BETHLEMITAS BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL
PAS PERFECT TENSE
NAME______________________________________
DATE_________________ COURSE____________
We use the past perfect to talk about an action that
happened before another action in the past.
THE FORM
had / hadn’t + the past participle
Ex: I had done it.
She hadn’t done it.
Had they done it?
I. Finish the sentences using the past perfect:
1. Sue didn’t pass the exams
because_______________________________________
2. When we got to the
party_________________________________________
3. Mark was broke
because_______________________________________
4. When I called for the
job___________________________________________
5. By the time the film
finished_______________________________________
II. Answer the questions using the past perfect:
1. Why was she so
excited?_______________________________________
2. Why did he feel
tired?_________________________________________
3. Why were you
sick?_________________________________________
4. Why wasn’t she at the
party?________________________________________
III. Choose the correct option.
1.When Anne opened/had opened the
door, she realized that somebody
broke/had broken into.
2. Elisa was very upset because her
computer disappeared/had
disappeared yesterday.
3. My cousin promised/had promised
me to bring me a souvenir from France
last month.
5. By the time Julia left/had left the
shop, she spent/had spent all her money on clothes.
6. I didn’t want to see that film because I saw/had seen it
twice.
7. Philip tidied/had tidied his bedroom before he left/had
left for work.
8.-My husband did/had done the shopping after I
called/had called him.
9. Alfred had worked/worked in a bank for five years
before he was sent to Rome.
10. The judge said that she was guilty because she
took/had taken the money for herself
IV. Complete the text with verbs in brackets. Use
Past Simple or Past Perfect.
In March 1999, thieves …………….. (steal) diamonds
jewellery from Woolworth, a famous
jewellery shop in Boston. The thieves
were very smart. Before the robbery,
they ………… (hide) in the building
next door and ………… (cut) a hole
through the wall.
They used it to get into the shop. By the
time the guard at the entrance……….
(see) them, they …………..
(already/take) the very expensive
jewellery from the safe.
A man from the neighbourhood ………….….
(hear) some noises in the shop and he
…………….…. (call) the police but when they
………….…… (arrive) to the shop, the thieves
………….………. (escape)
V. Rewrite the sentences using the past simple and
past perfect.
1. He (be) tired because he (not eat) anything since the
morning.______________________________________
2. When all the guests (leave) I (start) tidying
_____________________________________________
3. As soon as Jack (eat) his ice-cream he (go) to buy
another one.
_____________________________________________
4. She (be) very upset because he (not answer) her e-
mails._________________________________________
5. The film already (start) when we (arrive).
_____________________________________________
VI. Choose the correct option to complete the
sentences.
1. By the time the ambulance ___, it was too late - the
patient ____.
A. Arrived / had already died B. had arrived / already
died
2. On the day of my presentation, I ____ that ____to
bring my notes
A realized / I'd forgotten B.had realized / I forgot
3. My kids _____late this morning because _____ to bed
late the night before.
A. slept / they'd gone B. had slept / they went
4. I ______ if I could borrow her textbook, but she
_______ it to another student.
A. asked / had already lent B. had asked / already lent.
VII. Read the story and answer the following
questions using past perfect tenses.
Last night, Dane and Emily
danced in a competition. They
danced a salsa dance. They had
practiced for 6 months before they
danced in the competition. They
were very good.
Dane and Emily's friends were in
the audience. Before that night,
they had never seen Dane and
Emily dance. In fact, Dane and
Emily had never danced in front of anyone before the
competition.
After everyone had danced, the judges announced the
winners. Dane and Emily won! They were the best
dancers in the competition. Emily said she had never
practiced so hard before! She was glad they had
practiced a lot.
1. How long had Dane and Emily practiced before the
competition?___________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. Before that night, who had seen Dane and Emily
dance?_______________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. What happened after everyone had
danced?______________________________________
_____________________________________________