Pluperfect: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฐ๏ธ
pluperfect
[ หpluหpษrfษkt ]
grammar term
The pluperfect tense, also known as the past perfect tense, is used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. This grammatical tense often provides context and clarity in storytelling by indicating the sequence of events. In English, it is formed using 'had' followed by the past participle of the verb. For example, 'She had left before he arrived' illustrates the pluperfect structure, as it shows that her leaving occurred prior to his arrival.
Synonyms
past perfect.
Examples of usage
- I had finished my homework before dinner.
- They had already seen the movie before we went.
- By the time he called, I had already gone to bed.
Translations
Translations of the word "pluperfect" in other languages:
๐ต๐น mais-que-perfeito
๐ฎ๐ณ เคชเฅเคฒเฅเคชเคฐเคซเฅเคเฅเค
๐ฉ๐ช Plusquamperfekt
๐ฎ๐ฉ masa lampau sempurna
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟะปััะบะฒะฐะผะฟะตััะตะบั
๐ต๐ฑ plusquamperfekt
๐ฏ๐ต ้ๅปๅฎไบๅฝข
๐ซ๐ท plus-que-parfait
๐ช๐ธ pluscuamperfecto
๐น๐ท miลkin geรงmiล zaman
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ณผ๊ฑฐ์๋ฃ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูู ุงุถู ุงูุชุงู
๐จ๐ฟ plusquamperfekt
๐ธ๐ฐ plusquamperfekt
๐จ๐ณ ่ฟๅปๅฎๆๆถ
๐ธ๐ฎ pluskvamperfekt
๐ฎ๐ธ รพรกtรญรฐ
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฟะปััะบะฒะฐะผะฟะตััะตะบั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแชแแแฃแแ แแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ keรงmiล zaman
๐ฒ๐ฝ pluscuamperfecto
Etymology
The term 'pluperfect' originates from the Latin 'plusquamperfectum', which translates to 'more than perfect'. The prefix 'plus' means 'more', while 'quam' means 'than', and 'perfectum' relates to 'perfect'. In Latin, this grammatical construction was designed to express an action that occurred prior to some other completed action, effectively allowing for a rich and detailed narrative structure. Over time, the term made its way into various languages, including English, as the need for such temporal distinctions grew in both spoken and written forms. The use of pluperfect forms can be traced back to Old English, where verbs were formed similarly, though the structure and usage have evolved significantly. This tense is now standard in English grammar, allowing speakers and writers to convey complex timelines with ease.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #34,017 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
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