Name: Diego Fernando Andrade Sánchez 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)
_________________________________________________________________________________.
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)
___He hadn’t done well the week before.__
2. I was worried when she didn’t arrive on time because … (she / not be / late / before)
___She han’t been late before
3. Judy didn’t want to go on the school ski trip because… (she/ not ski/ before)
__She hadn’t not skied before_
4. I didn’t recognize Ellen at the party because… (I not/ see / for years)
__I had’t seen for years_
5. John didn’t catch the bus because… (he/not leave/ the house/ on time)
_He hadn’t left the house on time_
6. Andy ate a huge super last night because… (he/not eat/ all day)
_He hadn’t eaten all day__
The farmers’ fields were very dry because… (it/not rain/ for weeks)
 __it hadn’t rained for weeks _

7. Roberta’s hair looked terrible last night because… (she/ not comb/ all day)
_She hadn’t combed all day_
8. Amanda was exhausted yesterday because… (she/ not sleep/ well for several days)
_She hadn’t slept well for several days_
9. I was so happy when I got to the theater because… (the movie/not start/ yet)
_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 on (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 raing (rain) 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.