Conjugate être/avoir/faire/prendre/vouloir (+ avoir) in the pluperfect tense in French (Le Plus-que-Parfait)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2024-03-21
26 questions

Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) in French is the direct equivalent of the pluperfect in English. It could be described as "the past of the past":

When I had finished my homework, I went for a walk.

Of course, English speakers are likely to make contractions: 

When I'd finished my homework, I went for a walk.

 

Learn how to conjugate verbs with irregular past participles in Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) in French

J'avais déjà été déçu par elle avant.I'd already been disappointed by her before.

Tu avais été heureux un temps, avant de te lasser.You'd been happy for a while, before getting bored.

Il avait fait le tour du monde avant la naissance de sa fille.He had travelled around the world before his daughter was born.

Mme Joubert avait eu deux autres chats avant d'adopter Roxy.Mrs Joubert had had two other cats before she adopted Roxy.

Nous avions eu froid cette nuit-là.We'd been cold that night.

Nous avions pris nos places en avance mais nous n'avons pas pu y aller au final.We had booked our tickets in advance but we couldn't go in the end.

Vous aviez même fait un gâteau pour l'occasion.You'd even made a cake for the occasion.

Mes cousins avaient pris le train pour venir.My cousins had taken the train to come.

Elles avaient juste voulu aider.They had just wanted to help.

Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) follows this construction, which is similar to the pluperfect in English (had +-ed):
avoir in the imperfect tense (L'Imparfait (Indicatif)) +  été / eu / fait / pris... [past participles]
 

Reminder of how to conjugate avoir in L'Imparfait (Indicatif)

j'avais
tu avais
il avait
nous avions
vous aviez
ils avaient
 

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Ils avaient eu la grippe cet hiver-là.They'd had the flu that winter.
Elle avait fait ses devoirs avant qu'il n'arrive.She had done her homework before he arrived.
Il avait fait le tour du monde avant la naissance de sa fille.He had travelled around the world before his daughter was born.
Mes cousins avaient pris le train pour venir.My cousins had taken the train to come.
Mme Joubert avait eu deux autres chats avant d'adopter Roxy.Mrs Joubert had had two other cats before she adopted Roxy.
Avais-tu pris ton appareil photo quand tu es allé en vacances ?Had you taken your camera when you went on holidays?
Vous aviez même fait un gâteau pour l'occasion.You'd even made a cake for the occasion.
Nous avions pris nos places en avance mais nous n'avons pas pu y aller au final.We had booked our tickets in advance but we couldn't go in the end.
Si j'avais voulu, j'aurais pu gagner.If I'd wanted to, I could have won.
Nous avions toujours voulu acheter une maison.We had always wanted to buy a house.
Tu avais voulu le gifler ce jour-là.You had wanted to slap him that day.
Il n'avait jamais voulu que ça arrive.He had never wanted that to happen.
Elles avaient juste voulu aider.They had just wanted to help.
Aviez-vous jamais voulu être actrice avant de décrocher ce rôle ?Had you ever wanted to be an actress before getting that role?
J'avais déjà été déçu par elle avant.I'd already been disappointed by her before.
Tu avais été heureux un temps, avant de te lasser.You'd been happy for a while, before getting bored.
Nous avions eu froid cette nuit-là.We'd been cold that night.
Ils l'avaient fait, mais personne ne le savait !They had done it, but no one knew!

avoir

être

faire

prendre

vouloir

I'll be right with you...