The Past Perfect Tense

Exercise 1

Past simple and past perfect.

Say what happened first.

Ten people had eaten chicken. They all fell ill. First they ate chicken

1. Two men delivered the sofa. I had аlrеadу paid for it. First______________

2. When the headmaster came in, everyone stood up. First______________

3. We didn't stop until we'd finished the work.

4. The light came on when I pressed the First______________ switch.

Exercise 2

Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the Past Perfect Tense.

1. The typist had typed the article by five o'clock.

2. He told me that he had almost finished translating the text.

3. By the end of the уеar he had learnt to speak French.

4. More than a year had passed since I first met him.

5. When he had written and sent the letter he felt better.

6. I was at the party but I didn’t talk to Tom. When I came he had just left.

7. As I hadn’t got an answer, I sent him another letter.

8. The whole family had gone to bed when Tony returned.

9. After the guests had gone, Liz sank into an arm-chair and drew, and drew a long breath.

10.They hadn't completed the test when the teacher came.

11. We reached the village before it had grown dark.

12.They had agreed upon the plan before I arrived, so I couldn’t interfere.

13.It was not until they both had signed the papers that he managed a smile.

14. This man had been ill for weeks when the doctor came; nothing could be done for him.

15. We had hardly left home when it began to rain heavily.

16. Hardly had he answered the phone when his brother came.

17. By the end of that year ho had almost recovered.

18. The clock had no sooner struck five than the appeared.

19. No sooner had I come than the lecture began.

20. He waited until the rider had disappeared and started on his way home.

Exercise 3

Look at the list of things Jane and Pete had(*)/hadn’t done before they went to the airport. They phoned their neighbors asking them to help them out. Make up their requests.

Pattern: Jane: Before I left the house, I hadn’t turned off the cooker, …

Pete: Before I went to the airport, I hadn’t cancelled the newspapers, …

Jane	Pete
turn off the cooker take the passports* close the kitchen window shut the fridge door* take the plants to the neighbors turn the radio* cancel the milk* phone parents	take the camera* cancel the newspapers turn off the TV pack the umbrella* take the tickets take the cat to Nick* turn on the security system

Exercise 4

Complete the following sentences using the Past Perfect Tense of the verbs suggested in brackets.

Pattern: When she left, she remembered that she (not to lock the kitchen window).

When she left, she remembered that she hadn’t locked the kitchen window.

1. I was very sorry to hear that he (to leave).

2. When we got to the University, the lecture (to start already).

1. When he came home after work, the family (to start watching TV).

2. He didn't return to his work until he (to spend all his money).

3. When I met her I understood why David (to refuse to marry her).

6.I didn't know what to do when I understood that I (to leave my purse at home).

7.He didn't start watching TV until he (to walk his dog).

8.She managed to grasp the main idea of the article only after she (to reed it twice).

9. She was tired because she (to walk too much).

10. They never started eating until they (to wash their hands).

11. We didn't meet Lucy because she (to go away the day before).

12.By the end of that year we (to forget our quarrels).

13. Betty didn't speak until everyone (to stop chattering).

14.They suddenly remembered that they (not to send the, parcel to its owner).

15.She returned to the hotel after she (to visit her old friend).

16.He didn't gel anything until he (to pay for if).

Exercise 5

Join the following pairs of sentences by making one of them a clause with the verb in the Past Perfect Tense. Use the conjunctions given in brackets.

Pattern: They went for a walk. Thеу did their homework. (after)

They went for a walk after they had done their homework.

1. He left the room. I turned on the TV. (after).

2. She didn't talk to him. He finished revising for his exams. (until)

3. She worked as a flower-girl. She owned a flower-shop (before)

4. She looked at the sky. The sun set. (until)

5. She cooked dinner. She called her family to the dining-room, (after, as soon as)

6. Alan read the article in the newspaper. He went downstairs to tell the news to his wife. (after)

7. Alice didn't think about lime. She understood she was late. (until)

8. They reached the mountain top. The sun set. (when, as soon as)

9. She tore up the note. He read it carefully. (as soon as)

10. I didn't understand him. He repeated his words twice. (until)

11. She looked at him. He disappeared in the darkness. (until)

12. The Brown left their house. They sold it. (when)

13. John opened the parcel and looked up. The messenger disappeared. (before)

14. Larry got that job. He managed to buy a new car. (after)

15. Margaret read the contract. She signed it. (after)