过去完成时的用法总结

1. 表示在过去某一时刻或某一动作之前已经完成了的动作(即所谓的“过去的过去”)或表示从过去某一时刻开始一直延续到另一过去时刻的动作或状态。如：

When we arrived he had already left. 我们到达时他已经离开了。

By six o’clock he had worked twelve hours. 到6点钟时他就已工作了12小时。

2. 表示未曾实现的希望或打算，主要用于 hope, want, expect, think, suppose, plan, mean, intend 等动词。如：

I had meant to come, but something happened. 我本想来，但有事就没有来。

We had thought to return early but they wouldn't let us go. 我们本想早回来的，但他们不让我们走。

3. 用于某些特殊句型。如：

This was the first time he had ever been late. 这是他第一次迟到。(类似 it was the first time that…后的从句谓语要用过去完成时)

It was three years since we had left the city. (那时)我们离开那座城市已有三年。(类似 it was…since…后的从句谓语要用过去完成时) (from www.hxen.com)

We had no sooner set out than a thunderstorm broke. 我们刚出发就遇到了大雷雨。(no sooner…than 的主句谓语要用过去完成时)

He had hardly arrived when it began to snow. 他一到，天就下起雪来了。(hardly…when 的主句谓语要用过去完成时)