1. Match the sentence halves. Complete sentences a-f with the past perfect continuous.
1 My hand was hurting because I …
2 Jenny had tears in her eyes because she …
3 They had to give their dog a bath because it …
4 Beth felt confident about her exams because she …
5 We got evicted from our flat because we …
6 Tom decided not to go out because he …
a ……………………… (write) postcards all morning.
b ……………………… (play) in a muddy field.
c ……………………… (not feel) well.
d ……………………… (not pay) our rent.
e ……………………… (watch) a hilarious film.
f ……………………… (work) hard all term.
Answer
1 a, had been writing 2 e, had been watching
3 b, had been playing 4 f, had been working
5 d, hadn’t been paying 6 c, hadn’t been feeling
2. Invent your own endings for these sentences. Use the past perfect continuous.
1 Eva’s hair and clothes were wet because ………………………………….. .
2 Darren was angry with his sister because ………………………………….. .
3 We were exhausted because ………………………………….. .
4 The house was a mess because ………………………………….. .
Answer
Your own answers
3. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence. Use the past perfect simple.
1 I ate my dinner, then I went upstairs.
After …I’d eaten my dinner, I went upstairs. …….
2 I had a shower, then Susie arrived.
When Susie ………………………………………… .
3 We swapped numbers, and the next day he called.
The day after ………………………………………… .
4 She tidied her room, then she went out.
After she ………………………………………… .
5 She missed the class, so she didn’t do the homework.
Because she ………………………………………… .
6 He finished his dinner and washed up his plate.
When he ………………………………………… .
Answer
2 arrived, I had had a shower
3 we had swapped numbers, he called
4 had tidied her room, she went out
5 had missed the class, she didn’t do the homework.
6 had finished his dinner, he washed up his plate
4. Choose the correct tense. Tick ✓ a, b or both (if both are correct).
1 Sara hadn’t heard me knock at the door because she ……………………… to music.
a had listened b had been listening
2 Before their goalkeeper was sent off, Chelsea ……………………… easily.
a had won b had been winning
3 Ben ……………………… so much during the meal that he hadn’t eaten his food.
a had talked b had been talking
4 We didn’t know what homework we had to do because we ……………………… attention to the teacher.
a hadn’t paid b hadn’t been paying
5 I was really annoyed that I left my book on the train because I ……………………… reading it.
a hadn’t finished b hadn’t been finishing
Answer
1 b 2 b 3 a and b 4 a and b 5 a
5. Complete the sentences with the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous form of the verbs in the box.
|
enjoy go have look spend win |
1 I was annoyed when the DVD player stopped working because I ……………………… the film.
2 Selina had to come home early from her holiday because she ……………………… all her money.
3 According to the police, the accident happened because both cars ……………………… too fast.
4 In the first round he played Nadal, who ……………………… the tournament three times already.
5 My dad retired early from his job because he ……………………… a bad back for years.
6 I found five coins down the back of the sofa, although in fact I ……………………… for my keys.
Answer
1 had been enjoying 2 had spent 3 had been going
4 had won 5 had had 6 had been looking
Challenge!
Complete these sentences with your own ideas. Use the past perfect simple in 1 and 2, and the past perfect continuous in 3 and 4.
1 Police arrested the 85-year-old woman because …………………………………….. .
2 By the time we reached the hotel, …………………………………….. .
3 Luke refused to spend another moment at home because …………………………………….. .
4 Elsie suddenly realised her mistake: she …………………………………….. .
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