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Plusquamperfekt

pluperfect, past perfect tense

noun plus-kvam-per-FEKT Rare
Communication Language

Origin: from Latin plus quam perfectum (more than perfect)

Usage Note

Plusquamperfekt expresses an action completed before another past action and is formed with hatte/war + past participle. It is used mainly in written German and formal speech to sequence past events.

Examples

"Sie berichtete, dass er bereits gegangen war — das ist Plusquamperfekt."

Natural Translation

She reported that he had already left — that is the pluperfect.

Literal Translation

She reported that he already gone was — that is pluperfect.

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