Exercises on The Past Perfect Tense. Exercises on The Past Perfect Tense Past perfect knowledge test

c) another simultaneous action in Present Continuous:

2. An action that will take place at a certain period of time in the future is not necessarily continuous throughout that period.

Future Continuous marker words

The time of action is usually explained by the following adverbial words:

- all day (long) - all day

- all day tomorrow - all day tomorrow

- all summer - all summer

- the whole evening / day - all evening

— from 5 till 8 – from 5 to 8 and others.

3. A future action that is likely to occur in the natural course of events (as opposed to a planned future action, where the Present Continuous is used). Moreover, the exact time of its occurrence may not be indicated:

Additional materials:

24 Sep

If the Future Perfect is used with an adverb already — already and other adverbial words, then these words are placed after the auxiliary verb will:

Additional materials:

24 Sep

2. A continuous past action that ended immediately before a certain moment or action in the past. In particular, a specific moment in the past is usually determined by the situation, and the Past Perfect Continuous form itself emphasizes the duration of the previous action and its consequences in relation to the moment being described. The period of time during which the action was performed may or may not be specified:

For example:

Her eyes were red. I saw she had been crying.

She had red eyes. I saw that she cried present partial– a verb ending in –ing). In interrogative sentences we place the verb “be” before the subject, and in negative sentences we add the particle “not” directly to the helping verb: Use We use the Past Continuous form to indicate that a long action in the past was interrupted by another, short, single action. An action that interrupts a longer one is expressed by a verb in the past simple form. In addition to the case we considered above, the sentence may contain indication of a specific time when an action took place. Please note that the Past Simple form is used to express the specific time when an action began or ended. In the case of the Past Continuous, this moment in time only “wedges” into the action. When two actions in a sentence are described by verbs in the past continuous tense, they introduce the idea that these actions happen simultaneously. In English we often use the Past Continuous to describe a series parallel actions, creating the atmosphere at a certain moment in the past. We use the Past Continuous with words like “always” or “constantly” to show that something the action was repeated too often and it annoyed or shocked us. This situation is similar to “used to”, but with the difference that here we experience negative emotions. The words “always” or “constantly” come between the helping verb “be” and the “verb + ing.” While or When? Speaking about subordinate clauses of time, do not forget about the difference in the use of conjunctions while and when. Some of them begin with when, as in when she called or when it bit me. Others begin with while, as in while she was sleeping and while he was surfing. So when we talk about single actions in the past, then we use when with a verb in the Past Simple form. While is used with the Past Continuous form to describe actions that took place during some action in the past. Exceptions It is also important to remember that a number of verbs are not used in continuous forms. Others, such as mixed, have meanings that are not compatible with continuous forms. In such cases, instead of the Past Continuous form, the Past Simple form is used. Word order The examples below show the locations of words such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, indicating time. They are placed between the helping verb be and “verb + ing.” Example: He was still watching TV when she called Was he still watching TV when she called?

c) another simultaneous action in Present Continuous:

2. An action that will take place at a certain period of time in the future is not necessarily continuous throughout that period.

Future Continuous marker words

The time of action is usually explained by the following adverbial words:

- all day (long) - all day

- all day tomorrow - all day tomorrow

- all summer - all summer

- the whole evening / day - all evening

— from 5 till 8 – from 5 to 8 and others.

3. A future action that is likely to occur in the natural course of events (as opposed to a planned future action, where the Present Continuous is used). Moreover, the exact time of its occurrence may not be indicated:

Additional materials:

24 Sep

If the Future Perfect is used with an adverb already — already and other adverbial words, then these words are placed after the auxiliary verb will:

Additional materials:

24 Sep

2. A continuous past action that ended immediately before a certain moment or action in the past. In particular, a specific moment in the past is usually determined by the situation, and the Past Perfect Continuous form itself emphasizes the duration of the previous action and its consequences in relation to the moment being described. The period of time during which the action was performed may or may not be specified:

For example:

Her eyes were red. I saw she had been crying.

