Past Perfect exercises with answers
- 09.03.2026
- 15 minutes to read
Do you know the correct way to say in English: “I had already finished my work when he came in”? In such situations, Past Perfect is used – a tense that helps to show the sequence of events in the past. To use it confidently in speech and writing, it is important to practice it regularly. Below you will find Past Perfect exercises with answers that will help you to consolidate the rules and test your knowledge.
Table of contents
- Exercise 1. Insert the correct form of Past Perfect
- Exercise 2. Choose the correct form
- Exercise 3. Select the correct answer choice
- Exercise 4: Find an error in a sentence
- Exercise 5. Choose the correct answer option
- Exercise 6. Put the verbs in the correct form (Past Simple or Past Perfect)
- Exercise 7: Complete sentences using Past Simple or Past Perfect
Exercise 1. Insert the correct form of Past Perfect
In this exercise you need to put the verb in brackets into the Past Perfect form (had + V3). This tense is used to show an action that happened before another event in the past. Read the sentence and insert the correct form of the verb.
Example:
I had finished my work before he arrived.
1. She ___ (finish) the report before the meeting started.
2. They ___ (leave) the restaurant before we arrived.
3. I ___ (never see) that movie before yesterday.
4. We ___ (already eat) when our friends came.
5. He ___ (lose) his keys before he got home.
6. By the time I arrived, they ___ (start) the meeting.
7. She was tired because she ___ (work) all day.
8. We ___ (not finish) the project before the deadline.
9. They ___ (never visit) London before that trip.
10. He ___ (read) the book before watching the movie.
11. I realized that I ___ (forget) my wallet at home.
12. After she ___ (do) her homework, she went for a walk.
13. They ___ (buy) the tickets before the concert sold out.
14. We were late because we ___ (miss) the bus.
15. He was upset because he ___ (fail) the exam.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 2. Choose the correct form
In this exercise you have to choose the correct form of the verb. One option uses Past Perfect, the other Past Simple. Pay attention to the sequence of events: Past Perfect shows an action that happened before another action in the past.
Example:
When we arrived at the cinema, the film had already started.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Choose the correct form
Exercise 2
1. When I got to the station, the train (left / had left).
2. She was nervous because she (didn't prepare / hadn't prepared) for the presentation.
3. They were hungry because they (didn't eat / hadn't eaten) all day.
4. By the time we reached the airport, our flight (took off / had taken off).
5. I couldn't open the door because I (lost / had lost) my keys.
6. When we came to the party, everyone (went / had gone) home.
7. She was upset because she (forgot / had forgotten) about the meeting.
Don't worry — this is just the beginning!
The test helped identify areas to improve, and with practice your results will definitely get better.
Good result!
You already know a lot and are moving in the right direction. With a bit more practice, your level will become even stronger.
Excellent result!
You handled the test perfectly and showed a high level of knowledge. Keep going — you're on the right track!
Exercise 3. Select the correct answer choice
In each sentence, select the option that uses Past Perfect grammatically correctly. This tense is used when you want to show that one action happened before another event in the past.
Example:
When we reached the airport, the plane had already taken off.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Select the correct answer choice
Exercise 3
1. When we arrived at the restaurant, our friends ___ dinner.
2. She was tired because she ___ all night.
3. By the time I called him, he ___ the office.
4. They couldn't watch the movie because they ___ their tickets.
5. When the teacher came into the classroom, the students ___ their homework.
6. I realized that I ___ my phone at home.
7. She was happy because she ___ the exam.
8. After they ___ the project, they went on vacation.
9. When we arrived at the cinema, the movie ___.
10. He couldn't enter the house because he ___ the key.
Don't worry — this is just the beginning!
The test helped identify areas to improve, and with practice your results will definitely get better.
Good result!
You already know a lot and are moving in the right direction. With a bit more practice, your level will become even stronger.
Excellent result!
You handled the test perfectly and showed a high level of knowledge. Keep going — you're on the right track!
Exercise 4: Find an error in a sentence
In each sentence there is one grammatical error in the use of the past tense. Find it and choose the correct version of the sentence with Past Perfect if the action happened before another event in the past.
Example:
❌ When the teacher came into the classroom, the students finished the test.
✔ When the teacher came into the classroom, the students had finished the test.
1. When I arrived at the office, the meeting started already.
2. She was upset because she forgot about the appointment earlier.
3. When we got to the station, the train left.
4. He was tired because he worked all night.
5. By the time I called him, he went home.
6. They were late because they missed the bus earlier.
7. She couldn’t open the door because she lost the key.
8. When we arrived at the party, everyone went home.
9. After she finished her homework, she went to bed.
10. I realized that I forgot my wallet at home.
11. By the time we arrived, the show began already.
12. She didn’t recognize him because she didn’t see him for many years.
13. When they entered the room, the teacher finished the explanation.
14. He couldn’t answer the question because he didn’t read the article before.
15. When we reached the airport, the plane took off.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 5. Choose the correct answer option
Choose the option in which Past Perfect is used correctly. Remember that this tense shows an action that happened before another event in the past.
