Sept 13th

Past Perfect Forms

Positive	Negative	Question
I had finished. You had finished. We had finished. They had finished. He had finished. She had finished. It had finished.	I had not finished. You had not finished. We had not finished. They had not finished. He had not finished. She had not finished. It had not finished.	Had I finished? Had you finished? Had we finished? Had they finished? Had he finished? Had she finished? Had it finished?

Use of Past Perfect

• action taking place before a certain time in the past
  (putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)
  Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.
• Conditional Sentences Type III (condition that was not given in the past)
  Example: If I had seen him, I would have talked to him.

Signal Words

• already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past, not the present)
• If-Satz Typ III (If I had talked, …)

Exercises:

Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple).

1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build) .
2. He (not / be)  to Cape Town before 1997.
3. When she went out to play, she (do / already)  her homework.
4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make) .
5. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on)  six weeks before.
6. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order) .
7. I could not remember the poem we (learn)  the week before.
8. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall)  from the tree.
9. (he / phone)  Angie before he went to see her in London?
10. She (not / ride)  a horse before that day.

Negative Sentences in Past Perfect Simple

Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple. Use the negative form.

1. In the shopping centre, I met a friend who I (see / not)  for ages.
2. The thief could walk right into the house because you (lock / not)  the door.
3. We lost the match because we (practise / not)  the days before.
4. At school, Jim quickly copied the homework that he (do / not) .
5. We ate at a restaurant last night because I (buy / not)  anything for dinner.
6. When we came back, it was cold in the house because Alice (close / not)  the windows.
7. All day long, Phil was angry with me just because I (greet / not)  him first.
8. When I met Jane at eleven o’clock, she (have / not)  breakfast yet.
9. I couldn’t go to the cinema with my friends last night because I (finish / not)  my homework yet.
10. Fred answered my question although I (ask / not)  him.

Simple Past or Past Perfect

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

I can't believe I (get)  that apartment. I (submit)  my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show)  up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive)  before me. Most of them (fill, already)  out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.


I (try)  to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want)  me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have)  some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end)  up listing my father as a reference.


It was total luck that he (decide)  to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go)  to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look)  at my credit report. I really lucked out!

B. Reading Comprehension:
Go to Flipboard and read the article about the US OPen final on The Telegraph and answer the questions below