Grammar

B2

German Plusquamperfekt

Plusquamperfekt sequences past events. Learn hatte/war + participle, then practise.

  • hatte/war + past participle
  • Before / after past timelines
  • B2 reading and writing practice

Plusquamperfekt

Plusquamperfekt (past perfect) describes an action completed before another past action: hatte/war + past participle.

Ich hatte schon gegessen, als er ankam.

I had already eaten when he arrived.

Sie war schon gegangen, bevor wir anriefen.

She had left before we called.

Nachdem sie gesprochen hatten, sind sie gegangen.

After they had spoken, they left.

Use the same haben/sein helper as in Perfekt, but in the past: hatte / war.