TEACHER'S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Perfect Party Worksheet

Activity Type Introduction

Reading and writing In this past simple and past perfect worksheet, students write
activity emails describing a series of events.

Procedure
Language Focus
Give each student a copy of the worksheet.
Past perfect

Past simple Read through the scenario about the disastrous party with the
students.
Giving explanations with
'because' and 'as' Ask the students to match the problems (1 to 5) with the
explanations (a to e).

Aim Exercise A - Answer key

To write emails describing
l c ,2 e, 3 d, 4 a, 5 b
a series of events in the
past simple and past
Tell the students to imagine that they are Harry and that they are
perfect.
going to write an email to Katie, telling her all about the party.

Explain that the students must describe the problems in the past
Preparation
simple and use the past perfect to explain what happened, e.g.
Make one copy of the 'There weren't many guests, because I had forgotten to send out
worksheet for each the invitations'.
student.
When everyone has finished writing, students read their emails
to the class.
Level
Exercise B - Possible answer
Intermediate (A2-B1)
There weren't many guests, because I had forgotten to send out
Time the invitations. There wasn't any birthday cake as the bakery
had closed. There was also nothing to eat or drink as I had
30 minutes forgotten to go shopping. Also, the party finished early, because
the neighbours had complained to the police. But worst of all, there
was no music, because the DJ had had an accident, travelling to
the party.

Afterwards, students pretend to be Katie and write a reply to

Harry's email, detailing the unfortunate events that happened to
her at the weekend.

Finally, have the students read their completed emails to the class
and give feedback.

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 PAST PERFECT

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Perfect Party Worksheet

A. Last weekend, Harry held a surprise birthday party for Jim, but it was a total
disaster. Match the problems (1 to 5) with the explanations (a to e).

Problems Explanations
1. not many guests ...... a. neighbours complained to the police
2. no birthday cake ...... b. DJ had an accident
3. nothing to eat or drink ...... c. forgot to send out invitations
4. party finished early ...... d. forgot to go shopping
5. no music ...... e. the bakery was closed

B. Imagine you are Harry. Complete the email to Katie. Use the past simple to talk
about the problems and the past perfect to explain what happened.

Hi Katie,
How are you? I'm not so good. Last weekend, I held a surprise birthday party for Jim, but it was a
total disaster! _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I hope your weekend was better.
See you soon.
Harry

C. Imagine you are Katie. You also had a terrible weekend! Write a reply to Harry. Use
the past simple and past perfect to describe the events that happened to you.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Teach-This.com © 2017 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.