The Past Perfect Tense

Передає дію, що відбулася до якогось моменту в минулому.

had + правильне дієслово із закінченням –ed

had + III колонка неправильного дієслова

Стверджувальна форма	Питальна форма	Заперечна форма
I had worked	Had I worked?	I had not (hadn’t) worked
You had worked	Had you worked?	You had not (hadn’t) worked
He (she, it) had worked	Had he (she, it) worked?	He (she, it) had not (hadn’t) worked
We had worked	Had we worked?	We had not (hadn’t) worked
They had worked	Had they worked?	They had not (hadn’t) worked

by 5 o’clock до 5 години, by Saturday до суботи, by the end of the year до кінця року,

by that time до того часу

I had finished my dinner when you came in.

Я закінчив обідати, коли ви увійшли.

I had written the letter by 9 o’clock yesterday.

Я написав листа вчора до 9 години.

We use the past perfect:

a) for an action which happened before another past action or before a stated time in the past.

e.g. He had fallen asleep before we arrived.

b) for an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past.

e.g. They had been looking for a house for six months before they found one they liked.

He was happy. He had signed an important contract (The action finished in the past and its result was visible in the past, too)

Note: The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.

e.g. a) He had fixed the old armchair It looked brand new (The action -had fixed- happened in the past The result -looked brand new- was also visible in the past)

b) He has fixed the old armchair It looks brand new (The action -has fixed- happened in the past The result -looks brand new- is still visible in the present)

The past perfect is used with the following time expressions: before, after, already, just, for, since, till/ until, when, by, by the time, never, etc.

Note: We can use the past perfect or the past simple with before or after without any difference in meaning.

e.g. They went out after it had stopped I stopped raining.

Ex. 1

Comment on the use of the Past Perfect in the following sentences.

1. The programmer had done the work by four o'clock. 2. The policeman asked if there had been any witnesses. 3. By the time we got to the shopping centre it had closed. 4. The students had written the test and were now checking them up. 5. Mike phoned Rosie, but she hadn't returned home yet. 6. We had discussed the news and were now thinking about it. 7. She complained that she was penniless as she had spent all her money. 8. When I came back home, my family had already had dinner and were now watching the film. 9. It turned out that Dick was ill and he had been ill for a fortnight. 10. We learnt that they had been close friends for many years. 11. Hardly had I turned on the television, when I heard shocking news. 12. No sooner had he opened the door than the children rushed to meet him. 13. Scarcely had the inspector opened the envelope when he understood everything. 14. By next morning, the snow that had begun in the night had turned into a blizzard so thick that the last class of the term was cancelled. 15. She had a stock of excuses, as usual, when in fact she had overslept as usual.

Ex. 2

Tick the correct item.

1. By the time we got to the cinema, the film had started.

   1. First we got to the cinema. Then the film started.

   2. First the film started. Then we got to the cinema.

2. Jason was given a bonus because he had worked hard all year.

   1. First he worked hard. Then he was given a bonus.

   2. First he was given a bonus. Then he worked hard.

3. When Tina called me, I left the house.

   1. First I left the house. Then Tina called me.

   2. First Tina called me. Then I left the house.

4. I had already fixed the tap when Sam offered to help me.

   1. Sam offered to help me. Then I fixed the tap.

   2. First I fixed the tap. Then Sam offered to help me.

5. When our guests arrived, we served the refreshments.

   1. First our guests arrived. Then we served the refreshments.

   2. First we served the refreshments. Then our guests arrived.

6. He had managed to save £10,000 by the time he turned thirty.

   1. First he turned thirty. Then he managed to save £10,000.

   2. First he managed to save £10,000. Then he turned thirty.

7. The waiter brought our drinks. We'd already had our soup. Which came first, a) the drinks, or b) the soup?

8. I'd seen the film, so I read the book.

Did I first a) see the film, or b) read the book?

9. The programme had ended, so I rewound the cassette.

Did I rewind the cassette a) after, or b) before the programme ended?

10. I had an invitation to the party, but I'd arranged a trip to London.

Which came first, a) the invitation, or b) the arrangements for the trip?

