www.perfect-english-grammar.com Past Perfect Positive and Negative Make the past perfect: 1. When I arrived at the cinema, the film (start). 2. She (live) in China before she went to Thailand. 3. After they (eat) the shellfish, they began to feel sick. 4. If you (listen) to me, you would have got the job. 5. Julie didn t arrive until after I (leave). 6. When we (finish) dinner, we went out. 7. The garden was dead because it (be) dry all summer. 8. He (meet) her before somewhere. 9. We were late for the plane because we (forgot)our passports. 10. She told me that she (study) a lot before the exam. 11. The grass was yellow because it (not / rain) all summer. 12. The lights went off because we (not / pay) the electricity bill. 13. The children (not / do) their homework, so they were in trouble. 14. They (not / eat) so we went to a restaurant. 15. We couldn t go into the concert because we (not / bring) our tickets. 16. She said that she (not / visit) the UK before. 17. Julie and Anne (not / meet) before the party. 18. I (not / have) breakfast when he arrived. 19. He (not / use) email before, so I showed him how to use it. 20. You (not / study) for the test, so you were very nervous. 2008 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
Answers: 1. When I arrived at the cinema, the film had started. 2. She had lived in China before she went to Thailand. 3. After they had eaten the shellfish, they began to feel sick. 4. If you had listened to me, you would have got the job. 5. Julie didn t arrive until after I had left. 6. When we had finished dinner, we went out. 7. The garden was dead because it had been dry all summer. 8. He had met her before somewhere. 9. We were late for the plane because we had forgotten our passports. 10. She told me that she had studied a lot before the exam. 11. The grass was yellow because it hadn t rained all summer. 12. The lights went off because we hadn t paid the electricity bill. 13. The children hadn t done their homework, so they were in trouble. 14. They hadn t eaten so we went to a restaurant. 15. We couldn t go into the concert because we hadn t brought our tickets. 16. She said that she hadn t visited the UK before. 17. Julie and Anne hadn t met before the party. 18. I hadn t had breakfast when he arrived. 19. He hadn t used email before, so I showed him how to use it. 20. You hadn t studied for the test, so you were very nervous. 2008 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
www.perfect-english-grammar.com Past Perfect Questions Make past perfect simple yes / no or wh questions: 1. (you / go) there before we went together? 2. (she / see) the film already? 3. Why (he / forgot) about the meeting? 4. (it / be) cold all week? 5. (I / read) the book before the class? 6. When she arrived, (we / eat) already? 7. Where (you / be) when I saw you? 8. (they / travel) by bullet train before? 9. (John / meet) Lucy before they went on holiday together? 10. (you / do) your homework before I saw you? 11. Where (she / work )? 12. (I / pay) the bill before we left? 13. (we / visit) my parents already that winter? 14. When you called, (they / eat) dinner? 15. How (he / manage) to fix the cooker? 16. (my sister / be) sick for a long time? 17. How much (she / study) before the exam? 18. What (you / cook) for dinner that night? 19. When (they / arrive)? 20. How many coffees (she / drink) before the interview? 2008 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
Answers: 1. Had you gone there before we went together? 2. Had she seen the film already? 3. Why had he forgotten about the meeting? 4. Had it been cold all week? 5. Had I read the book before the class? 6. When she arrived, had we eaten already? 7. Where had you been when I saw you? 8. Had they travelled by bullet train before? 9. Had John met Lucy before they went on holiday together? 10. Had you done your homework already? 11. Where had she worked? 12. Had I paid the bill before we left? 13. Had we visited my parents already that winter? 14. When you called, had they eaten dinner? 15. How had he managed to fix the cooker? 16. Had my sister been sick for a long time? 17. How much had she studied before the exam? 18. What had you cooked for dinner that night? 19. When had they arrived? 20. How many coffees had she drunk before the interview? 2008 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
Past Perfect or Past Simple I Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using either the past perfect or the past simple tenses. 1. By the time we (get) to the cinema the film (start), so we missed the first five minutes. 2. When I rang the bell there was no answer. The neighbour (tell) me that they (go out) about half an hour ago. 3. I saw Casablanca for the first time last night. I (never, see) it before. 4. After I (have) a huge lunch, I (feel) fat. 5. I spent a week in Miami recently. I (never, be) there before. 6. There was so much to see in Toledo. I wanted to see everything but I (not, have) enough time. 7. She told me she (buy) a new car. 8. When he arrived, Eve wasn't there. She (leave) about five minutes before. 9. When we (arrive) back in Spain, they (lose) our luggage. 10. When I (get back), nobody (do) the washing up. I was furious. 11. After he (start) the lesson I (leave). 12. I (be) very happy after I (finish) my lesson. 13. As soon as he (mend, reparieren) the old watch it (break) again. 14. Everybody (leave) the house by the time I (come) home. 15. I (buy) a new car because some thieves (steal) my old one. 16. It (not, be) his first trip to the mountains, he (be) there many times before. 17. My teacher (ask) me why I (not, do) my homework. 18. She (not, know) him for a long time when she (marry) him. 19. These shoes (be) very clean because our housemaid (clean) them. 20. Yesterday afternoon I (go) downtown and I (meet) Peter.
