What is Past Perfect Passive? Explained with Structure, Uses and Examples
The past perfect passive is a verb tense that is used to
describe an action that was completed at some point in the past, but the focus
is on the result of the action rather than the action itself or the agent
performing the action.
VERB: 3rd Form of Verb
Helping Verb: Had been
Structure of Sentence:
1) Simple: Subject + helping verb + verb + by + the actor
2) Negative: Subject + helping verb + not + verb + by + the actor
3) Interrogative: Helping verb + subject + verb + by + the actor
4) Negative Interrogative: Helping verb + subject + not + verb + by + the actor
For example:
The cake had been eaten. (The focus is on the result of the
action, not the agent who performed the action.)
Uses of Past Perfect Passive:
The past perfect passive is often used to describe
actions that have been completed recently, but the time at which they were
completed is not specified.
1. It can also be used to describe actions that were completed
at an indefinite point in the past, such as "The letter has been
written."
Examples:
1. The pie has been baked. (The pie is ready to eat.)
2. The grass has been cut. (The grass is short.)
3. The window has been cleaned. (The window is clean.)