Ex. 3

Here is an extract from a newspaper article about a missing boy (Roy) and his father (Neil). Decide why the Past Perfect was used in each case.

… Neil said that Roy, who used to enjoy riding with him on his bike, followed him as he set off. He told the child to go back to his mother, and rode away. Meanwhile, Roy’s mother thought that Roy had gone with Neil; Neil believed Roy had stayed behind. It was only some hours later, when Neil returned, that they realized Roy had vanished …

Ex. 4

Put the verbs in the present perfect (have done) or past perfect (had done).

e.g. It isn't raining now. It's stopped (stop) at last.

e.g. We had no car at that time. We'd sold (sell) our old one.

1. The park looked awful. People … (leave) litter everywhere.

2. You can have that newspaper. I … (finish) with it.

3. There's no more cheese. We … (eat) it all, I'm afraid.

4. There was no sign of a taxi, although I … (order) one half an hour before.

5. This bill isn't right. They … (make) a mistake.

6. I spoke to Melanie at lunch-time. Someone … (tell) her the news earlier.

7. I was really tired last night. I … (have) a hard day.

8. Don't you want to see this programme? It … (start).

9. It'll soon get warm in here. I … (turn) the heating on.

10 At last the committee were ready to announce their decision. They … (make) up their minds.

Ex. 5

A. Which of the following things have you done by your sixteenth birthday? Use the Past Perfect tense to answer.

e.g.: By my sixteenth birthday, I had smoked cigarettes and decided that I was never going to smoke again.

smoke a cigarette

learn to drive

go on my first date

get drunk

study calculus

study physics

fall in love

have my first kiss

learn how to support myself

live apart from my parents

learn everything there is to know about life

be on an airplane

learn to speak another language well

get a job

decide what I wanted to do for a living

В. Now ask a classmate the same questions.

e.g.: By your sixteenth birthday, had you smoked cigarettes?

Ex. 6

Read the text and make sentences beginning it was the first time.

Example:

John didn't enjoy his first week in the army. He had never been away from home before: he had never worn uniform: lie had never had to make his own bed: he had never cleaned his own boots: he had never tired a gun. and he hated the noise: he had never walked more than a mile.

Can you make some more examples?

Ex. 7

Read and translate the sentences. Pay special attention to the use of the Past Perfect in the subordinate clauses of time.

1. After they had shaken hands, Steve said, "Thank you." 2. Champagne was poured, and after they had all clinked glasses, Bill asked, "So are you here on business?" 3. Once she had applied a little make-up and sprayed on perfume, she ran downstairs to prepare lunch for David. 4. On Sunday morning, after she had drunk a quick cup of coffee, Vanessa dialed the Commodore Hotel. 5. After they had entered the church, they stood quietly for a moment, adjusting their eyes to the dim light. 6. After she had given the note to the front desk, her son led her outside.

7. Later that afternoon when Winston had left, she moved m the direction of the office. 8. When she had finished her cup, my mother put it down and started talking. 9. As soon as the last course had been served, the servants left the dining room. 10. After I had had my cup of tea, I went back to the library. 11. Once he had put everything away, Jake went back to the living room. 12. Once had settled himself in the driver's seat, he said, "It's time to go home."

Ex. 8

Say that one action happened after another action in the past using the conjunctions after, before or as soon as.

1. Gill felt tired. She stopped working. 2. The weather became stormy. The Air Control delayed the flights. 3. David went abroad. His wife died. 4. The plane took off from Gatwick Airport. Then the hijackers seized it. 5. The Wilsons used all their savings up. Then their son left high school. 6. The deputy manager introduced the business partners. They joined us. 7. The chairman studied the proposal. Then he spread it round the office for discussion. 8. We finished discussing the prices. Then we decided to comment on the delivery dates. 9. We increased our output last year. We completely changed the equipment. 10. Andrew got the first profits. Then he decided to expand his business. 11. Ann applied for a job. Then they invited her for an interview. 12. The company complied with the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. Then it got fringe benefits. 13. I washed and dressed. Then I had breakfast.

Ex. 9

Translate into English.

