Past perfect tense exercises from basic to advanced [With answers]

Mention the tense in English, many students often find it difficult with the past perfect exercises because of its complexity and confusion with the past simple tense. However, don't be discouraged! As an expert accompanying you on the path to conquering English, ETEST English for Study Abroad will help you master the secret of using Past Perfect most effectively. Follow the article below for more details!

To confidently do past perfect exercises, you can refer to the following theory:

• past perfect: Formulas, signs and detailed exercises

• 12 tenses in English

Review of Past Perfect Tense Theory

The Past Perfect is used to describe events or actions that happened before another time or action in the past. This tense links two past events, where the action that happened first uses the past perfect tense, and the action that happened later uses the simple past tense.

Past perfect tense formula

How to use the past perfect tense

• Describes an activity that happened and was completed before another action in the past.

Example: When I arrived at the party, everyone had already eaten.

• Describes an action that happened and lasted up to a certain time in the past.

Example: I had studied English for 5 years before I moved to London.

• Describes an action that happened before a certain time in the past.

Example: By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already finished the exam.

• Expressing unreal conditional actions in the past in conditional sentences 3

Example: If I had studied harder, I would have gotten a higher score on the exam.

• Used to express disappointment about something in the past. (usually using the past wish structure.)

Example: I wish I had known the truth. (I wish I had known the truth sooner.)

Signs to recognize the past perfect tense

Memorizing the signs is extremely important, as they help you with exercises involving the past perfect tense, as well as exercises that combine the past simple and past perfect tenses.

Some words that often appear in sentences using the past perfect tense that you need to pay attention to include:

• Until then, by the time, prior to that time, before, after, for, as soon as, by, …
• Before, after, when by, by the time, by the end of + time in the past …

Example: Before I left for school, my mom had already packed my lunch.

Example: After she had finished her work, she went to the movies.

Example: By the end of last year, she had saved enough money to buy a new car.

Distinguish between past perfect and past simple

Many students often confuse the use of past perfect and past simple when studying. To master the grammar and do exercises more confidently, you can refer to the knowledge in the article: Simple past tense

Past Perfect Exercises

To help you grasp the basic knowledge of the past perfect tense, here are some exercises from basic to advanced for you to practice.

Basic exercises on past perfect tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. We____________________ the floor before he came. (to sweep)
2. They____________________ (asleep before 3 o'clock. (to fall)
3. It____________________to rain after we____________________ to the station. (start / get)
4. We____________________ the village where we____________________ as children. (visit / live)
5. By the time we____________________ the inn all the guests____________________. (reach / leave)
6.  We____________________ him just after he____________________news of his dismissal. (meet / get)
7. I said I____________________ that play first. (see)
8. Nobody____________________ where she____________________ .(know / go)
9. They____________________dinner when we____________________.(finish / arrive)
10. He said that he already twice____________________ our town. (visit)

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we____________________ (build) .
2. he____________________ (not / be) to Cape Town before 1997.
3. When she went out to play, she____________________ (do / already) her homework.
4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mother____________________ (make) .
5. The doctor took off the plaster that he____________________ (put on) six weeks ago.
6. The waiter brought a drink that I____________________ (not / order) .
7. I could not remember the poem we____________________ (learn) the week before.
8. The children collected the chestnuts that____________________ (fall) from the tree.
9. ____________________(he / phone) Angie before he went to see her in London?
10. She____________________ (not / ride) a horse before that day.

Lesson 3: Fill in the blanks 

1. I left my office and then____________________  (take) a taxi home.
2. I failed my test because I____________________  (not/study).
3. The airplane departed by 8 pm and____________________  (arrive) in Toronto three hours later.
4. I didn't order food, so I____________________  (not/pay).
5. I didn't order food because I____________________  (forgot) my wallet.
6. By the time I got to the party, my friends____________________  (left). I missed them.
7. By the year 2005, her parents____________________  (divorce) unfortunately.
8. In 2000, her parents____________________  (fall) in love.
9. She____________________  (not/see) snow until she moved to Canada.

Lesson 4: Choose the correct answer

1.The doctor asked me if I _______ (smoke) before I entered the room.

1. had smoked
2. had smoked
3. have smoke
4. had smoke

2.We asked him why he ……. telephoned earlier.

1. didn't
2. hadn't
3. hasn't
4. wouldn't

3.Actually I had ……. it came to her before we set out.

1. mentioned
2. mentioning
3. mention
4. mentions

4.He was wondering what ……. urged him to take no notice at all.