Past Perfect or Past Simple I Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using either the past perfect or the past simple tenses. 1. By the time we got to the cinema the film had started, so we missed the first five minutes. 2. When I rang the bell there was no answer. The neighbour told me that they had gone out about half an hour ago. 3. I saw Casablanca for the first time last night. I had never seen it before. 4. After I had had a huge lunch, I felt fat. 5. I spent a week in Miami recently. I had never been there before. 6. There was so much to see in Toledo. I wanted to see everything but I didn t have enough time. 7. She told me she had bought a new car. 8. When he arrived, Eve wasn't there. She had left about five minutes before. 9. When we arrived back in Spain, they had lost our luggage. 10. When I got back, nobody had done the washing up. I was furious. 11. After he had started the lesson I left. 12. I was very happy after I had finished my lesson. 13. As soon as he had mended the old watch it broke again. 14. Everybody had left the house by the time I came home. 15. I bought a new car because some thieves had stolen my old one. 16. It wasn t his first trip to the mountains, he had been there many times before. 17. My teacher asked me why I had not done my homework. 18. She had not known him for a long time when she married him. 19. These shoes were very clean because our housemaid had cleaned them. 20. Yesterday afternoon I went downtown and I met Peter.
Past Perfect or Past Simple II Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using either the past perfect or the past simple tenses. 1. He (give) me back the book, (thank) me for lending it to him and (say) that he (enjoy) it very much; but I (know) that he (not, read) it because most of the pages were still uncut. 2. When he (see) his wife off at the station, he (return) home as he (not, have) to be at the airport till 9.30. 3. He (not, have) to pack, for his wife (do, already) that for him and his case (be) ready in the hall. 4. He (not, have) to check the doors and windows either, for his wife always (do) that before she (leave) the house. 5. All he (have) to do was to decide whether or not to take his overcoat with him. In the end he (decide) not to. 6. At 8.30 he (pick up) his case, (go) out of the house and (slam) the door behind him. 7. Then he (feel) in his pockets for the key, for his wife (remind) him to double-lock the front door. 8. When he (search) all his pockets and (find) no key he (remember) where it was. 9. He (leave) it in his overcoat pocket. 10. Then he (remember) something else; his passport and tickets (be) in his overcoat pocket as well. 11. I (arrive) in England in the middle of July. I (be told) that England was shrouded in fog all the year round, so I (be) quite surprised to find that it was merely raining. 12. I (ask) another passenger, an Englishman, about the fog and he (say) that there (not, be) any since the previous February. 13. If I (want) fog, he (say), (come) at quite the wrong time.
14. However, he (tell) me that I could buy tinned fog at a shop in Shaftesbury Avenue. 15. He (admit) that he (never, buy) fog there himself but (assure) that they (sell) good quality fog and that it (not, be) expensive. 16. When the old lady (return) to her flat she (see) at once that burglars (break) in during her absence, because the front door (be) open and everything in the flat (be) upside down. 17. The burglars themselves (be) no longer there, but they probably (only just, leave) because a cigarette was still burning on an ornamental table. 18. Probably they (hear) the lift coming up and (run) down the fire escape. 19. They (help) themselves to her whiskey too but there (be) a little left, so she (pour) herself out a drink. 20. She (wonder) if they (find) her jewellery and rather (hope) that they had. 21. The jewellery (be given) her by her husband, who (die) some years before. 22. Since his death she (not, have) the heart to wear it, yet she (not, like) to sell it. 23. Now it (seem) that fate (take) the matter out of her hands; and certainly the insurance money would come in handy. 24. I (put) the 5 note into one of my books; but the next day it (take) me ages to find it because I (forget) which book I (put) it into. 25. A woman (come) in with a baby, who she (say) (just, swallow) a safety pin.
26. I (think) my train (leave) at 14.33, and (be) very disappointed when I (arrive) at 14.30 and (learn) that it (just, leave). 27. I (find) later that I (use) an out-of-date timetable. 28. He (park) his car under a No Parking sign and (rush) into the shop. When he (come) out of the shop ten minutes later the car no longer (be) there. 29. He (wonder) if someone (steal) it or if the police (drive) it away. 30. It (be) now 6 p.m.; and Jack (be) tired because he (work) hard all day. 31. He (be) also hungry because he (had) nothing to eat since breakfast. 32. His wife usually (bring) him sandwiches at lunch time, but today for some reason she (not, come). 33. He (keep) looking at her, wondering where he (see) her before. 34. I (look out) before I (go) to bed and (see) a man standing on the opposite pavement watching the house. 35. When I (get up) the following morning he (be) still there, and I (wonder) whether he (stay) there all night or if he (go away) and (come back).
