Grammar Practice Worksheets

Past Perfect
Table of Contents
2 Grammar Notes

4 Exercise 1
Matching

5 Exercise 2
Fill in the Blanks

6 Exercise 3
By the Time

Exercise 4
7
Negative Sentences

Exercise 5
8 Pair Work

Exercise 6
10 Writing

Exercise 7
11 Review (Past Perfect, Present Perfect & Simple
Past)

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 Past Perfect
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes
PAST PERFECT

A. Introduction

The past perfect is used for two actions that occurred at

different times in the past. In a past perfect sentence, the first
past action (further in the past) uses the past perfect, and the
second past action (more recent) uses the simple past.

Past Perfect
6:00 pm 8:00 pm
• She had eaten dinner
1 2
by the time I called her.
Diagram
• By the time I called
She ate dinner. I called her. her,
she had eaten
dinner.

Form had + past participle

Function one past action happened before another past action

Time Markers • by the time (Note that other time markers such as yesterday, last, ago,

• when already, just, still, and yet are often additionally used.)
• before
• Everyone had left by the time I locked up.
• I had already sent email about
the missing stop sign before
they fixed it.
Examples
• By the time my girlfriend woke up, the movie had ended.
• Had you already heard the news when I texted you?

• They couldn’t hand in their group project

because one member hadn’t finished her
section yet.

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Grammar Notes cont.

B. Notes

Note #1 Note #4
When the dependent (time) clause begins the The past perfect is not as common as the simple
sentence, we usually use a comma. We don’t past.
need a comma when the independent clause In fact, we can use the simple past instead of
begins the sentence. There is no change in the past perfect, especially in informal situations
meaning. (mostly when a time marker other than “by the
time” is used). There is no change in meaning.
• By the time I graduated, I had
made many new business • I had shut down my
contacts. computer before I left the
house.
• I had made many new business
contacts by the time I graduated. • I shut down my computer
before I left the house. (more common)

Note #2
Instead of a dependent clause, we can use an Bonus:
adverb phrase of time (note that a phrase has Can you figure out the meaning of this sentence?
no subject
or past verb). Examples of typical phrases include All the faith he had had had had
by July 2010, by 6:00 last night, by the weekend, etc.
no effect on the outcome of his
• By August 2017, they had
completed the additions to the life.
building.

• She had already left the

office by 2:00 pm yesterday.

Note #3
The past perfect action can be repeated, or
there could be multiple actions before the
final one.
• I had texted my son five times
before he got back to me.

• He had cleaned his room, made dinner,

and done his homework by the time I got home.

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 Past Perfect
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Exercise 1
MATCHING

Match the first part of the sentence on

the left with the correct ending on the
right.

g 1.
Her plants died because... a) she had lost her doll.
2.
He couldn’t buy the new computer b) she had left her purse at home.
3.
because... The kids couldn’t fall asleep c) she had already left the office.
4.
last night because... The little girl was d) he hadn’t studied at all.
5.
crying because... e) he had spent all his money.
6.
I didn’t have to buy groceries f) she had forgotten to set the alarm.
7.
because... He failed his exam g) she hadn’t watered them.
8.
because... h) they had watched a scary movie.
9.
The man bought a new camera i) I had gone shopping the day before.
10
because... My sister couldn’t pay for j) he had lost his old one.
.
lunch because... The woman slept

late because...

I couldn’t speak to the boss because...

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 Past Perfect
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Exercise 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Write the past perfect tense of the verbs below the blanks.

Ex. The teacher had already corrected all the students’ tests.
(correct)

1. When I got to the house, Mary wasn’t there. She already .

(leave)

2. I didn’t recognize my old classmate because she so much.

(change)

3. We missed the beginning of the movie. When we got to the theatre, it

already .
(start)

4. I was very nervous for my first plane trip because I never before.
(fly)

5. I couldn’t eat much dinner last night because I such a big lunch.
(have)

6. I couldn’t make dinner yesterday. When I got to the supermarket, it already

.
(close)

7. Last week, our teacher gave back the essays we the week before.
(write)

8. The house was quiet when he got home. Everyone to bed several hours earlier.
(go)

9. They got to school late yesterday. The bell already .

(ring)

10. Aisha couldn’t come to my house last night because she already other plans.
(make)

11. We couldn’t find the house. It was clear that he us the wrong address.
(give)

12. Annie didn’t want to come to the movie with us because she it the week before.
(see)

13. By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robber already .
(escape)

14. I couldn’t get into my house last night because I my key.

(forget)

15. They just at the resort when they heard about the incoming hurricane.
(arrive)

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Exercise 3
BY THE TIME

Use the prompts to make a past perfect sentence with “by the time” and “already.”