1. После того, как он увидел это собственными глаза ми, он поверил, что чудо действительно произошло. 2. Это было нечто, о чем мы никогда не знали. 3. Эрик очень удивился, когда узнал, что Лена в него влюблена уже много лет. 4. После того как дети ушли в школу, в доме стало тихо. 5. В прошлом году я впервые посетила Ирландию. Я не бывала там прежде. 6. Нам не пришлось стоять в оче­реди, потому что мы купили билеты заранее. 7. Когда Таня позвонила Рите, та уже легла спать. 8. До 1893 года ни один врач не оперировал на сердце. 9. После того как неловкий момент прошел, все расслабились. 10. Он представлял себе вещи, которые не произош­ли. 11. Я никогда не занимался водными лыжами раньше. В первый раз я сделал это во время поездки на Кипр. 12. Виктор был измучен, устал. Он плохо спал уже несколько ночей. Его бессонница не была чем-то новым. 13. С острой болью Нина вдруг поняла, как же она соскучилась по детям! 14. Возможно, Эмма и была одержима властью (to be power-ridden). Но конечно же жизнь сделала ее такой. Андрей знал это, так как по­чти тридцать лет был ее финансовым консультантом. 15. После того, как она совершила храбрый поступок, она стала героиней в глазах всех.

Ex. 10

Imagine that a forgetful old lady went out one evening to see some friends. She had a number of problems. Find reasons for them, using the Past Perfect.

1. Why didn’t she look in her address book? 2. Why didn’t she phone home and ask her daughter for their address? 3. Why didn’t she go back home? 4. Why couldn’t she get a hotel room? 5. Why didn’t she get soaked to the skin? 6. Why didn’t she take a taxi? 7. When she found her home, why couldn’t she open the front door? 8. Why didn’t she call her daughter to help her open the door? 9. Why did it take her daughter a long time to let her in? 10. Why didn’t she get to her friends’ house?

Ex. 11

Combine the two sentences to make a compound one with the conjunctions hardly … when, scarcely … when, no sooner … than.

1. He saw the policemen approaching the house. He decided to escape immediately. 2. Nelly finished typing all the papers necessary to get a visa. The head of the department asked her to bring the papers to his office. 3. We ran into difficulty. Jacob knew how to overcome it. 4. She arrived at the hotel, but then she started complaining loudly. 5. My assistant Dolly linked different aspects of the problem. Then I understood the problem pretty well. 6. She typed one letter but then the boss gave her another. 7. I asked the secretary about the contract with Coca Cola. She remembered she hadn’t sent it to the company yet. 8. Mark started business, but then the war began. 9. Harry became President of a large firm. He started putting the firm’s interests before those of his family. 10. She started cooking. The telephone rang.

Ex. 12

Expand one of these sets of notes using the Past Perfect to begin each sentence.

She/not expect/see David again I/hope for/relaxing day I/mean/to call/parents

He/think about/fly/to Rome She/want to/leave/meeting early

1. ……… , but all the flights were booked up.

2. ……… , but I couldn’t find a phone box.

3. ……… , so she was delighted when they met at the conference.

4. ……… , but she felt that she ought to stay to find out what was decided.

5. ……… , but instead my cousin and her children arrived unexpectedly.

♦ The past simple is used for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.

e.g. When Jim came home, they watched a film on TV. (Jim came home and then they watched a film together.)

♦ The past continuous is used for a past action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.

e.g.When Jim came home, Mary was watching a film on TV. (She was still watching the film when Jim came home.)

♦ The past perfect is used for an action which happened before another past action or a specific time in the past.

e.g.When Jim came home, Mary had already watched the film on TV. (She watched the film first. Jim came home afterwards.)

♦ We can use the past simple, past continuous or past perfect without any difference in meaning with verbs such as think, hope, mean, expect, etc. for things we hoped or wished to do, but didn't. e.g. I expected/was expecting/had expected him to call me, but he didn't.

Ex 13

Replace the infinitives in brackets by the Past Indefinite or the Past Perfect.

