You will learn how to:

 Talk about past perfect tense

GUIDE 5
TALKING ABOUT PAST PERFECT TENSE

READING AND WRITING: Affirmative and negative sentences

Yesterday was valentine’s day, Rita’s boyfriend, Tom came for dinner at 5:00.
RITA’S SCHEDULE YESTERDAY

TIME ACTIVITY
10:00 1. Clean the house
12:30 2. Buy groceries
2:00 3. Bake a cake
3:00 4. Cook a roast
4:00 5. Prepare the vegetables
4:30 6. Set the table
5:30 7. Make a salad
6:00 8. Choose some romantic
music
6:30 9. Make a fire
7:00 10. Light the candles
7:30 11. Serve the meal

A. Make sentences with the past perfect tense to tell what Rita had already done when Tom arrived and
what she hadn’t done yet.
Example: “When Tom arrived, Rita had already cleaned the house.”
1. _________________________________________________________________________________.
2. When Tom arrived, Rita had already bought the groceries.
3. When Tom arrived, Rita had already baked the cake.
4. When Tom arrived, Rita had already cooked a roast.
5. When Tom arrived, Rita had already prepared the vegetables.
6. When Tom arrived, Rita had already set the table
7. When Tom arrived, Rita had already made a salad.
8. When Tom arrived, Rita had already chosen some romantic music.
9. When Tom arrived, Rita had already made the fire.
10. When Tom arrived, Rita had already lit the candles.
11. When Tom arrived, Rita had already served the meal.

GRAMMAR AND USE OF ENGLISH

B. Choose the correct verb from the list below to complete the following sentences. Put the verb in
the past perfect tense. (Use HAD+ PAST PARTICIPLE)

make start write leave forget fly scape close give

ring eat change go see

1. When I got to the house, Mary wasn’t there. She ____had_____ already _____left______.
2. I didn’t recognize my old classmate because she _____had_______changed_____ so much.
3. We were late for the show last night. By the time we got to the theater, the movie
______had_____already ______started________.
4. Yesterday I went on my first plane trip. I was very nervous because I ______had________ never
_____flown_____ before.
5. I couldn’t eat much dinner last night because I _____had_ eaten__such a big lunch.
6. I couldn’t buy any groceries last night because when I got to the supermarket, it
_______had_________already ___closed________.
7. Last week our teacher gave back the essays we ______had ___written_______the week before.
8. The house was quiet when Andrew got home. Everyone __had gone_________to bed seven hours
later.
9. They got to school late yesterday. The bell _________had_________already
________rung__________:
10. Daniela couldn’t come to my house last night because she _____had_________already
________made_______ other plans.
11. We couldn’t find the house. It was clear that he _______had given_____________ us the wrong add
address.
12. Andrea didn’t want to come to the movie with us because she ____had seen_______it the week
before.
13. By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robber ____had_______already ____escaped_______.
 14. I couldn’t get into my apartment when I came home from work last night because I ____had ______
forgotten _____to take my key.

LISTENING

1. Listen to five different people talking about their job and do the exercises to practice and improve your
listening skills.

Preparation
Do this exercise before you listen. Write the correct word in the boxes below the picture.

Shop assistant teacher dentist cleaner tour guide doctor pilot nurse

Tour guide Shop assistant Dentist pilot

Teacher Cleaner Nurse doctor

2. Check your understanding: gap fill

Do this exercise while you listen. Complete the gaps with a word from the box.

Pilot dentist shop assistant tour guide nurse

1. Speaker A works as a _____________________________.

2. Speaker B works as a _____________________________.

3. Speaker C works as a _____________________________.

4. Speaker D works as a _____________________________.

5. Speaker E works as a _____________________________.

3. Check your understanding: Multiple choice

Does this exercise while you listen? Circle the best answer for these questions.

1. Does speaker A enjoy his job? 5. Does speaker C like his job?
a) Yes. 6.
b) Sometimes. a) Yes.
c) No. b) Sometimes.
2. When does speaker A work? c) No.
a) When he is at university 7. What does speaker D say is difficult about
b) Weekends being a pilot?
c) Summer holidays a) Travelling to many countries
3. When does speaker B work? b) Learning many languages
a) Weekdays c) Flying planes in bad weather
b) Weekends and holidays 8. What does speaker D say is the best thing
c) Summer holidays about his job?
4. What does speaker B say tourist love a) Visiting different places
doing? b) Meeting different people
a) Visiting universities c) The different weather
b) Taking a boat trip 9. What does speaker E not like about her
c) Swimming in the river job?
a) The doctors
b) The sick people
c) The uniform

GRAMMAR

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) TENSE

AUXILIA AUXILIA
SUBJEC MAIN COMPL
RY RY
T VERB .
VERB VERB

+ I Had been working.

+ You Had been playing tennis.

- It Had not been working well.

- We Had not been expecting her.

? Had You been drinking?

 ? Had they been waiting long?

