The pluperfect tenseUsing pluperfect tenses of verbs with avoir

The pluperfect is used to talk about actions far back in the past such as events that have happened. Learn how to form sentences using this tense.

Part ofFrenchVerbs and tenses

Using the pluperfect tense of regular verbs with avoir

The following table shows the pluperfect tense of regular verbs formed with avoir, using an -er verb (parler - to talk), an -ir verb (choisir - to choose) and an -re verb (vendre - to sell).

Imperfectavoir-er verb: parler-ir verb: choisir-re verb: vendre
j'avaisparléchoisivendu
tu avaisparléchoisivendu
il/elle/on avaitparléchoisivendu
nous avionsparléchoisivendu
vous aviezparléchoisivendu
ils/elles avaientparléchoisivendu
Imperfectavoirj'avais
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu
Imperfectavoirtu avais
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu
Imperfectavoiril/elle/on avait
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu
Imperfectavoirnous avions
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu
Imperfectavoirvous aviez
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu
Imperfectavoirils/elles avaient
-er verb: parlerparlé
-ir verb: choisirchoisi
-re verb: vendrevendu

Examples:

  • j'avais parlé à mon père avant de décider - I had spoken to my dad before deciding
  • nous avions choisi la couleur avant d'arriver au magasin - we had chosen the colour before arriving to the shop
  • elle a dit qu'elle avait vendu la maison - she said that she had sold the house
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Using the pluperfect tense of verbs with être
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