1. They (to complete) all the preparations for the fancy-dress ball by 5 o'clock. 2. On leaving the hospital the man (to thank) the doctor who (to cure) him of his disease. 3. In the morning all the passengers (to feel) good after the night they (to spend) in the comfortable sleeper. 4. During my last visit to the picture gallery I (to find) that I no longer (to like) the pictures which (to impress) me when I first (to see) them. Evidently my taste (to change). 5. Last night he (to complete) the experiment which he (to begin) some months before. 6. No sooner she (to open) the drawer than she (to find) the photo which she (to think) she (to lose) long before. 7. They (to be) friends for some ten years before I (to meet) them. 8. I (to refuse) to give a definite answer before I (to receive) a letter from him. 9. Hardly he (to touch) the pillow when he (to fall) asleep. 10. Everybody (to be) already at the bus station, but the guide (not to come) yet. 11. We (to stop) and (to wait) until the train (to pass). 12. He (to find) the landscape even more beautiful than he (to expect) it to be. 13. She (to read) in his eyes what he (to want) to say before he (to say) it. 14. Their friends (to call) for them before they (to be) ready. 15. We (to have) to stay at the station for the night because we (to miss) the last train. 16. Sarie (to remember) the night when she (to find) Lanny on the ground and (to bring) him back to wash the blood from his face. His eyes (to have) the same look she (to see) in her father's many years before when he (to learn) that his wife (to burn) his books. 17. Sarie (to understand) why Lanny (not to come) the previous evenings. She (to know) that he (to stay) away because he (to be) afraid. 18. When Gemma (to finish) reading the letter she (to understand) that she (to lose) Arthur for ever. She hardly (to slip) the letter into her pocket when Mar­tini (to enter) the room and seeing her tear-stained face (to run) up to her and (to fling) his arms round her. But Gemma (to hurry) to the window and (not to notice) even that Martini (to betray) his feelings. Steadying himself, Martini (to say) that he (to bring) sad news: Cardinal Montanelli (to die) suddenly at Ravenna that morning.

Ex. 14

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

1 A: What ...were you doing... (you/do) at ten o'clock this morning?

B: I.................,.........................(read) some important documents in my office.

2 A: Why are you so disappointed?

B: Because I..........;.....„................(hope) that I would pass the test, but I didn't.

3 A. Have you found уour bag yet?

B: No, but I...........................................(report) it stolen to the police yesterday.

4 A- Did you enjoy the play last night?

B: No, even though I..........................................(read) good reviews of it before I bought the tickets.

5 A: Have you written your report yet?

B: I ..............................................(just/start) when you came in, actually.

6 A: Sorry I'm late.

B Where have you been? I ....................................,.....(expect) you an hour ago.

7 A: We..................................(go) to an antique market yesterday.

B: .................................................(you/buy) anything?

8 A: Were you surprised that the factory closed down?

B Not really. In fact, I .......................................(know) it was going to happen.

9 A: Julia did well in the test, didn't she?

B: Yes. She........,.....„.............(study) very hard for it.

Ex. 15

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

A

When Simon 1) ...arrived... (arrive) at the cinema, dozens of people 2)........................ (queue) outside. They 3)...................... (wait) to see the same film as Simon. Simon, however, 4)...................,..........(buy) a ticket in advance, so he 5)....................... (walk) straight to the front of the queue and 6)......................... (enter) the cinema. He 7)........................(feel) relieved that he didn't have to queue. He 8).............................. (reach) his seat just as the lights 9) ............. (go down) for the start of the film.

В

Last weekend, Cathy 1)...................(hire) a car and 2) ................................. (drive) to the seaside. When she 3)...................(arrive) the wind 4)..................... (blow) and the sky 5) ................................... (be) cloudy. She 6) ....................................... (get out) of the car and 7)...................................... (take) a walk along the seafront. Then she 8)..................................

(decide) to go for fish and chips at a nearby restaurant that she 9) .........(see) earlier and liked the look of. By the time she 10).............................(leave) the restaurant, it 11) ......................... (already/grow) dark. As she 12).....................................(walk) to her car it 13).....................(begin) to rain. However, Cathy 14).................................(not/mind) because

she 15)...............................(have) a wonderful day.

Ex. 16

Use the right form of the verbs in brackets.

