Pluperfect

Level 5

The pluperfect puts one past event before another past event.

How It Works

PersonForm
jabio sam otišao / bila sam otišla
tibio si otišao
on, onabio je otišao / bila je otišla
mibili smo otišli

The first participle comes from biti and agrees with the subject. The second is the main verb. The short helper (sam, si, je) usually follows the first word.

It sounds a little written. In ordinary speech people often use the simple perfect and let the context show the order: Amir je otišao kad smo stigli. Use the pluperfect when the order would be unclear or you want to stress it.

Examples (5)

  1. Amir je već bio otišao kad smo stigli.

    Amir had already left when we arrived.

    Bio je otišao is the earlier event.

  2. Bila sam pojela kad je Haris nazvao.

    I had eaten when Haris called.

    Feminine: bila and pojela.

  3. Već smo bili krenuli kad je počela kiša.

    We had already set off when the rain started.

    Plural: smo bili krenuli.

  4. Bio je zatvorio vrata prije nego što smo došli.

    He had closed the door before we came.

    With prije nego što.

  5. Selma je bila otišla na pijacu.

    Selma had gone to the market.

    A background fact.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

PluperfectLevel 5

Learn This First

The pluperfect adds a past auxiliary.

Words in This Pattern

bitiotićipluskvamperfekt