Level 4 Chapter 9 - Past perfect vs present perfect vs past progressive vs simple past
select the right answer
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 som 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 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
My coffee wa too sweet. He ________ sugar in it twice!
had put
has put
was putting
put
The doctor told him he ________ his arm when he fell
had broken
broke
was breaking
has broken
The plumber arrived late. He ____________ to see another client on the way to our house.
had decided
has decided
was deciding
is deciding
You could tell, when you saw him, that he ________ seriously from stress.
has 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 isn't coming today. He I think he ____________ to see another client instead.
had decided
has decided
decided
was deciding
The meat was burned because he ___________ it too long
has cooked
was cooking
had cooked
cooked
My coffee is too sweet. I think I ________ sugar in it twice!
had put
was putting
put
have put
The pupils found the exercise difficult because they ______________ while the teacher was describing how to do it.
hadn't listened
haven't listened
didn't listen
weren't listening
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. Many people _____________ by the time he finished.
left
had left
were leaving
have left
He woke up to find the house cold, he _____________ to close the front door.
forget
had forgotten
has forgotten
was forgetting
His sudden illness was a shock but not really surprising. He ______ _______________ from stress for many years.
was suffering
had suffered
suffered
is suffering
The photo made the old lady feel nostalgic. The town __________ so much since her youth.