The past perfect tense can feel like a grammatical hurdle, but it’s essential for achieving a high IELTS score. It allows you to express the order of past events clearly and accurately, which is crucial for both the speaking and writing sections of the exam.
Let’s say you are asked to describe a memorable experience from your childhood. Using the past perfect, you might say:
- “By the time I turned ten, I had already visited five different countries.”
Here, the past perfect (“had visited”) emphasizes that the visits occurred before a specific point in the past (“turned ten”).
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This tense is particularly useful when:
- Writing a narrative in the Writing Task 1 section: “The graph shows that unemployment had fallen steadily for five years before the recession.”
- Answering a question about your past experiences in the Speaking test: “I had always wanted to learn a new language, so I decided to study abroad.”
Understanding the Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. It provides context and helps avoid confusion when narrating a sequence of events.
For instance, imagine you want to explain why you were late for a meeting. Saying, “I was late because I missed the bus” doesn’t provide the full picture. However, using the past perfect makes the reason clear: “I was late because I had missed the bus.”
This clarifies that the act of missing the bus happened before being late for the meeting.
Past Perfect Tense: Structure and Usage
Formation:
The past perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” + the past participle of the main verb.
[Had + Past Participle]
Example Breakdown:
- Statement: “She had finished her work before the meeting.”
- Subject: She
- Auxiliary Verb: had
- Past Participle: finished
- Object: her work
Usage in IELTS:
- Writing Task 1 (Describing Trends): “By 2005, the population had doubled compared to the previous decade.”
- Speaking Part 2 (Describing an Event): “Although I had never been there before, I felt strangely at home.”
- Speaking Part 3 (Expressing an Opinion): “Many people argued that the government should have acted sooner.”
Mastering the Past Perfect for a Higher Band Score
To score highly in the IELTS, it’s not enough to simply know the past perfect tense; you must use it effectively.
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Combine with Time Expressions: Using words like “already,” “before,” “by the time,” or “after” can make your use of the past perfect feel more natural and impactful.
- “By the time I graduated, I had already decided on my career path.”
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Show Contrast: The past perfect can highlight the difference between an earlier situation and a later one.
- “Although I had been nervous initially, I ended up enjoying the presentation.”
Common Past Perfect Mistakes to Avoid
Even proficient English speakers sometimes stumble with the past perfect tense. Here are common errors to watch out for:
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Overuse: Don’t use the past perfect when the simple past is sufficient. If the order of events is clear without it, stick to the simpler form.
- Incorrect: “I had eaten breakfast, and then I went to work.”
- Correct: “I ate breakfast, and then I went to work.”
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Incorrect Verb Form: Double-check that you are using the past participle of the main verb.
- Incorrect: “He had went to the store before I arrived.”
- Correct: “He had gone to the store before I arrived.”
Conclusion
Mastering the past perfect tense is a significant step toward achieving your target IELTS score. It allows for nuanced and sophisticated expression, demonstrating your command of English grammar. Practice using this tense in various contexts, paying close attention to the correct verb forms and appropriate situations. With consistent effort, you’ll be well on your way to confidently tackling any past-related question the IELTS throws your way!