過去完成時的主要用法

1. 表示“過去的過去”，這是過去完成時最本質的用法，它既可表示過去某個時間或動作之前所發生的情況，也可表示過去某個時間或動作之前一直在持續的情況。如：

He had left when I arrived. 當我到達時他已經離開。

By six o’clock he had worked twelve hours. 到6點鐘時他就已工作了12小時。

2. 表示過去未曾實現的想法，通常連用的動詞是 hope, think, plan, mean, expect, intend, suppose 等。如：

I had meant to go on Monday but have stayed on. 我本想禮拜—走的，但又留下了。

I had hoped to send him a Christmas card, but I forgot to do so. 我本來希望寄給他一張圣誕卡的，但我忘了寄了。

He had intended to make a cake. but he ran out of time. 他原來打算做塊蛋糕，但是沒時間了。

I had thought the room to be empty but found it occupied. 我本以為這個房間是空著的，原來里面有人。

3. 在hardly [scarcely, barely]…when [before]…和no sooner…than…等句式中，主句通常要用過去完成時，而從句則通常要用一般過去時。如：

I had scarcely closed my eyes when the phone rang. 我剛合上眼電話鈴就響了。

Mr Jenkins had hardly begun his speech, when he was interrupted. 詹金斯先生剛開始講話就被人打斷了。

She had no sooner opened the door than a cat jumped out from behind the door. 她剛剛門打開，一只貓就從門后跳了出來。