English grammar
Telling history: past perfect, past passive, and 'Here lived…' on a plaque
Tell a piece of history with the past simple, the past perfect and the past passive.
From the scene A poet lived here
In short
Tell history with the past simple for events, the past perfect for earlier ones, and the past passive when the thing matters.
Your turn
Which one goes with past passive: the thing matters, not who did it?
Options: it was declared protected · this poem was written on Calle del Pez · my mother had told me
Show answer
past passive: the thing matters, not who did it → this poem was written on Calle del Pez
How it works
History uses the past simple for the main events (Gabriel Alba lived here), the past perfect for what had already happened before (my mother had told me) and the past passive when the thing matters more than who did it (this poem was written…, it was declared protected).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
This changes everything! The house next door was (blank) protected for less.
Options: declare · declaring · declared
Show answer
This changes everything! The house next door was declared protected for less.
¡Esto lo cambia todo! La casa de al lado fue declarada protegida por menos.
Good to know
Plaques and guidebooks often turn the sentence round for effect: Here lived a poet = A poet lived here.
past perfect: earlier than the story my mother had told me
Elena
My mother had told me and I didn't believe it.
Mi madre me lo había contado y yo no me lo creía.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) and I didn't believe it.
Options: This poem was written on Calle del Pez · It was declared protected · My mother had told me
Show answer
Elena
My mother had told me and I didn't believe it.
Mi madre me lo había contado y yo no me lo creía.
past passive: the thing matters, not who did it this poem was written on Calle del Pez
Nuria
And look at this sheet: "This poem was written on Calle del Pez."
Y mire esta hoja: "Este poema fue escrito en la calle del Pez."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And look at this sheet: "(blank)."
Options: My mother had told me · It was declared protected · This poem was written on Calle del Pez
Show answer
Nuria
And look at this sheet: "This poem was written on Calle del Pez."
Y mire esta hoja: "Este poema fue escrito en la calle del Pez."
past passive + adjective (an official decision) it was declared protected
past simple: the main event Gabriel Alba lived here!
Your turn
What goes with Gabriel Alba lived here!?
Options: past perfect: earlier than the story · past passive: the thing matters, not who did it · past simple: the main event
Show answer
Gabriel Alba lived here! → past simple: the main event
plaque style: Here + verb + subject Here lived a poet.
Common mistake
Not did or was here. Before that day.
This trunk was my mother's. I had never opened it properly.
Este baúl era de mi madre. Nunca lo había abierto del todo.
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
| past perfect: earlier than the story | my mother had told me |
|---|---|
| past passive: the thing matters, not who did it | this poem was written on Calle del Pez |
| past passive + adjective (an official decision) | it was declared protected |
| past simple: the main event | Gabriel Alba lived here! |
| plaque style: Here + verb + subject | Here lived a poet. |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThis trunk was my mother's. I had never opened it properly.Este baúl era de mi madre. Nunca lo había abierto del todo.
- RamónThis changes everything! The house next door was declared protected for less.¡Esto lo cambia todo! La casa de al lado fue declarada protegida por menos.
- ElenaA rental contract. From nineteen thirty-one.Un contrato de alquiler. De mil novecientos treinta y uno.
- NuriaAnd a note: "The tenant had left owing three months' rent."Y una nota: "El inquilino había dejado tres meses sin pagar."