1. She (talk) about the party she (arrange) for the children who (attend) her Sunday-school classes. 2. Emma suspected he (arrive) at the truth years ago. 3. Jack and Amelia were the only family she ever (have). 4. She got dressed in the cotton shorts and top she (wear) the day before. 5. Mary glanced over at the clock. It (be) nearly nine. She recently (learn) to tell the time.

6. Her words had touched the core of me, and I realized with a small shock how badly I (behave), I (think) only of myself. 7. They (be) truly good friends again, closer that they ever (be). 8. It was lovely to hear her laugh again. He not (hear) her laugh in years. 9. The police cordoned off the street where the bomb (go off). 10. The suspect refused that he (assault) a policeman. 11. The prisoner (spend) almost a month digging a tunnel before the guards (discover) it. 12. He said he (be) awfully sorry for the things he (do). 13. She seated herself in the chair Bill (pull) out for her. 14. The tense, worried expression he invariably wore, (disappear). Now it (be) smooth, free of pain and concern. 15. Roger guessed that she just (make) a dreadful slip of the tongue. 16. Before the mid-nineteenth century, no dentist (use) anesthesia.

Ex 17

Розкрийте дужки, вживаючи дієслова у Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous або Past Perfect.

1. She is very happy: her son (to finish) school. 2. My brother (to train) at the stadium from six till eight yesterday. 3. My sister (to buy) a pair of nice model shoes this month. 4.1 (not to dance) for ages. 5. When Nick (to come) from school, his friends (to play) in the yard. 6. When your sister (to go) to London? 7. My friend just (to recover) after a serious illness. 8. I never (to be) to the Bahamas. 9. At this time yesterday we (to talk) about you. 10.1 (to speak) to my friend yesterday. 11. Look! Kate (to wash) all the dishes. 12. Your mother (to return) from work? Can I speak to her? 13. She (to do) her flat the whole day on Saturday. 14. The cat (to drink) all the milk which I (to give) it. 15. You ever (to be) to Piccadilly Circus? 16. He (not to read) Turgenev since he was a pupil. 17. They (to reach) the river by sunset. 18. I (not yet to receive) an answer to my letter. 19. Only when she was going to bed, she remembered that she (to forget) to ring up her friend. 20. We already (to study) seven English tenses, 21. He (to spend) two weeks in Scotland two years ago. 22.1 (to buy) a lovely fashionable dress. Now I shall look smart at the party. 23. He (to learn) English before he (to go) to the USA. 24. When she (to spend) all her money, she (to go) home.

Ex. 18

Underline the correct answer.

1. Alice felt very pleased with herself. She had found/found what she was looking for.

2. ‘Where are we?’ had asked/asked Martha.

3. Bu the time I got back to the bathroom, the bath had overflowed/overflowed.

4. She walked into the station only to find that the train had left/left.

5. I was just about to leave when I had remembered/remembered my briefcase.

6. My sister told me that Joe had died/died.

7. He had looked/looked at his watch again and began to walk even faster.

8. In a surprise move, the Prime Minister had resigned/resigned last night.

Ex. 19

Translate the following sentences into English.

Я одягнувся і вийшов в сад. Піднімалося сонце. Вітру не було, але в саду все падало листя. Берези за одну ніч пожовтіли до самих верхівок. Я вернувся в будинок. Там було тепло. Маленька береза, яку приніс мій син і яку ми посадили в горщок, стояла біля вікна. Раптом я помітив, що вона теж за одну ніч вся пожовтіла і декілька листочків уже лежало на підлозі. Кімнатне тепло не спасло берізку. Через день вона облетіла вся. Мій син і всі ми були дуже засмучені. Ми уже звиклись із думкою, що вона залишиться зеленою всю зиму. Лісник тільки посміхнувся, коли ми розповіли йому, як ми намагалися спасти зелене листя берізки.

Ex. 20

These things happened in the order given in brackets (e.g. in 1, most people went home and, some time after that, I got to the party). Write sentences using this information beginning with the words given. Use either the Past Simple or the Past Perfect.

1. (most people went home/I got to the party) – By the time …

2. (Glen opened the book/some pages fell out) – When …

3. (the fox disappeared/we went back to look for it) – When …

4. (she picked up her bag/the handle broke) – When …