The Past Perfect Simple Tense
Exercises
1. Use the Past Perfect Simple + never / ever before according to the model:
e.g. Mary sang beautifully.
a) Mary had never sung so beautifully before.
b) She sang more beautifully than she had ever sung before.
1. We did many exercises.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
2. I was busy yesterday.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
3. You were very happy on Sunday.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
4. The children ate many cakes.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
5. The soup tasted delicious.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
6. Little Kate looked very pretty yesterday.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
7. the food smelt good.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
8. We read a very interesting story.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
9. You discussed an important problem.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
10. Robert passed a difficult exam.
a) ……………………………………………………………………………
b) ……………………………………………………………………………
2. Connect the following sentences according to the model:
e.g. I wrote the letter. I posted it.
After I had written the letter, I posted it.
1. You locked the door. You left the house.
……………………………………………………………………………
2. I sat down. I opened my text book.
……………………………………………………………………………
3. The children had dinner. They went to bed.
……………………………………………………………………………
4. We bought the tickets. We got on the train.
……………………………………………………………………………
5. I swept the floor. I dusted the furniture.
……………………………………………………………………………
6. The patient took the medicine. He felt much better.
……………………………………………………………………………
7. The rain stopped. We went for a walk.
……………………………………………………………………………
8. You understood the rule. You did a difficult exercise.
……………………………………………………………………………
9. The old woman read the telegram. She burst into tears.
……………………………………………………………………………
10. The train left. The boys went home.
……………………………………………………………………………
3. Replace the Past Tense after until by Past Perfect Simple in order to emphasize the
completion of the second action. Work on the model:
e.g. The wounded man didn’t move until the doctor arrived.
The wounded man didn’t move until the doctor had arrived.
1. We didn’t get frightened until we heard that noise.
……………………………………………………………………………
2. The tourists didn’t leave the hotel until the rain stopped.
……………………………………………………………………………
3. Mother didn’t shut the windows until she swept the floor.
……………………………………………………………………………
4. The audience didn’t applaud until the singer stopped singing.
……………………………………………………………………………
5. You could not translate the new lesson until you learnt all the new words.
……………………………………………………………………………
6. The children didn’t start eating until they washed their hands.
……………………………………………………………………………
7. We didn’t stop worrying until William rang us up.
……………………………………………………………………………
8. Mr. Brown didn’t begin his speech until everybody was seated.
……………………………………………………………………………
9. Grandfather didn’t go to bed until he took his medicine.
……………………………………………………………………………
10. We didn’t believe her until she showed us the photos.
……………………………………………………………………………
4. Use the verbs in brackets in the Past Perfect Simple:
1. His grandmother died after she (to be) ………………………. ill for three years.
2. I thanked her for what she (to say) ……………………………… about my painting.
3. After the guests (to leave) ………………………………….., we went to bed.
4. My cousin (not to see) ……………….. me for a long time when I met him three days ago.
5. She answered my question after I (to repeat) ……………………………. it three times.
6. He was so sorry that he (to hurt) ………………………… her.
7. No sooner Jack (to remember) ………………………………….. her phone number than he
tried to call her up.
8. The beggar was looking at the loaf of bread as if he (not to eat) ……………………. for a
long time.
9. If we (to know) ………………………………….. her address, we would have certainly paid
her a visit.
10. Within a week she knew the fearful mistake she (to make) …………………………..
11. About ten people already (to arrive) ………………………… when she entered the room.
12. There was something familiar about his face but she couldn’t remember where she (to see)
…………......................... him before.
13. As soon as the doctor (to leave) …………………………, the sick woman wanted to see
him again.
14. The policeman wanted to know why she (to come) ………………………….. there.
15. I wished I (not to meet) …………………………………. that girl before.
16. I explained to him that I would help him with those exercises after I (to finish)
…………………. my homework.
17. She was looking at us as if she (not to recognize) …………………………….. us.
18. When stone axes were in use, metal (not to be) …………………………… discovered yet.
19. The fire (to spread) ………………………………………… to the other houses, too, before
the fireman arrived.
20. The lights hardly (to go out) …………………………….. when a strange noise was heard.
