Past Perfect vs. Simple Past.

Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps in the correct tense – Past Perfect or Simple Past.

1. After Fred _____had spent________ (to spend) his holiday in Italy he __wanted________(to
want) to learn Italian.

2. Jill ___had phoned__________ (to phone) Dad at work before she _____left________ (to
leave) for her trip.

3. Susan ______turned on_______ (to turn on) the radio after she ____had washed_________
(to wash) the dishes.

4. When she _______arrived______ (to arrive) the match had already _strarted_____ (to
start).

5. After the man ____had come_________ (to come) home he ____fed_____ (to feed) the cat.

6. Before he ______sang_______ (to sing) a song he ___had played______ (to play) the guitar.

7. She __watched_____ (to watch) a video after the children ___had gone___ (to go) to bed.

8. After Eric ___had made____ (to make) breakfast he ___phoned__ (to phone) his friend.

9. I ___was___ (to be) very tired because I ___had studied____ (to study) too much.

10. They ___had ridden____ (to ride) their bikes before they __met__ (to meet) their friends.

11) When I _got_____ (get) to the airport I discovered I __had forgotten_____ (forget) my passport.

12) I _____had gone_ (go) to the library, then I _bought________ (buy) some milk and went home.

13) I ___opened_____ (open) my handbag to find that I __had forgotten_____ (forget) my credit card.

14) When we ____arrived_________ (arrive) at the station, the train _______had_____ already
_______left______ (leave).

15) We got home to find that someone ___had broken__________ (break) into the house.

16) I __opened_____ (open) the fridge to find that someone ___had eaten______ (eat) all my
chocolate.

17) I ____had known____ (know) my husband for three years when we ___got__________ (get)
married.

18) When he _____arrived________ (arrive) at the party, Julie _____had________ just

_______left______ (leave).
19) William _____felt________ (feel) ill last night because he _____had eaten________ (eat) too
many cakes yesterday.

20) When Julie ____got___ (get) home from her holiday, the flat was a mess. John ___had had___
(have) a party.

Complete the following sentences using the simple past, the past continuous, or the past perfect.

1. As Jane (driving)______was driving_______ home from work, she fell asleep at the wheel and almost
(crash)______crashed______ her car.

2. I thought I ______put______ (put) my wallet in my backpack but I guess I (forget)____had

forgotten________ it in the checkout line.

3. Where (do)___did______ you find my jacket? I ___had looked________ (look) all over the house for
it!