Exercises

Unit 5 · Past perfect simple, past perfect continuous

5-A

Complete using the correct past perfect simple form of the verbs in brackets.

By the time I arrived, everyone (leave)!

Steve (already / see) the film, so he didn't come with us to the cinema.

Tina (not / finish) doing the housework by seven o'clock, so she called Andrea to tell her she would be late.

(you / just / speak) to Billy when I rang?

The car broke down just after (we / set off).

I didn't eat anything at the party because (I / already / eat) at home.

(you / hear) about the accident before you saw it on TV?

5-B

Choose the sentence (A or B) which means the same as the first sentence.

We'd had dinner when Wendy arrived.
A Wendy arrived and then we had dinner.
B We had dinner and then Wendy arrived.

I read the book after I'd seen the film.
A I saw the film and then I read the book.
B I read the book and then I saw the film.

By the time Dad came home, I'd gone to bed.
A I went to bed before Dad came home.
B I went to bed after Dad came home.

She didn't go to bed until her mum had come home.
A She went to bed and then her mum came home.
B Her mum came home and then she went to bed.

Mr Banks hadn't arrived at the office by the time I got there.
A I arrived before Mr Banks.
B Mr Banks arrived before me.

They'd bought the plane tickets before they heard about the cheaper flight.
A They bought the plane tickets and later heard about the cheaper flight.
B They heard about the cheaper flight and then they bought the plane tickets.

The girls had tidied the house when the visitors arrived.
A The visitors arrived and later the girls tidied the house.
B The girls tidied the house and then the visitors arrived.

5-C

Write sentences using the prompts. One of the verbs must be in the past perfect simple.

we / just / hear / the news / when / you / ring

I / already / think of / that / before / you / suggest / it

when / I / turn on / the TV / the programme / already / start

she / be / hungry / because / she / not / eat / anything / all day

by the time / I / leave / school / I / decide / to become / a musician

5-D

Look at the pictures and complete the sentences. Use the correct form of the past perfect continuous.

She was tired because (run).

They were hot because (dance).

The garden was flooded because (it / rain / all night).

Did they crash because (drive / too fast)?

When I arrived, (they / wait / for over half an hour).

When I got there, (they / not / wait / long).

5-E

Choose the correct answer.

I'd only the washing-up for a few minutes when Clare came home, so she offered to finish it.
A done B been doing

Had you already James his birthday present when we gave him ours?
A given B been giving

Gail hadn't me that she would help me, so I wasn't angry when she didn't.
A told B been telling

Mum had her cup of tea for several minutes before she realised it had salt in it!
A drunk B been drinking

We'd ready all day when they called to say the party had been cancelled.
A got B been getting

It was a fantastic experience because I'd never in a plane before.
A flown B been flying

5-F

If a line is correct, put a tick (√). If there is an extra word in a line, write the word.

Dear Diary,
1 had This morning my exam results finally had came. I'd been expecting
2 _________ them for the last week. I knew I'd been done quite well, but I was
3 _________ still nervous as I had opened the envelope. Before I'd had a chance to
4 _________ look at them, my sister ran up and pulled them out of my hand! She
5 _________ had read them out one by one. 'English A, maths A, biology A,
6 _________ French A ...' This was the news I'd been waiting for. I'd got As in
7 _________ every subject – even geography, which I hadn't been making sure
8 _________ about! When Mum and Dad heard the news, they immediately started
9 _________ been shouting with joy. By the time I'd had breakfast, Mum had
10 _________ already called Grandma and Grandpa and had yet told the neighbours!

them for the last week. I knew I'd been done quite well, but I was

still nervous as I had opened the envelope. Before I'd had a chance to

look at them, my sister ran up and pulled them out of my hand! She

had read them out one by one. 'English A, maths A, biology A,

French A ...' This was the news I'd been waiting for. I'd got As in

every subject – even geography, which I hadn't been making sure

about! When Mum and Dad heard the news, they immediately started

been shouting with joy. By the time I'd had breakfast, Mum had

already called Grandma and Grandpa and had yet told the neighbours!

Theory