Plus-que-parfait: French past perfect
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Plus-que-parfait: French past perfect
The plus-que-parfait marks an event completed before another past moment. Use the imperfect of avoir or être followed by the past participle, keeping the usual auxiliary choice and agreement rules.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
An earlier action
Quand Léa est arrivée, nous avions fermé la boutique.
When Léa arrived, we had closed the shop.
With être
Ils étaient partis avant midi.
They had left before noon.
Common mix-ups
Partir uses être in compound tenses, including the past perfect.
They had left before noon.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in French before opening the example.
When Paul arrived, she had already left.
Show one possible answer
Quand Paul est arrivé, elle était déjà partie.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
Keep practicing
Related grammar
Grammar references
Practice French grammar in context
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