had seen her.

Auxiliary avoir is used for most verbs except pronominal verbs or specific intransitive verbs requiring être.

Plus-que-parfait with Être

• **J’étais arrivé avant le début. **
  • I had arrived before the start.
• Elle s’était levée tôt.
  • She had gotten up early.
• Ils étaient déjà partis ?
  • They had already left? (participle agrees with subject)

Auxiliary être is used for pronominal verbs and certain intransitive verbs (e.g., aller, venir). It combines the imperfect of être with the past participle, with participle agreement based on the subject.

Formation

Imperfect of être + Past participle of the verb For more information, see Participe passé

Participle agrees with the subject in gender and number

• Elle était partie.
  • She had left.

Pronominal Verbs: Always use être (e.g., se lever, se souvenir).