Past perfect (Plusquamperfekt) - German

How to Use the Plusquamperfekt in German

The Plusquamperfekt (pluperfect) describes actions that took place before another action in the past—similar to "had done" in English. To build this tense, use the simple past form of the auxiliary verb (haben or sein) and the past participle (Partizip II) of the main verb.

Forming with "haben"

Use "haben" for most verbs, especially those that take a direct object.

Forming with "sein"

Use "sein" with verbs denoting movement or a change of state, and with "sein" itself.

Examples in Context

To show the sequence of actions, use the Plusquamperfekt for the earlier action and the Präteritum or Perfekt for the later one.

• Nachdem ich gegessen hatte, bin ich ins Kino gegangen.
  ("After I had eaten, I went to the cinema.")
• Wir waren schon angekommen, als der Regen begann.
  ("We had already arrived when the rain started.")
• Sie hatte das Buch gelesen, bevor sie den Film sah.
  ("She had read the book before she saw the movie.")

The auxiliary verb is conjugated in the simple past, and Partizip II of the main verb goes at the end of the clause. Choose "haben" or "sein" using the same rules as with the Perfekt tense.