ESL 170: Grammar 4

Past Perfect Practice Exercises

PART III – Uses

A: Write sentences in the past perfect to explain, give details, or background information
for the events in the following sentences. The first one has been done for you.

(Tip: Review slide 6 in the PPT file “Uses of the Past Perfect 1.”)

Event Reason / Explanation

1. John missed the 9 o’clock bus. He had not left the house on time.

2. Amalia couldn’t find her credit card. Amalia had lost his credit card.

3. The soccer match got canceled. The soccer had been canceled because of
the bad weather.

4. The victim began screaming for help. Had someone is attacking her.

5. The computer turned off unexpectedly. That computer had a virus, and I don’t
notice.

6. The Queen of England died last year.

7. We didn’t watch the movie with Diego.

B. Change the sentences from direct to reported speech. You may have to change the
pronoun in some sentences.

(Tip: Review slides 7, 8, and 9 in the PPT file “Uses of the Past Perfect 1.”)

Examples:

“He has studied Latin.” “Have you been to Paris?”

She said that he had studied Latin. She asked if I had been to Paris.

“I talked to the parent.” “Why has he come?”

She said that she had talked to the parent. She asked why he had come.

1. “She has visited Australia many times.”

She said that she had visited Australia many times.

2. “He has read Imbolo Mbue’s “How Beautiful We Were.”

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She said that she had read Imbolo Mbue’s “How Beautiful We Were.”

3. “They've eaten in a lot of different restaurants.”

She said that she has not had to be eaten in a lot of different restaurants.

4. “Lucy has drunk six cups of tea this morning.”

She said that lucy had drank six cups of tea that morning.

5. “I went to the cinema with my friends yesterday.”

She said that she had never gone to the cinema with her friends.

6. “Jane left the party early to go to work.”

She told me that she had left early the party because she has to work.

7. “They didn't like vegetables and lasagna as children.”

She said that she had never liked vegetables and lasagna since I was a child.

8. “She didn't buy the dress at Macy’s.”

He told me that she had not bought the dress at Macy’s.

9. “Alicia never studied German or French.”

She said that she had never studied German or French.

10. “Has Edora been to Paris?”

She asked if she had gone to Paris Before.

11. “Have they studied reported speech before?”

She wanted to know if she had studied reported speech before.

12. “What have you done?”

John asked me what I had done.

13. “How long have they managed the business?”

He asked how long they had managed the business.

14. “Which dress has Jessica chosen for the prom party?”

Mary wanted to know what dress you had chosen for the prom party.

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C. Complete the sentences with the past perfect and would have + past participle.

(Tip: Review slides 10 and 11 in the PPT file “Uses of the Past Perfect 1.”)

Example: If he ______________ (leave) earlier, he ______________ (be) on time.

If he had left earlier, he would have been on time.

1. If she __had studied____________ (study), she ____had passed__________ (pass) the exam.

2. If we __had arrived____________ (arrive) earlier, we ____would have been

seeing__________ (see) John.

3. If they __had gone____________ (go) to bed early, they ___have not awakened___________
(not / wake)

up late.

4. He ____had been__________ (be) happier if he ______would be staying________ (stay) at

home.

5. She ____would have been passing__________ (pass) the exam if she ___had
studied___________ (study) harder.

6. We __had got____________ (not / get) married if we ____would be going__________ (not /

go) to

the same university.

7. They __would have been____________ (be) late if they _____would not taking _________
(not / take) a taxi.

8. She __would not meet____________ (not / meet) him if she ____had not come__________
(not / come) to London.