1. had
2. having
3. have
4. has

5.I wonder what ……. happened while I was away.

1. has
2. had
3. will have
4. was

6.The manager has called for a meeting to let everyone know that he _____ (find) a solution for their problems.

1. had found
2. have found
3. had found
4. had found

7.I must admit I ……. thought how the story would finish before I read the book.

1. haven't
2. couldn't
3. hadn't
4. aren't

8.He was fired, despite the fact that he tried to prove that he _______(do) anything wrong.

1. hadn't done
2. hadn't done
3. didn't
4. hadn't done

9.I can assure you that this box ……. never been opened before I opened this morning.

1. had
2. is
3. was
4. will

10.When he was only thirty years old, he ……. already experienced what most people only experience when they are much older.

1. is
2. had
3. was
4. has

Lesson 5: Fill in the blanks with the given words

make / start / write / leave/ forget / fly / escape / close/ give / ring / eat / change / go / see 

1. When I got to the house, Mary wasn't there. She _________ already _________ . 
2. I didn't recognize my old classmate because she _________________ so much. 
3. We were late for the show last night. By the time we got to the theater, the movie _____________ already _______________. 
4. Yesterday I went on my first plane trip. I was very nervous because I ___________ never _____________ before. 
5. I couldn't eat much dinner last night because I ______________ such a big lunch. 
6. I couldn't buy any groceries last night because when I got to the supermarket, it _______________ already ______________. 
7. Last week our teacher gave back the essays we ________________ the week before. 
8. The house was quiet when Andrew got home. Everyone _________________ to bed several hours earlier. 
9. They got to school late yesterday. The bell _____________ already _____________. 
10. Sheila couldn't come to my house last night because she _______________ already _________________ other plans. 
11. We couldn't find the house. It was clear that he ________________ us the wrong add address. 
12. Annie didn't want to come to the movie with us because she ___________________ it the week before. 
13. By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robber ____________ already ___________________. 
14. I couldn't get into my apartment when I came home from work last night because I _________________ to take my key.

Lesson 6: Rewrite the past perfect tense with “By the time”

Ex. I missed my plane. (airport/plane taken off) By the time I got to the airport, the plane had already taken off. 

1. I missed the show. (theater/ 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 thing whole) ________________________________________________________________________ 
8. I didn't see her when she was sick. (I go/ hospital/ she goes home) ________________________________________________________________________ 
9. I didn't see the game. (I turn on the TV/game finished) ________________________________________________________________________ 
10. I missed my daughter's performance. (I arrive concert/ my daughter finish her song) _______________________________________________________________________

Lesson 7: Past Perfect Tense – With Already and Yet Affirmative and Negative

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Rita's boyfriend, Tom, came for dinner at 5:00. 

Rita's Schedule Yesterday

Make sentences with the past perfect tense to tell what Rita had already done when Tom arrived and what she hadn't done yet. 

Ex. When Tom arrived, Rita had already cleaned the house. 

1. ______________________________________________________________________ 
2. ______________________________________________________________________ 
3. ______________________________________________________________________ 
4. ______________________________________________________________________ 
5. ______________________________________________________________________ 
6. ______________________________________________________________________ 
7. ______________________________________________________________________ 
8. ______________________________________________________________________ 
9. ______________________________________________________________________ 
10. _____________________________________________________________________

Lesson 8: Write the negative sentences of the given sentences below.

Ex. 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) ________________________________________________________________________ 
3. I didn't recognize Ellen at the party because…. (I don't/see/ for years) ________________________________________________________________________ 
4. John didn't catch the bus because…. (he/not leave/ the house/ on time ________________________________________________________________________ 
5. Andy ate a huge supper last night because… (he/not eat/ all day) ________________________________________________________________________ 
6. The farmers' fields were very dry because… (it/not rain/ for weeks) ________________________________________________________________________ 
7. Roberta's hair looked terrible last night because… (she/not comb/ all day) ______________________________________________________________________ 
8. Amanda was exhausted yesterday because…. (she/not sleep/well/for several days) ________________________________________________________________________________ 
9. I was so happy when I got to the theater because ….. (the movie/ not started/ yet) ________________________________________________________________________ 