Example:
By the time we reached the hotel, our friends had already checked in.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Choose the correct answer option
Exercise 5
1. By the time we got to the theater, the play ___.
2. She felt relieved because she ___ the difficult task earlier.
3. When they reached the stadium, the match ___.
4. I didn't recognize him because he ___ a lot since we last met.
5. By the time the police arrived, the thief ___.
6. She was excited because she ___ such an opportunity before.
7. When we opened the box, we saw that someone ___ the documents.
8. He was disappointed because he ___ the last train home.
9. After they ___ all the instructions, they began the experiment.
10. When she checked her bag, she realized that she ___ her passport.
11. By the time the guests arrived, we ___ the table.
12. The students were confident because they ___ well for the test.
13. When I turned on the TV, the news program ___.
14. She couldn't answer the question because she ___ that topic before.
15. When the manager arrived, the employees ___ the office.
Don't worry — this is just the beginning!
The test helped identify areas to improve, and with practice your results will definitely get better.
Good result!
You already know a lot and are moving in the right direction. With a bit more practice, your level will become even stronger.
Excellent result!
You handled the test perfectly and showed a high level of knowledge. Keep going — you're on the right track!
Exercise 6. Put the verbs in the correct form (Past Simple or Past Perfect)
Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple or Past Perfect form, paying attention to the sequence of actions.
Example:
When I turned on my phone, the battery had already died.
1. When I ___ (open) the email, I realized that someone ___ (send) it to the wrong address.
2. By the time we ___ (reach) the hotel, the reception ___ (close).
3. When Tom ___ (check) his phone, he saw that he ___ (miss) several calls.
4. She ___ (feel) relieved after she ___ (submit) the final report.
5. When the guests ___ (arrive), we already ___ (decorate) the room.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Exercise 7: Complete sentences using Past Simple or Past Perfect
Put the verb in brackets into the Past Simple or Past Perfect form. Note the time markers and the sequence of actions.
Example:
When the teacher started the lesson, I realized that I had forgotten my notebook.
1. By the time we arrived at the museum, it already ___ (close).
2. She was nervous because she ___ (never / speak) in front of such a large audience before.
3. When I opened my laptop, I realized someone already ___ (send) the documents earlier.
4. We ___ (finish) the meeting just a few minutes ago.
5. He couldn’t start the car because he ___ (leave) the lights on overnight.
6. By the time the teacher entered the classroom, the students already ___ (take) their seats.
7. I was surprised because I ___ (never / see) such a beautiful place before.
8. were still waiting because the bus ___ (not arrive) yet.
9. She felt confident because she ___ (prepare) everything the day before.
10. After we finished dinner, we ___ (go) for a walk in the park.
✅ You will find the answers to all the exercises at the end of the page.
Answers
-
- 1. had finished
- 2. had left
- 3. had never seen
- 4. had already eaten
- 5. had lost
- 6. had started
- 7. had worked
- 8. had not finished
- 9. had never visited
- 0. had read
- 1. had forgotten
- 2. had done
- 3. had bought
- 4. had missed
- 5. had failed
-
- 1. had left
- 2. hadn’t prepared
- 3. hadn’t eaten
- 4. had taken off
- 5. had lost
- 6. had gone
- 7. had forgotten
-
- 1. b
- 2. b
- 3. c
- 4. b
- 5. b
- 6. b
- 7. b
- 8. b
- 9. b
- 0. b
-
- 1. ✔ Correct: When I arrived at the office, the meeting had already started.
- 2. ✔ Correct: She was upset because she had forgotten about the appointment earlier.
- 3. ✔ Correct: When we got to the station, the train had left.
- 4. ✔ Correct: He was tired because he had worked all night.
- 5. ✔ Correct: By the time I called him, he had gone home.
- 6. ✔ Correct: They were late because they had missed the bus earlier.
- 7. ✔ Correct: She couldn’t open the door because she had lost the key.
- 8. ✔ Correct: When we arrived at the party, everyone had gone home.
- 9. ✔ Correct: After she had finished her homework, she went to bed.
- 0. ✔ Correct: I realized that I had forgotten my wallet at home.
- 1. ✔ Correct: By the time we arrived, the show had already begun.
- 2. ✔ Correct: She didn’t recognize him because she hadn’t seen him for many years.
- 3. ✔ Correct: When they entered the room, the teacher had finished the explanation.
- 4. ✔ Correct: He couldn’t answer the question because he hadn’t read the article before.
- 5. ✔ Correct: When we reached the airport, the plane had taken off.
-
- 1. c
- 2. b
- 3. c
- 4. b
- 5. c
- 6. b
- 7. b
- 8. b
- 9. b
- 0. b
- 1. b
- 2. b
- 3. c
- 4. b
- 5. b
-
- 1. opened, had sent
- 2. reached, had closed
- 3. checked, had missed
- 4. felt, had submitted
- 5. arrived, had already decorated
-
- 1. had closed
- 2. had never spoken
- 3. had sent
- 4. finished
- 5. had left
- 6. had taken
- 7. had never seen
- 8. had not arrived
- 9. had prepared
- 0. went
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