She had red eyes. I saw that she cried present partial– a verb ending in –ing). In interrogative sentences we place the verb “be” before the subject, and in negative sentences we add the particle “not” directly to the helping verb: Use We use the Past Continuous form to indicate that a long action in the past was interrupted by another, short, single action. An action that interrupts a longer one is expressed by a verb in the past simple form. In addition to the case we considered above, the sentence may contain indication of a specific time when an action took place. Please note that the Past Simple form is used to express the specific time when an action began or ended. In the case of the Past Continuous, this moment in time only “wedges” into the action. When two actions in a sentence are described by verbs in the past continuous tense, they introduce the idea that these actions happen simultaneously. In English we often use the Past Continuous to describe a series parallel actions, creating the atmosphere at a certain moment in the past. We use the Past Continuous with words like “always” or “constantly” to show that something the action was repeated too often and it annoyed or shocked us. This situation is similar to “used to”, but with the difference that here we experience negative emotions. The words “always” or “constantly” come between the helping verb “be” and the “verb + ing.” While or When? Speaking about subordinate clauses of time, do not forget about the difference in the use of conjunctions while and when. Some of them begin with when, as in when she called or when it bit me. Others begin with while, as in while she was sleeping and while he was surfing. So when we talk about single actions in the past, then we use when with a verb in the Past Simple form. While is used with the Past Continuous form to describe actions that took place during some action in the past. Exceptions It is also important to remember that a number of verbs are not used in continuous forms. Others, such as mixed, have meanings that are not compatible with continuous forms. In such cases, instead of the Past Continuous form, the Past Simple form is used. Word order The examples below show the locations of words such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, indicating time. They are placed between the helping verb be and “verb + ing.” Example: He was still watching TV when she called Was he still watching TV when she called?

Practice exercises Past Perfect– a great opportunity to reinforce the rules for using this difficult time. By the way, Past Perfect rules are also available on the website. And we'll do the exercises. Past perfect exercises are offered with answers, so you can easily verify your success or, if necessary, once again refer to the theory article. In some exercises, different answer options are possible, so for them I will give approximate options.

The exercises are divided into 2 levels: level A is somewhat simpler, level B is a little more difficult.

Past perfect level A exercises.

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect tense of the verbs below. (Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect form of the verbs below.)

Example/Example:

to learn the poem

I went to bed after I had learned the poem.

to have dinner, to do homework, to come, to read the book, to clean the room, to go shopping, to return from Australia, to finish work

1. I went to see my friend after...
2. I watched TV after...
3. They went home after...
4. He phoned me after...
5. She went to dance after...
6. We wrote a composition after...
7. They rebuilt the house after...
8. We went for a walk after...

Exercise 2. Insert the verbs in the Past Perfect tense. (Insert the verbs into the Past Perfect.)

1. I ... (to have) breakfast before I went to school.
2. He went to meet his friends after he ... (to do) his homework.
3. By 8 o’clock the rain... (to stop).
4. Alice was late because she ... (to miss) the bus.
5. She went to the post-office after she ... (to write) the letter.
6. He... (to work) at the factory before he entered the college.
7. He got a bad mark for his test because he ... (to make) a lot of mistakes in it.
8. I went to bed after I... (to finish) reading the book.
9. The child... (to fall) asleep before the parents came home.
10. They ... (to marry) before they bought this house.

Exercise 3. Use Past Perfect of the verbs in the box to complete the sentences. (Use the Past Perfect of the suggested verbs to complete the sentences.)

to leave, to go, to die, to see, to live, to fly

1. I didn’t read the text in class because I … my book at home.
2. The children didn’t want to go to the cinema because they ... already ... the film.
3. Kate wasn’t at home last week because she ... to visit her uncle.
4. Linda never knew her father because he ... before she was born.
5. I was excited when the plane took off because I... never ... before.
6. My grandfather was always afraid of animals because he ... never ... in the country.

Exercise 4. Insert the verbs in the Past Perfect tense. (Insert verbs into PastPerfect.)