Advanced exercises on past perfect tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. When I arrived at the cinema, the movie____________________ (start).
2. She____________________  (live) in China before she went to Thailand.
3. After them____________________(eat) the shellfish, they began to feel sick.
4. If you____________________(listen) to me, you will have got the job. 
5. Julie didn't arrive until after I____________________ (leave).
6. When we____________________(finish) dinner, we went out.
7. The garden was dead because of it____________________(be) dry all summer.
8. They____________________(meet) her somewhere before.
9.  We were late for the plane because we____________________(forget) our passports.
10. She told me she____________________(study) a lot before the exam.
11. The grass was yellow because of it____________________(not/rain) all summer.
12. The lights went off because we____________________(not/pay) the electricity bill.
13. The children____________________(not/do) their homework, so they were in trouble.
14. They____________________(not/eat) so we went to a restaurant.
15. We couldn't go into the concert because we____________________(not/bring) our tickets.
16. She said that she____________________ (not/visit) the UK before.
17. Julie and Anne____________________  (not/meet) before the party.
18. Tom____________________(not/have) breakfast when he arrived.
19. Bright____________________(not/use) email before, so I showed him how to use it.
20. King____________________(not/study) for the test, so you were very nervous.

Past perfect tense exercise answers

Answers to basic exercises on past perfect tense

Lesson 1: 

1. had swept
2. had felt
3. had started/ had gotten 
4. had visited/ had lived
5. had reached/ had left
6. had met/ had gotten
7. had seen
8. had known/ had gone
9. had finished/ had arrived 
10. had visited

Lesson 2: 

1. had built
2. hadn't been/ hadn't been
3. had already done
4. had made
5. had put on
6. had not ordered/ hadn't ordered   
7. had learned
8. had fallen
9. Had he phoned 
10. hadn't ridden/ had not ridden    

Lesson 3: 

1. had taken
2. had not studied/hadn't studied
3. had arrived  
4. had not paid/ hadn't paid
5. had forgotten
6. had left 
7. divorced
8. had fallen
9. had not seen/ hadn't seen

Lesson 4: 

1. B
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. B
6. D
7. C
8. A
9. A
10. B

Lesson 5: 

1. had already left
2. had changed
3. had already started 
4. had never flown
5. had eaten
6. had already closed 
7. had written
8. had gone
9. had already rung 
10. had already made
11. had given
12. had seen 
13. had escaped
14. had forgotten

Lesson 6: 

1. By the time I got to the theater, the movie had already started. 
2. By the time I got to the drugstore, it had already closed. 
3. By the time I called their house, they had already left. 
4. By the time I applied, they had already hired someone else. 
5. By the time we saw the house, someone had already made an offer. 
6. By the time the firemen arrived, the house had already burned down. 
7. By the time I arrived, her children had already eaten the whole cake. 
8. By the time I got to the hospital, she had already gone home. 
9. By the time I turned on the TV, the game had already finished. 
10. By the time I arrived at the concert, my daughter had already finished her song.

Lesson 7:

1. When Tom arrived, Rita had already bought groceries. 
2. When Tom arrived, she had already baked a cake. 
3. When Tom arrived, she had already cooked a roast. 
4. When Tom arrived, she had already prepared the vegetables. 
5. When Tom arrived, she had already set the table. 
6. When Tom arrived, she hadn't made a salad yet. 
7. When Tom arrived, she hadn't chosen any romantic music yet. 
8. When Tom arrived, she hadn't made a fire yet. 
9. When Tom arrived, she hadn't lit the candles yet. 
10. When Tom arrived, she hadn't served the meal yet.

Lesson 8:

1. …he hadn't done well the week before. 
2. …she hadn't been late before. 
3. …she had not skied before. 
4. …I haven't seen her for years. 
5. …he didn't leave the house on time.
6. …he had not eaten all day. 
7. …it hadn't rained for weeks. 
8. she hadn't combed it all day. 
9. … she had not slept well for several days. 
10. …the movie hasn't started yet.

Answers to advanced exercises on past perfect tense

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. had started
2. had lived
3. had eaten
4. had listened
5. had left
6. had finished
7. had been
8. had met
9. had forgotten
10. had studied
11. had not rained/ hadn't rained
12. hadn't paid/ had not paid
13. hadn't done/ had not done 
14. hadn't eaten/ had not eaten
15. hadn't brought/ hadn't brought 
16. hadn't visited/ had not visited
17. had not met/ hadn't met 
18. had not had/ hadn't had
19. hadn't used/ had not used 
20. hadn't studied/ hadn't studied

If you want to do more exercises on the past simple tense, you can see the article: Past simple exercises

ETEST English for Study Abroad Believe that with the detailed sharing and instructions above, you will confidently solve the problems. past perfect exercises in the most accurate and flexible way.

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