Past Perfect or Past Simple II Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using either the past perfect or the past simple tenses. 1. He gave me back the book, thanked me for lending it to him and said that he had enjoyed it very much; but I knew that he hadn t read it because most of the pages were still uncut. 2. When he had seen his wife off at the station, he returned home as he didn t have to be at the airport till 9.30. 3. He didn t have to pack, for his wife had already done that for him and his case was ready in the hall. 4. He didn t have to check the doors and windows either, for his wife always did that before she left the house. 5. All he had to do was to decide whether or not to take his overcoat with him. In the end he decided not to. 6. At 8.30 he picked up his case, went out of the house and slammed the door behind him. 7. Then he felt in his pockets for the key, for his wife had reminded him to double-lock the front door. 8. When he had searched all his pockets and (had) found no key he remembered where it was. 9. He had left it in his overcoat pocket. 10. Then he remembered something else; his passport and tickets were in his overcoat pocket as well. 11. I arrived in England in the middle of July. I had been told that England was shrouded in fog all the year round, so I was quite surprised to find that it was merely raining. 12. I asked another passenger, an Englishman, about the fog and he said that there hadn t been any since the previous February. 13. If I wanted fog, he said, had come at quite the wrong time.
14. However, he told me that I could buy tinned fog at a shop in Shaftesbury Avenue. 15. He admitted that he had never bought fog there himself but assured that they sold good quality fog and that it wasn t expensive. 16. When the old lady returned to her flat she saw at once that burglars had broken in during her absence, because the front door was open and everything in the flat was upside down. 17. The burglars themselves were no longer there, but they probably had only just left because a cigarette was still burning on an ornamental table. 18. Probably they had heard the lift coming up and had run down the fire escape. 19. They had helped themselves to her whiskey too but there was a little left, so she poured herself out a drink. 20. She wondered if they had found her jewellery and rather hoped that they had. 21. The jewellery had been given her by her husband, who had died some years before. 22. Since his death she hadn t had the heart to wear it, yet she hadn t liked to sell it. 23. Now it seemed that fate had taken the matter out of her hands; and certainly the insurance money would come in handy. 24. I put the 5 note into one of my books; but the next day it took me ages to find it because I had forgotten/forgot which book I had put it into. 25. A woman came in with a baby, who she said just had swallowed a safety pin.
26. I thought my train left at 14.33, and was very disappointed when I arrived at 14.30 and learnt that it had just left. 27. I found later that I had used an out-of-date timetable. 28. He parked his car under a No Parking sign and rushed into the shop. When he came out of the shop ten minutes later the car was no longer there. 29. He wondered if someone had stolen it or if the police had driven it away. 30. It was now 6 p.m.; and Jack was tired because he had worked (had been working) hard all day. 31. He was also hungry because he had had nothing to eat since breakfast. 32. His wife usually brought him sandwiches at lunch time, but today for some reason she hadn t come. 33. He kept looking at her, wondering where he had seen her before. 34. I looked out before I went to bed and saw a man standing on the opposite pavement watching the house. 35. When I got up the following morning he was still there, and I wondered whether he had stayed there all night or if he had gone away and come back.
www.perfect-english-grammar.com Past Perfect and Past Simple Choose the past perfect, or the past simple: 1. We had already eaten when John (come) home. 2. Last year Juan (pass) all his exams. 3. When I (get) to the airport I discovered I had forgotten my passport. 4. I went to the library, then I (buy) some milk and went home. 5. I opened my handbag to find that I (forgot) my credit card. 6. When we (arrive) at the station, the train had already left. 7. We got home to find that someone (break) into the house. 8. I opened the fridge to find someone (eat) all my chocolate. 9. I had known my husband for three years when we (get) married. 10. Julie was very pleased to see that John (clean) the kitchen. 2010 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
11. It (not / rain) all summer, so the grass was completely dead. 12. When he (arrive) at the party, Julie had just left. 13. After arriving home, I realised I (not / buy) any milk. 14. The laundry was wet it (rain) while I was out. 15. William felt ill last night because he (eat) too many cakes. 16. Keiko (meet) William last September. 17. First I tidied the flat, then I (sit) down and had a cup of coffee. 18. John (play) the piano when he was a child, but he doesn t play now. 19. When I opened the curtains the sun was shining but the ground was white. It (snow) during the night. 20. When Julie got home from her holiday, her flat was a mess. John (have) a party. 2010 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
Answers: 1. We had already eaten when John came home. 2. Last year Juan passed all his exams. 3. When I got to the airport I discovered I had forgotten my passport. 4. I went to the library, then I bought some milk and went home. 5. I opened my handbag to find that I had forgotten my credit card. 6. When we arrived at the station, the train had already left. 7. We got home to find that someone had broken into the house. 8. I opened the fridge to find someone had eaten all my chocolate. 9. I had known my husband for three years when we got married. 10. Julie was very pleased to see that John had cleaned the kitchen. 11. It hadn t rained all summer, so the grass was completely dead. 12. When he arrived at the party, Julie had just left. 13. After arriving home, I realised I hadn t bought any milk. 14. The laundry was wet it had rained while I was out. 15. William felt ill last night because he had eaten too many cakes. 16. Keiko met William last September. 17. First I tidied the flat, then I sat down and had a cup of coffee. 18. John played the piano when he was a child, but he doesn t play now. 19. When I opened the curtains the sun was shining but the ground was white. It had snowed during the night. 20. When Julie got home from her holiday, her flat was a mess. John had had a party. 2010 www.perfect-english-grammar.com May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.