 The first auxiliary verb (have) is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: had
 The second auxiliary verb (be) is invariable in past participle form: been
 The main verb is invariable in present participle form: -ing
 For negative sentences we insert not after the first auxiliary verb.
 For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the first auxiliary verb.

Let’s Practice!
1. Use the information provided below to make sentences with present perfect progressive tense.

plan eat sit burn fight lose rain smoke wait

give look date work look forward to

1. When the boys came home, both had black eyes. They had been fighting.
2. Mary’s mouth was all red. She ___had been eating_____________________ a strawberry ice cream.
3. When I woke up this morning, the sun was shining, but the ground was all wet. It __had been
rainig____________ during the night.
4. The firemen finally put out the fire. It__ had been burning________for several hours before they
arrived.
5. When I went to Carol’s house yesterday, her hands were covered in mud. She ___had been
working_____ in the garden for a few hours before I got there.
6. Michael bought a new computer last week because his old one ___had been giving______ him trouble
for quite some time.
7. Mr. Jones finally had to close his business. It _had been losing___ money for several years.
8. The police _had been looking forward to _ for the thief for six months before they finally caught him.
9. It is too bad that Cathy had to cancel her trip last week. She __had been planning __ it for such a long
time.
10. Larry ___had been looking_______ on the corner for Patty for over an hour before she finally arrived.
11. When I went home last night, I could smell cigarettes in the house. Somebody _had been
smoking______ before I got home.
12. Bob _had been dating___ Mary for over two years before she finally broke up with him.
 13. Marcia was very disappointed when we had to cancel our lunch date. She ____had been
waiting________ it for a long time.
14. I ___had been sitting __in the waiting room for over an hour before the doctor finally arrived.

ACTIVITY 5
PAST PERFECT TENSE

_____________________________
A. Match the first part of the sentence on the left with the correct ending on the right.
1. Betty’s plants died because… __G__ a) she had lost her doll.
2. Bob couldn’t buy the new computer because… __E_ b) she had left her purse at home.
3. Sammy couldn’t fall asleep last night because… __H__ c) he had already left the office.
4. The little girl was crying because… __A__ d) he hadn’t studied at all.
5. I didn’t have to buy groceries because… __I__ e) he had spent all his money.
6. Kevin failed his exam because… __D__ f) she had forgotten to set the alarm.
7. Monty bought a new camera because… __J__ g) she hadn’t watered them.
8. Clara couldn’t pay for lunch because… __B__ h) he had watched a scary movie
9. Susan slept late because… __F__ i) I had gone shopping the day before.
10. I couldn’t speak to the boss because… __C__ j) he had lost his old one.

B. Complete the following sentences using the PAST PERFECT TENSE and the words provided.
Example: I didn’t meet Ellie for lunch because… (she/eat)
“I didn’t meet Ellie for lunch because she had already eaten.”

1. My trip to New York was very exciting because… (I / not be / before)

___ My trip to New York was very exciting because I had not been before______________________
2.I couldn’t see the doctor because… (he / already / leave the office)
__ I couldn’t see the doctor because he had already left the office ___________________________.
3.I couldn’t buy the car I wanted because… (the / car dealer / already / sell)
___ I couldn’t buy the car I wanted because the car dealer had already sold _____________________.
4.We couldn’t see the new exhibit because… (the museum / already / close)
____ We couldn’t see the new exhibit because the museum had already closed __________________.

C. Complete the sentences below using the PAST PERFECT in the NEGATIVE and the words provided.
Example:
My house was very dirty when she came over because… (I / not clean / for weeks)
“My house was very dirty when she came over because I hadn’t cleaned it for weeks.”

1. Joe had to study hard for yesterday’s test because… (he / not do well / the week before)
__Joe had to study hard for yesterday’s test because he had not done well the before week.__________

2. I was worried when she didn’t arrive on time because … (she / not be / late / before)
______I was worried when she didn’t arrive on time because she had not been late before.________
3. Judy didn’t want to go on the school ski trip because… (she/ not ski/ before)
_____Judy didn’t want to go on the school ski trip because she had not skied before___________________.

4. I didn’t recognize Ellen at the party because… (I not/ see / for years)
____ I didn’t recognize Ellen at the party because she hadn't seen for years. __________________________.

5. John didn’t catch the bus because… (he/not leave/ the house/ on time)
___ John didn’t catch the bus because she hadn't left house on time. ____________.

6. Andy ate a huge super last night because… (he/not eat/ all day)
__ Andy ate a huge super last night because he hadn't eaten all day. ______________.

7. The farmers’ fields were very dry because… (it/not rain/ for weeks)
__ The farmers’ fields were very dry because it hadn't rained for weeks ____________.

8. Roberta’s hair looked terrible last night because… (she/ not comb/ all day)

_____ Roberta’s hair looked terrible last night because she hadn't combed all day ________.

9. Amanda was exhausted yesterday because… (she/ not sleep/ well for several days)
_____ Amanda was exhausted yesterday because she had not slept well for several days _______.