1. Jill was afraid she _____ (forget) her key at home, but she found it in her handbag.

2. Dad wasn’t at home when I came back. He _____ (go) out twenty minutes before.

3. I wasn’t hungry because I_____ (just/have) breakfast.

4. Peter saw an urgent message on his table. Somebody _____ (leave) it the day before.

5. I apologized I _____ (not/phone) her.

6. He told me that he _____ (come back) a fortnight before.

7. I knew him at once though I _____ (meet) him many years before.

8. We spent the night in Klin, a town we _____ (often/hear of) but_____ (never/see).

9. They couldn’t believe he _____ (give up) his job in the bank. He _____ (make) a good living there.

10.Mr. Jackson said that he _____ (already/buy) everything for lunch.

11. Alice asked her brother where he _____ (arrange) to meet his friends.

12. We had no car at that time because we _____ (sell) our old one.

13. They _____ (finish) painting the ceiling by two o’clock.

Past perfect level B exercises.

Exercise 5. Say what action was done before. Combine the two sentences into one. (Determine which action happened first. Combine the two sentences into one without changing parts. Use BEFORE)

Example/ Example

I sent a telegram. Then I met my friend.

I had sent a telegram before I met my friend.

1. The rain stopped. I went for a walk.
2. I did my homework. My mother returned home.
3. We met in the street. We went to the park.
4. They packed their things. Then they started.
5. I had dinner. I switched on the TV set.
6. He returned home. The guests left.
7. We came to the cinema. The film began.
8. I read the book. I saw the play. .
9. They lived here. They moved to another place.
10. We played a game of tennis. We went to my place

Exercise 6. Connect each pair of sentences with the conjunctions before, as soon as, after. (Combine the two sentences into one using before, as soon as, after.)

Example/Example

They had lived in the country. They moved to the city.

They had lived in the country before they moved to the city.

1. He had finished school. He went to a camp.
2. She had telephoned her friend. She went to meet her.
3. I read the book. I had seen the film.
4. I had cleaned my room. I invited my friends home.
5. He entered the university. He had finished school.
6. Didn't tell me about his impressions. He had returned from his journey.
7. He was unhappy. He had got bad news.
8. I had finished the text. I handed in my exercise-book.

Exercise 7. Complete the sentences using Past Perfect. (Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect).

I watched a new film after…

I went for a walk after...

I fell asleep after...

I began to read a book after...

I helped my mother about the house after...

Answers:

Exercise 1. Sample answers:

1. I went to see my friend after I had done my homework.
2. I watched TV after I had come.
3. They went home after they had finished work.
4. He telephoned me after he had cleaned the room.
5. She went to dance after she had had dinner
6. We wrote a composition after he had read the book.
7. They rebuilt the house after they had come from Australia.
8. We went for a walk after he had gone shopping.

Exercise 2.

1 had had, 2 had done, 3 had stopped, 4 had missed, 5 had written, 6 had worked, 7 had made, 8 had finished, 9 had fallen, 10 had married

Exercise 3.

1 had left, 2 had already seen. 3 had gone, 4 had died, 5 had never flown, 6 had never lived

Exercise 4.

1 had forgotten, 2 had gone, 3 had just had, 4 had left, 5 had not telephoned, 6 had come back, 7 had met, 8 had often heard/ had never seen, 9 had given up/ had made, 10 had already bought, 11 had arranged, 12 had sold, 13 had finished

Exercise 5. Sample answers:

1. The rain had stopped before I went for a walk.
2. I had done my homework before my mother returned home.
3. We had met in the street before we went to the park.
4. They had packed their things before they started.
5. I had had dinner before I switched on the TV set.
6. Before he returned home the guests had left.
7. Before we came to the cinema the film had begun.
8. I had read the book before I saw the play. .
9. They had lived here before they moved to another place.
10. We had played a game of tennis before we went to my place

Exercise 6. Sample answers:

1. After he had finished school, he went to a camp.
2. As soon as she had telephoned her friend, she went to meet her.
3. I read the book after I had seen the film.
4. I had cleaned my room before I invited my friends home.
5. He entered the university after he had finished school.
6. Didn't tell me about his impressions after he had returned from his journey.
7. He was unhappy after he had got bad news.
8. After I had finished the text, I handed in my exercise-book.

Hope, Past Perfect exercises you liked it and were up to the task!