Ex. I missed my plane. (airport / plane take off)

By the time I got to the airport, the plane had already taken off.

1. I missed the show. (theatre / movie start)

2. I couldn’t get my prescription. (drugstore / close)

3. I couldn’t say goodbye to my friends. (call their house / they leave)

4. I didn’t get the job. (I apply / they hire someone else)

5. We couldn’t buy the house. (we see / someone else make an offer)

6. The house was destroyed. (the firemen arrive / house burn down)

7. I didn’t get to taste her chocolate cake. (I arrive / her children eat whole cake)

8. I didn’t see her when she was sick. (I go hospital / she go home)

9. I didn’t see the game. (I turn on TV / game finish)

10. I missed my daughter’s performance. (I arrive concert / my daughter finish her song)

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Exercise 4
NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Complete the negative sentences using the past perfect tense.

Ex. My house was very dirty when she came over because I hadn’t cleaned it for weeks. .
(I / not clean / for weeks)

1. Joe had to study hard for yesterday’s test because .

(he / not do well / the week before)

2. I was worried when she didn’t arrive on time because .

(she / not be / late / before)

3. Cala didn’t want to go on the school ski trip because .

(she / not ski / before)

4. I didn’t recognize Ellen at the party because .

(I / not see / for years)

5. Franco didn’t catch the bus because .

(he / not leave / the house / on time)

6. Andy ate a huge supper last night because .

(he / not eat / all day)

7. The farmers’ fields were very dry because .

(it / not rain / for weeks)

8. Roberta’s hair looked messy last night because .

(she / not comb / all day)

9. Talitha was exhausted yesterday because .

(she / not sleep / well / for several days)

10. I was so happy when I got to the theatre because .

(the movie / not start / yet)

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 Past Perfect
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Exercise 5
PAIR WORK

A. Speaking

Fill in the schedule with things Example:

you did yesterday. Then, with a
A: What had you already done by 3:00 pm yesterday?
partner, take turns asking and
answering past perfect B: I had already gone for a jog by 3:00 pm
questions with already and yet. yesterday. By 7:00 pm yesterday, what
hadn’t you done yet?
A: By 7:00 pm yesterday, I hadn’t finished my

Schedule

7:00 am

9:00 am

11:00 am

12:00 pm

1:00 pm

3:00 pm

5:00 pm

7:00 pm

9:00 pm

11:00 pm

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Exercise 5 cont.
B. Writing

Write your partner’s answers in the spaces below using the past perfect tense.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Exercise 6
WRITING

Write a few paragraphs on Example:

the goals you have and
When I was young, I wanted to be a journalist. By the time I was 12
haven’t accomplished in your years old, I had already had a paper route for two years. By my
life so far. Use the past thirteenth birthday,
perfect tense as often as I had read countless newspaper articles, but I hadn’t written
possible. any stories of my own yet…

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Exercise 7
REVIEW

Complete the following sentences using the correct form and

tense of the verb provided. Use the past perfect, present perfect,
or simple past tense.

Ex.
didn’t get to class on time yesterday.
Vicky
(get)

By the time
she arrive , the had started .
d class (start)
(arrive)

1. I was disappointed
at the party last night,
when I (arrive)

because most of my friends

home.
already (go)

2. I
to France, but I would love to go.
never (be)

3. I
some friends to come for dinner last night,
(invite)

but they couldn’t come because they

other plans.
already (make)

4. It is still snowing.
to snow last night yet.
It (start) (not, stop)
and it

5. I
to a concert last
(go)

night. it so much to a concert for several years.

(enjoy)
(not, go)

I
because
6. I home quite late last night. My children asleep.
(get) (fall)
already

7. I know the new

them last week.
neighbours. I (meet)

8. Last night,
the evening with my friends.
I (spend)

I wanted to go bowling because I

bowling before.
never (go)

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9. Dalia is still sick.
a bad cold for over a week.
She (have)

10. Eduardo wants to buy a new

this one for 12 years.
car. He (own)

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