10. I was so happy when I got to the theater because… (the movie/not start/ yet)
___ I was so happy when I got to the theater because the movie hadn't started yet ___________.

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) TENSE WITH BEFORE

Complete the following sentences with the past perfect progressive tense and the verbs provided.
1. Mrs. Anderson _had been trying__________ (try) to get a taxi for over half and hour before she finally
caught one.
2. Ben’s eyes _had been ______bothering_____(bother) him for over a year before he finally got glasses.
3. Marta _____had been living_____________(live) in her apartment for six months before she finally met
her neighbors.
4. The patient _had been waiting________(wait) in the emergency room for several hours before a doctor
finally saw him.
5. Ellie ___had been trying______________ (try on) shoes all morning before she finally bought a pair.
6. Chris __had been dating______________(date) Sandra for three years before he finally asked her to
marry him.
7. The doctor _had been telling____________(tell) me to lose weight for years before I finally decided to
go on a diet.
8. The fire alarm _had been ringing__________(ring) for five minutes before he finally woke up and ran
out of the apartment.
9. They _had been driving__________________(drive) for hours before they finally saw a service station.
10. Andrea __had been crying_________________(cry) for hours before she finally told her parents the
reason why she was so unhappy.
11. The politician _had been traveling_______________(travel) across the country for months before he
finally started to gain popularity.
12. We _had been working____________(work) for over five hours before the boss finally told us to take a
break.
13. The athlete _had been training____________(train) for many years before he made the Olympic team.
14. The author __had been writing______________(write) stories for years before he finally had a book
published.

CORREPTION

ACTIVITY 5
PAST PERFECT TENSE

_____________________________
A. Match the first part of the sentence on the left with the correct ending on the right.
1. Betty’s plants died because… _____ a) she had lost her doll.
2. Bob couldn’t buy the new computer because… _____ b) she had left her purse at home.
3. Sammy couldn’t fall asleep last night because… _____ c) he had already left the office.
4. The little girl was crying because… _____ d) he hadn’t studied at all.
5. I didn’t have to buy groceries because… _____ e) he had spent all his money.
6. Kevin failed his exam because… _____ f) she had forgotten to set the alarm.
7. Monty bought a new camera because… _____ g) she hadn’t watered them.
8. Clara couldn’t pay for lunch because… _____ h) he had watched a scary movie
9. Susan slept late because… _____ i) I had gone shopping the day before.
10. I couldn’t speak to the boss because… _____ j) he had lost his old one.

B. Complete the following sentences using the PAST PERFECT TENSE and the words provided.
Example: I didn’t meet Ellie for lunch because… (she/eat)
“I didn’t meet Ellie for lunch because she had already eaten.”

1. My trip to New York was very exciting because… (I / not be / before)

_________________________________________________________________________________.
2. I couldn’t see the doctor because… (he / already / leave the office)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
3. I couldn’t buy the car I wanted because… (the / car dealer / already / sell)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
4. We couldn’t see the new exhibit because… (the museum / already / close)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
C. Complete the sentences below using the PAST PERFECT in the NEGATIVE and the words provided.
Example:
My house was very dirty when she came over because… (I / not clean / for weeks)
“My house was very dirty when she came over because I hadn’t cleaned it 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. Judy 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. John didn’t catch the bus because… (he/not leave/ the house/ on time)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
6. Andy ate a huge super 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 terrible last night because… (she/ not comb/ all day)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
9. Amanda was exhausted yesterday because… (she/ not sleep/ well for several days)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
10. I was so happy when I got to the theater because… (the movie/not start/ yet)
_________________________________________________________________________________.

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) TENSE WITH BEFORE

Complete the following sentences with the past perfect progressive tense and the verbs provided.
1. Mrs. Anderson ______________________ (try) to get a taxi for over half and hour before she finally
caught one.
2. Ben’s eyes __________________________(bother) him for over a year before he finally got glasses.
3. Marta _________________________(live) in her apartment for six months before she finally met her
neighbors.
4. The patient __________________________(wait) in the emergency room for several hours before a
doctor finally saw him.
5. Ellie _____________________________ (try on) shoes all morning before she finally bought a pair.
6. Chris ___________________________(date) Sandra for three years before he finally asked her to
marry him.
7. The doctor _______________________(tell) me to lose weight for years before I finally decided to go
on a diet.
8. The fire alarm _______________________(ring) for five minutes before he finally woke up and ran out
of the apartment.
9. They _________________________________(drive) for hours before they finally saw a service station.
10. Andrea ______________________________(cry) for hours before she finally told her parents the
reason why she was so unhappy.
11. The politician ______________________________(travel) across the country for months before he
finally started to gain popularity.
12. We _____________________________(work) for over five hours before the boss finally told us to take
a break.
13. The athlete ___________________________(train) for many years before he made the Olympic team.
14. The author _______________________________(write) stories for years before he finally had a book