English grammar
Past perfect: had never + past participle
Say you had never seen or done something before that moment.
From the scene I'd never seen anything like it
In short
Had never + past participle says something had never happened before that past moment: I'd never seen anything like it.
Your turn
Which one goes with a first-time action, before that night?
Options: I'd never seen anything like it · I'd never had so much fun · I'd never sung karaoke before
Show answer
a first-time action, before that night → I'd never sung karaoke before
How it works
Had never + past participle says something had never happened up to that moment in the past: I'd never seen anything like it.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
I’d never (blank) anything like it.
Options: saw · see · seen
Show answer
I’d never seen anything like it.
Yo nunca había visto nada igual.
Good to know
It also works with idioms built on had: I'd never had so much fun.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Doña Elena, I’d never seen anyone (blank) like that.
Options: dance · danced · to dance
Show answer
Doña Elena, I’d never seen anyone dance like that.
Doña Elena, nunca había visto a nadie bailar así.
nothing like it, ever, before that night I'd never seen anything like it
a first-time action, before that night I'd never sung karaoke before
Your turn
What goes with I'd never sung karaoke before?
Options: an idiom built on "had" · a first-time action, before that night · nothing like it, ever, before that night
Show answer
I'd never sung karaoke before → a first-time action, before that night
an idiom built on "had" I'd never had so much fun
fancy-dress vocabulary a fake moustache / a costume
Javi
With a fake moustache and a full costume.
Con un bigote falso y un disfraz completo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
With (blank) and a full costume.
Options: a fake moustache · I'd never seen anything like it · I'd never sung karaoke before
Show answer
Javi
With a fake moustache and a full costume.
Con un bigote falso y un disfraz completo.
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
| nothing like it, ever, before that night | I'd never seen anything like it |
|---|---|
| a first-time action, before that night | I'd never sung karaoke before |
| an idiom built on "had" | I'd never had so much fun |
| fancy-dress vocabulary | a fake moustache / a costume |
More lines from the story
- JaviI’d never seen anything like it.Yo nunca había visto nada igual.
- JaviDoña Elena, I’d never seen anyone dance like that.Doña Elena, nunca había visto a nadie bailar así.
- ElenaAnd I’d never sung karaoke before!¡Y yo nunca había cantado karaoke antes!
- ElenaTerribly. But I’d never had so much fun.Fatal. Pero nunca me había divertido tanto.
- JaviAnd the waiter called you “sir” all night.Y el camarero la llamó «caballero» toda la noche.