Pluperfect formation

Level 2

The plus-que-parfait is the 'past of the past.' It is formed using the imparfait of the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) + the past participle.

How It Works

The plus-que-parfait is essential for storytelling and clarifying the sequence of events.

1. Formation:
It follows the same logic as the passé composé, but the auxiliary verb is in the imparfait instead of the present tense.

  • Avoir: j'avais, tu avais, il avait, nous avions, vous aviez, ils avaient + participle.
  • Être: j'étais, tu étais, il était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils étaient + participle.

2. Negation:
In negative sentences, the ne...pas sandwiches the auxiliary verb: Je n'avais pas fini. For reflexive verbs, the 'ne' precedes the reflexive pronoun: Je ne m'étais pas lavé.

3. Auxiliary Choice:
Just like the passé composé, most verbs use avoir. Verbs of movement (the 'Maison d'être') and reflexive verbs use être.

4. Agreement:
When using être with verbs of movement, the past participle must agree with the subject. For reflexive verbs, agreement only occurs if the reflexive pronoun is a direct object (e.g., Elle s'était lavée vs Elle s'était lavé les mains). When using avoir, it only agrees if there is a preceding direct object.

5. Usage:
It is used to show that something had already happened before another past action. It is also used in 'Si' clauses to express hypothetical past situations: Si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé. Additionally, it can stand alone after 'Si' to express a wish or regret: Si j'avais su ! (If only I had known!).

Examples (4)

  1. J'avais déjà mangé quand il est arrivé.

    I had already eaten when he arrived.

    Word by Word: I had already eaten when he is arrived.

    The eating happened before the arrival. 'Avais mangé' is the plus-que-parfait.

  2. Elle était partie avant mon coup de téléphone.

    She had left before my phone call.

    Word by Word: She was left before my blow of telephone.

    Uses 'être' as the auxiliary because 'partir' is a verb of movement. Note the feminine agreement on 'partie'.

  3. Nous avions fini nos devoirs.

    We had finished our homework.

    Word by Word: We had finished our homeworks.

    A simple statement showing an action completed at some point in the past.

  4. Si j'avais su, je ne serais pas venu.

    If I had known, I wouldn't have come.

    Word by Word: If I had known, I not would be not come.

    The plus-que-parfait is used after 'si' to express a hypothetical past situation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense auxiliary instead of the imparfait.

    Quand je suis arrivé, il est déjà parti.
    Quand je suis arrivé, il était déjà parti.

    Using 'est' (passé composé) implies he left at the same time you arrived. 'Était' (plus-que-parfait) correctly shows he was already gone.

  • Incorrect negation placement.

    Je n'avais mangé pas.
    Je n'avais pas mangé.

    In compound tenses, the 'ne...pas' must wrap around the auxiliary verb, not the participle.

How It Connects

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Pluperfect formationLevel 2

Learn This First

To form the plus-que-parfait, you must be comfortable with the imparfait (to conjugate the auxiliary) and the mechanics of compound tenses, including which auxiliary to use and how to form past participles.

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