01an event completed before a later reference point in the past
Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past.
The staff had left before the alarm rang.B1
Past Perfect Exercises
About this lesson
Past perfect · B1. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past.
Complete 12 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
12 items
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Knowledge map
Start practisingPast perfect
02a background activity in progress at a past reference time
Use was/were + -ing for a background activity in progress at a past reference time. Another event can establish that time; it does not necessarily stop the activity.
We were discussing the budget when someone knocked.03the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event
Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event.
She opened the envelope and read the letter aloud.Illustrated guide
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.
The fire alarm rang at 10; the staff left at 9:55.
The staff ___ before the alarm rang.
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/3Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/2an event completed before a later reference point in the past
Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past.
The staff had left before the alarm rang.03
Step 3 · Build the skill
0/1a background activity in progress at a past reference time
Use was/were + -ing for a background activity in progress at a past reference time. Another event can establish that time; it does not necessarily stop the activity.
We were discussing the budget when someone knocked.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/1the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event
Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event.
She opened the envelope and read the letter aloud.05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/3New contexts
06
Step 6 · A fresh challenge
0/2A fresh challenge
Practice notes in this unit
0Make mistakes useful.
Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
Lesson map
B1Past perfect
Lesson points
an event completed before a later reference point in the past
Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past.
The staff had left before the alarm rang.a background activity in progress at a past reference time
Use was/were + -ing for a background activity in progress at a past reference time. Another event can establish that time; it does not necessarily stop the activity.
We were discussing the budget when someone knocked.the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event
Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event.
She opened the envelope and read the letter aloud.Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
The fire alarm rang at 10; the staff left at 9:55.
The staff ___ before the alarm rang.
- are leaving
- will leave
- had left
- leave
Answer & explanation
had left
Look at “The staff ___ before the alarm rang.”. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. Complete sentence: “The staff had left before the alarm rang.”.
An unfinished conversation was interrupted by a knock.
We ___ the budget when someone knocked.
- have discussed
- had discuss
- will discuss
- were discussing
Answer & explanation
were discussing
Look at “We ___ the budget when someone knocked.”. Use was/were + -ing for a background activity in progress at a past reference time. Another event can establish that time; it does not necessarily stop the activity. Complete sentence: “We were discussing the budget when someone knocked.”.
This is the next action after opening the envelope.
She opened the envelope and ___ the letter aloud.
- is reading
- read
- will read
- had been read
Answer & explanation
read
Look at “She opened the envelope and ___ the letter aloud.”. Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event. Complete sentence: “She opened the envelope and read the letter aloud.”.
The tickets were sold before we reached the booth.
By the time we arrived, the last ticket ___.
- is going
- had gone
- will go
- goes
Answer & explanation
had gone
Look at “By the time we arrived, the last ticket ___.”. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. Complete sentence: “By the time we arrived, the last ticket had gone.”.
Use the past continuous of carry for the background activity in progress when the lights went out.
I ___ a tray when the lights went out.
Answer & explanation
was carrying
“I was carrying a tray when the lights went out.” Use was or were + -ing for an activity already in progress at a past reference time. A later event can supply that reference without proving the activity stopped.
The events are given in their actual order.
The guard checked my pass, then ___ the gate.
- is opening
- had been opened
- opened
- will open
Answer & explanation
opened
Look at “The guard checked my pass, then ___ the gate.”. Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event. Complete sentence: “The guard checked my pass, then opened the gate.”.
Use the past perfect of see and include never for an experience before the museum visit.
Before that visit, I ___ a meteorite.
Answer & explanation
had never seen
Complete sentence: “Before that visit, I had never seen a meteorite.” Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.
The forgotten password explains the later login failure.
I could not sign in because I ___ my password.
- forget
- had forgotten
- am forgetting
- will forget
Answer & explanation
had forgotten
Look at “I could not sign in because I ___ my password.”. Use had + past participle to express an event completed before a later reference point in the past. Complete sentence: “I could not sign in because I had forgotten my password.”.
Use the past continuous of work for the activity in progress.
At the moment the siren sounded, the engineers ___ underground.
Answer & explanation
were working
“At the moment the siren sounded, the engineers were working underground.” Use was or were + -ing for an activity already in progress at a past reference time. A later event can supply that reference without proving the activity stopped.
The runner crossed the line; the next event followed.
She crossed the line and ___ onto the grass.
- is collapsing
- has collapse
- will collapse
- collapsed
Answer & explanation
collapsed
Look at “She crossed the line and ___ onto the grass.”. Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event. Complete sentence: “She crossed the line and collapsed onto the grass.”.
Background activity at the moment a past event happened.
The lecturer ___ when the projector failed.
- will speak
- is speak
- was speaking
- has speak
Answer & explanation
was speaking
Look at “The lecturer ___ when the projector failed.”. Use was/were + -ing for a background activity in progress at a past reference time. Another event can establish that time; it does not necessarily stop the activity. Complete sentence: “The lecturer was speaking when the projector failed.”.
Use the past simple of lock for the next action in this sequence.
He put the files away, ___ the cupboard and left.
Answer & explanation
locked
Complete sentence: “He put the files away, locked the cupboard and left.” Use past simple to express the next completed event in a past narrative, rather than an earlier background event. The subject, time and meaning in the task determine this form. Only reviewed responses are matched automatically; other wording is not automatically wrong.