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Introduction

What did you know how to cook before you learnt properly? Maybe it was a simple cake, or you could boil an egg and put bread in a toaster! Pippa and Phil talk about how they learnt to cook, and our grammar guru Georgie explains how to use adverbs like 'finally', 'previously' and 'once before' with the past perfect tense. 

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Grammar explanation

past perfect tense
had + past participle

Use the past perfect when talking about events that happened before another past event. We often use the past simple to talk about the most recent past event. 

Examples:

Previously I'd made cakes but then I learned how to make dishes like lasagne. 
The bus had already left when I arrived at the bus stop. 

Adverbs

Use adverbs to give more information about a verb, such as when or how something happened. 

previously

Use this to show an event happened before another event. 

Examples:

Previously, I'd worked from 9am to 1pm at weekends, so working full-time was new to me. 
I'd previously worked from 9am to 1pm at weekends, so working full-time was new to me.
I'd worked from 9am to 1pm at weekends previously, so working full-time was new to me.

recently

Use this to show an event happened a short time before another event.

Examples:

Recently, I'd started thinking about moving abroad. Then I found out there were German classes near me!
I'd recently started thinking about moving abroad. Then I found out there were German classes near me!
I'd started thinking recently about moving abroad. Then I found out there were German classes near me!

once before

Use this to show that an event happened only once before another event.

Examples:

I passed the exam second time. I'd taken it once before.

properly

Use this to show that a previous event happened in the right or correct way.

Examples:

I'd been shown how to cook eggs properly, but I didn't know how to make anything else. 
I'd been shown how to properly cook eggs, but I didn't know how to make anything else.

already

Use this to show that an event happened before another. 

Examples:

When the film started, I'd already eaten all my snacks.
When the film started, I'd eaten all my snacks already.

To do

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