Past Perfect Simple – Past Perfect Continuous Test A2 – B1 Grammar Exercises

Use the past perfect continuous (had been dancing) for a long action that went on before a past moment and caused a past result. They were tired because of hours of dancing. Not were dancing: the clue for hours and the result (tired) need had been + -ing.

The clue last night shows the time is past, so the hearing is past simple (heard). The not-knowing happened before that moment, so we use the past perfect: hadn't known.

Losing the address happened before the trip, so it takes the past perfect (had lost). The trip itself is a finished past action (last month), so it takes the past simple (went).

With after, the first action can take the past perfect (had visited). The next action is in the past simple (stopped). Not were visiting / had stopped, because that puts the actions in the wrong order.

The report was ready before the boss came, so the earlier action takes the past perfect (had prepared). The later action after before takes the past simple (arrived).

Opening the door is a past action (opened). He hadn't seen Havva for a long time before that moment, so we use the past perfect: hadn't seen. The clue is for years.

Matt got on the bus before the phone call, so we use the past perfect (had got) for the earlier action and the past simple (called) for the later one. That is why it was too late.

A past simple question uses did + base verb: Where did she stay? She booked the room before the trip (two months in advance), so the answer uses the past perfect: had booked.

He waited for a long time before he got angry, so we use the past perfect continuous: had been waiting. The clue is for over 2 hours together with the past result (was angry). Not has been waiting, because the story is in the past.

Use the past perfect continuous (had been trying) for an action that continued for 3 hours up to a past moment. The moment itself is in the past simple (found).

By the time + past simple (returned) is often used with the past perfect in the other clause. The window was already fixed before she came home: had fixed.

He searched for 3 days before he found it, so the long action takes the past perfect continuous (had been looking) and the finding takes the past simple (found). Not have been looking: it is present, and William needs has, not have.

Sell out means that all the tickets have been sold. This happened before I arrived (by the time I got), so we use had already sold out. Lee bought tickets even earlier, so that also takes the past perfect: had bought.

The match ended before I arrived home, so the earlier action takes the past perfect (had finished). Before I is followed by the past simple (got).

By the time is followed by the past simple (cleaned). The other rooms were finished before that, so we use the past perfect: had cleaned. Not had cleaned / cleaned, because that reverses the order.

She went to the car park (past simple) and discovered the damage. The window was broken before she arrived, so we use the past perfect: had broken.

Irene helped for a few days before she became ill, so the long action takes the past perfect continuous (had been helping). The moment it stopped is in the past simple (got sick).

Use the past continuous (was directing) for an action in progress. Use the past simple (crashed) for a short action that happened in the middle of it. When links the two.

The shopkeeper left before I arrived, so his action takes the past perfect (had gone). My arrival is in the past simple (went). That is why I had to wait.

Mike thought about the offer before he decided, so the earlier action takes the past perfect (had thought). The decision takes the past simple (reached a decision). Not had been thinking / was reaching: the first part is possible, but was reaching is wrong for a single finished action.