Level
4 Unit 9 -
Past perfect / present perfect / past progressive / simple past
Select the correct answer from the choices given
The Past Perfect compared to other tenses.
The Past perfect is used to relate two actions closely. The following do NOT use the Past perfect
He had breakfast before he went to work. or He went to work after he had breakfast These use the simple past and they just say one action came after the other
If you use "when", however, you get: He went to work when he had had breakfast.
There is usually something of a cause and effect relationship in sentences like this.
He got wet because he had forgotten his umbrella They fired him; he had given company secrets to another firm.
Don't forget the past progressive (there are examples in this exercise) is used for a continuing action at some specific time:
He was interviewing an applicant at 10 o'clock this morning. I was trying to pursuade a client to buy a computer when it crashed!
The present perfect (look out for it in the exercise) is used in unfinished time. I haven't seen John this week.
and sometimes (especially with "just") for something very recent;
I've just spoken to him on the phone. I see there's just been another financial crisis on Wall Street!
The doctor told him he ________ 'flu and had better go to bed.
had had
had
was having
has had
The pupils found the exercise difficult even though the teacher ______________ how to do it.
was explaining
had explained
explained
is explaining
The coffee tasted awful. John ________ salt in the sugar bowl by mistake!
had put
has put
was putting
put
When we got John to hospital they found he ________ his arm when he fell.
had broken
broke
was breaking
has broken
The plumber arrived late. He said his van ____________ down.
had broken
has broken
was breaking
broke
You could tell, from the way he was shaking, that he ________ seriously from stress.
had suffered
has suffered
suffered
was suffering
I'm sure he's not nervous. He ________ in this kind of match often.
had played
has played
played
was playing
The actor laughed nervously at the reporter's question. He ___________ they would talk about his work, not his girlfriend.
was hoping
had hoped
hoped
has hoped
If he ________ for the exam, he wouldn't have done so well.
wasn't revising
hadn't revised
hasn't revised
didn't revise
The boxer decided it was time to retire. He _________ every prize it was possible to win.
won
was winning
has won
had won
John will probably fail his driving test. He ________ enough lessons in my opinion.
wasn't taking
didn't take
hadn't taken
hasn't taken
He e-mailed the report he __________ to the president's office.
completed
had completed
was completing
has completed
He wasn't nervous about the big football match, he was experienced and _____________ in this type of game before
was playing
has played
had played
played
John is quite an experienced player. I see he ________ in 14 professonal matches last year.
played
has played
was playing
had played
The art gallery was burgled last night. When the police arrived, they found that three valuable paintings ____________ .
were disappearing
had disappeared
disappeared
have disappeared
The plumber has just called to say he isn't coming today. I think he ____________ to see another client instead.
had decided
has decided
decided
was deciding
This steak wouldn't be so dry if you ___________ it so long
haven't cooked
weren't cooking
hadn't cooked
didn't cook
This wine you are serving doesn't have much body. In my opinion you ________ it in the cellar long enough.
hadn't kept
weren't keeping
didn't keep
haven't kept
Did you see that flash? It was a speed camera. If you ______________ your GPS it would have warned you to slow down.
have turned on
had turned on
turned on
were turning on
The Politician's speech was too long. Many people _____________ before he finished.
left
had left
were leaving
have left
The Politician's speech was too long. By the time he finished most of his audience _____________ home!
went
had gone
were going
have gone
He woke up to find the house cold, he _____________ to close the front door.
forget
had forgotten
has forgotten
was forgetting
The minister's sudden illness was a shock but not really surprising. He ____________ from a weak heart for several years.
was suffering
had suffered
suffered
is suffering
The photo made the old lady feel nostalgic. The town __________ so much since her youth.