Which of the following sentences is in the past perfect tense?

The correct answer is Option (2) → The dhobi had ironed all the school shirts before Papa got home.

Past perfect tense:

• Its form is had + past participle (V3).
• It shows the earlier of two past actions.
• “Had ironed” has “had” and the V3 “ironed”.
• The ironing was over before the later past action, “got home”.
• Example: The farmers had sown the seeds before the first rain came.

Why the Other Options are Incorrect?

Option 1: Nani had a sore throat for a week after the wedding. — Incorrect.

• This is the simple past.
• Here “had” is the main verb (the past form of “have”), with no V3 after it.

Option 3: The porters have carried our bags to the AC coach. — Incorrect.

• This is the present perfect.
• Its form is have + V3.
• It has “have”, not “had”.

Option 4: Dev was having tea at the stall when the train pulled in. — Incorrect.

• This is the past continuous.
• Its form is was + V-ing.
• “Having” is an -ing word, not had + V3.