Past Perfect/Pluperfect Tense in German Grammar

The past perfect in German or pluperfect (Plusquamperfekt) expresses actions that took place before a certain point in the past. It is the German equivalent of the English past perfect tense. We use this tense in storytelling together with the simple past, to look back at something that happened before a past event.

Do you know when to use the past perfect tense in German? Our simple explanations and examples make it easy to understand. Learn the rules and exceptions of verb conjugation, then test your grammar skills in the exercises.

The past perfect in German

The pluperfect (Plusquamperfekt) expresses actions that took place before a certain point in the past. It is the German equivalent of the English past perfect tense. We use this tense in storytelling together with the simple past, to look back at something that happened before a past event.

Example

Past Participle

The past participle (Partizip II) is formed in different ways depending on whether we are conjugating a strong verb (ge…en) or a weak/mixed verb (ge…t).

Exceptions

• Many strong and mixed verbs change their word stems in the past participle. (see list of strong and mixed verbs)

Example: 🔊 Listen gehen – gegangen, bringen – gebracht

• If the word stem ends in d/t, we add an et to weak or mixed verbs.

Example: 🔊 Listen warten – gewartet

• Verbs with the ending ieren form the past participle without ge.

Example: 🔊 Listen studieren – studiert

• Inseparable verbs form the past participle without ge.

Example: 🔊 Listen verstehen – verstanden

• For separable verbs, ge goes after the prefix.

Example: 🔊 Listen ankommen – angekommen

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