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Past Perfect Practice (B1)

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English with confidence
Grammar practice
Grammar practice · B1 · 30–40 minutes

Past Perfect: What Happened Before?

Name: _________________________Date: __________________
Remember: Use had + past participle for an action that happened before another past action.
When I reached the platform, the train had already left.
Negative: had not / hadn’t + past participle.

1. Match the two halves

Match beginnings 1–10 with endings A–J. Write the correct letter in each space. Use each ending once.

Beginnings

  1. Ella couldn’t unlock her bike because
  2. The kitchen floor was wet because
  3. Noah knew the ending of the novel because
  4. The team couldn’t practise on the pitch because
  5. Amira couldn’t pay for lunch because
  6. The children weren’t hungry at dinner because
  7. The museum guard stopped us because
  8. Leo’s phone switched off because
  9. We couldn’t make an omelette because
  10. The dog escaped from the garden because

Endings

  1. he hadn’t charged the battery.
  2. someone had left the gate open.
  3. she had lost the key to the lock.
  4. we had used all the eggs for a cake.
  5. heavy rain had flooded it overnight.
  6. we hadn’t bought entrance tickets.
  7. she had left her wallet in her other bag.
  8. he had read the book the year before.
  9. they had eaten a large snack at four o’clock.
  10. someone had knocked over a bucket of water.

Pair-work option: Cover your partner’s column. Student A reads a beginning; Student B finds and reads the matching ending. Then say which action happened first.

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Past perfect · Form practice

2. Fill in the gaps

Complete each sentence with the past perfect simple form of the verb in brackets. Use had or hadn’t and the past participle.

Example: The shop was closed when we arrived. It had closed (close) at six.

  1. When we got to the cinema, the film (start).
  2. Ben couldn’t hand in his homework because he (not / finish) it.
  3. I recognised Sofia because I (meet) her at a party before.
  4. The plants were dry because nobody (water) them for a week.
  5. By the time the guests arrived, Dad (prepare) all the food.
  6. We couldn’t get into the flat because we (forget) the door code.
  7. Sam was nervous on the plane because he (never / fly) before.
  8. I couldn’t open the document because I (not / save) it correctly.
  9. The teacher was pleased because everyone (do) the homework.
  10. By the time I reached the bakery, it (sell) all the bread.
  11. Maya didn’t recognise the town because it (change) so much.
  12. The room was cold because we (not / turn) on the heating.

Check with a partner: Underline the action that happened first in sentences 1, 5 and 10.

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Past perfect · Your ideas

3. Complete the sentences

Finish each sentence with your own idea. Use the past perfect simple to explain what happened earlier. Write at least three negative answers using hadn’t.

Example: I was pleased with myself because I had learnt ten new words.

  1. Lily was upset when she opened her bag because
  2. We couldn’t start the board game because
  3. Omar felt proud because
  4. The neighbours were angry because
  5. I didn’t need to buy a bus ticket because
  6. When we arrived at the campsite, we discovered that
  7. My sister couldn’t use her laptop because
  8. By the time the lesson began,
  9. The coach was delighted because
  10. I was surprised to see my friend because

Share and compare: Read your sentences to a partner. Choose your two most interesting explanations. Check that each earlier action uses had / hadn’t + past participle.

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Teacher copy

Answer key

1. Match the two halves

1 C · 2 J · 3 H · 4 E · 5 G · 6 I · 7 F · 8 A · 9 D · 10 B

2. Fill in the gaps

  1. had started
  2. hadn’t finished
  3. had met
  4. had watered
  5. had prepared
  6. had forgotten
  7. had never flown
  8. hadn’t saved
  9. had done
  10. had sold
  11. had changed
  12. hadn’t turned

Full forms (had not) are also correct. Earlier actions: 1 the film started; 5 Dad prepared the food; 10 the bakery sold all the bread.

3. Complete the sentences — possible answers

Answers will vary. Accept logical completions using the past perfect. Students should include at least three negative answers.

  1. she had broken her favourite sunglasses.
  2. we hadn’t read the instructions.
  3. he had won his first swimming race.
  4. someone had parked in front of their garage.
  5. I had already bought a weekly pass.
  6. we hadn’t packed the tent.
  7. she hadn’t charged it.
  8. everyone had found a seat.
  9. her team had won the final.
  10. he had told me he was abroad.
Original exercises inspired by the sentence-halves activity format in Teach-This’s “The Other Half”. Not a reproduction or an official Teach-This worksheet. Activity reference.