pluperfect Definition
- 1(grammar) a tense expressing past action, typically describing an action that had been completed before another past action took place
- 2(archaic) excessively perfect or done with great care
Using pluperfect: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pluperfect" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He had already eaten when I arrived.
Example
She had finished her homework before she went to bed.
Example
They had been married for five years when they decided to have children.
pluperfect Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for pluperfect
- past perfect
- preterite perfect
Phrases with pluperfect
a verb form used to describe hypothetical situations in the past
Example
If I had known about the party, I would have gone. (pluperfect subjunctive: If I had known)
a verb tense used to describe an action that was completed before another past action took place
Example
By the time I arrived, he had already left. (pluperfect tense: had left)
a verb form used to describe an action that was completed before another past action took place
Example
Having finished her homework, she went to bed. (pluperfect participle: having finished)
Origins of pluperfect
from Latin 'plus quam perfectum', meaning 'more than perfect'
Summary: pluperfect in Brief
The term 'pluperfect' [ˈpluːpəfɛkt] refers to a verb tense expressing past action, typically describing an action that had been completed before another past action took place. It is also used archaically to mean excessively perfect or done with great care.
