Lesson and exercises

Past simple Vs past perfect

Past perfect:
The past perfect is used when an event happened before another in the past. It does not matter
which event mentioned first. The tense makes it clear which one happened first.
Example:
When they arrived we had already started cooking.
Event A Event B
Event B is the first one that happened and event A is the second one.

The form of the past perfect is: Verb “to have” in the past (had)+ the past participle of the main
verb.
We use the past perfect in the following situations:
1. When we have “after” or “before”.
Example: I had finished my work before I came.
2. When we have wish in the past: I wish / if only +past perfect.
E.g. I wish I hadn’t eaten so much last night.
3. When we have conditional type 3: If + past perfect + would have +past participle
E.g. If I had had a lot of money, I would have bought an expensive car.
3. When we have reported speech:
E.g. He said “I did my work”.
He said that he had done his work

Exercises

Fill in the bank with past simple or past perfect simple

1. After Fred) .............(to spend) his holiday in Italy he .................(to want) to learn Italian.
2. Jill ....................... (to phone) Dad at work before she ........................ (to leave) for her trip.
3. Susan ................... (to turn on) the radio after she ................. (to wash) the dishes.
4. When she .................... (to arrive) the match .......................already .................... (to start).
5. After the man ............................ (to come) home he ............................ (to feed) the cat.
6. Before he ................................ (to sing) a song he .......................... (to play) the guitar.
7. She .......................... (to watch) a video after the children .........................to go) to bed.
8. After Eric ........................... (to make) breakfast he .......................... (to phone) his friend.
9. I ........................ (to be) very tired because I ........................... (to study) too much.
10. They ............................. (to ride) their bikes before they ................... (to meet) their friends.
11. After they .......................... (see) the Tower, they .................... (go) to Westminster Abbey.
12. He ......................... (ask) me which animals I .................................... (see) in Africa.
13. After Columbus ............................... (discover) America, he ................. (return) to Spain.
14. Before they ........................ (move) to Liverpool, they .............................. (sell) everything.
15. After he ................................. (work) very hard, he ................................. (fall) ill.
16. She ................................... (open) the box after she ............................... (find) the key.
17. They ................................. (go) to a restaurant after they .............................. (sail).
18. Before they ............................. (start) the party, they ...................... (invite) some friends.
9. After she ......................... (wash) the curtains, she .............................. (clean) the windows.
20. They ................................ (go) for a sightseeing tour after the bus ........................ (arrive).