είχα + perfect form

The Past Perfect

Level 3Sounds Like eícha

Είχα plus an invariant perfect form locates an event before another past reference point.

How It Works

Είχα plus an invariant perfect form locates an event before another past reference point.

Only the auxiliary changes for person and number. The later reference can be explicit or understood; the past perfect does not simply replace every English had expression.

GreekMeaning
Είχα φύγει όταν ήρθες.I had left when you came.
Είχε ήδη φάει.He or she had already eaten.
Είχαμε δει την ταινία.We had seen the film.

Examples (3)

  1. Είχα φύγει όταν ήρθες.

    I had left when you came.

  2. Είχε ήδη φάει.

    He or she had already eaten.

  3. Είχαμε δει την ταινία.

    We had seen the film.

How It Connects

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

είχα + perfect formLevel 3The Past Perfect

Learn This First

Recognize the invariant perfect complement before changing the auxiliary’s time or the complement’s voice.

Words in This Pattern

έχω