English grammar
Past perfect for the back-story: where had you put them?
Tell the back-story of a problem with the past perfect.
From the scene The rings have disappeared!
In short
When something has gone wrong, use had + past participle for what happened before: Where had you put them?
Your turn
Which one goes with what had happened first?
Options: I'd checked them before helping Marisa · I'd put them away · where had you put them?
Show answer
what had happened first → I'd put them away
How it works
When something has gone wrong, the past perfect (had + past participle) goes back to what happened before it.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Javi, I’ve (blank) seen you this nervous.
Options: never · ever · already
Show answer
Javi, I’ve never seen you this nervous.
Javi, nunca te había visto tan nervioso.
Good to know
Where had you put them? I'd put them away. To ask about the most recent time, say when did you last see them?
asking about before where had you put them?
Nuria
What do you mean, disappeared? Where had you put them?
¿Cómo que han desaparecido? ¿Dónde los habías puesto?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
What do you mean, disappeared? (blank)?
Options: I'd checked them before helping Marisa · Where had you put them · I'd put them away
Show answer
Nuria
What do you mean, disappeared? Where had you put them?
¿Cómo que han desaparecido? ¿Dónde los habías puesto?
what had happened first I'd put them away
Your turn
What goes with I'd put them away?
Options: one action before another · what had happened first · asking about before
Show answer
I'd put them away → what had happened first
one action before another I'd checked them before helping Marisa
Javi
This morning, at home. I'd checked them before helping Marisa with the cake.
Esta mañana, en casa. Los había revisado antes de ayudar a Marisa con la tarta.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
This morning, at home. (blank) with the cake.
Options: I'd checked them before helping Marisa · Where had you put them · I'd put them away
Show answer
Javi
This morning, at home. I'd checked them before helping Marisa with the cake.
Esta mañana, en casa. Los había revisado antes de ayudar a Marisa con la tarta.
the most recent time when did you last see them?
Nuria
And when did you last see them?
¿Y cuándo los viste por última vez?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank)?
Options: I'd put them away · when did you last see them · where had you put them
Show answer
Nuria
And when did you last see them?
¿Y cuándo los viste por última vez?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| asking about before | where had you put them? |
|---|---|
| what had happened first | I'd put them away |
| one action before another | I'd checked them before helping Marisa |
| the most recent time | when did you last see them? |
More lines from the story
- TomásJavi, I’ve never seen you this nervous.Javi, nunca te había visto tan nervioso.
- JaviI’d put them away in this pocket.Los había guardado en este bolsillo.
- JaviNuria... the rings... they’ve disappeared!Nuria... los anillos... ¡han desaparecido!