Past Perfect Tense Grammar Practice Worksheet from ESLlibrary.com

Absolutely! Let’s solve this Past Perfect Tense worksheet step by step.

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📌 What is the Past Perfect Tense?

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.
It is formed with:
> had + past participle

Example:
“I had eaten dinner before I watched TV.”
→ Eating happened *before* watching TV (both in the past).

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We are given a list of verbs to choose from and must put them in the past perfect tense (had + past participle).

Verb List:
make, start, write, leave, forget, fly, escape, close, give, ring, eat, change, go, see

Let’s fill in each sentence:

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✔ 1. When I got to the house, Mary wasn’t there. She ______ already ______.

→ She left *before* I arrived.
✔ had already left

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✔ 2. I didn’t recognize my old classmate because she ______ so much.

→ She changed *before* I saw her.
✔ had changed

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✔ 3. We were late for the show last night. By the time we got to the theater, the movie ______ already ______.

→ The movie started *before* we arrived.
✔ had already started

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✔ 4. Yesterday I went on my first plane trip. I was very nervous because I ______ never ______ before.

→ I never flew *before* yesterday.
✔ had never flown

*(Note: “fly” → past participle = “flown”)*

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✔ 5. I couldn’t eat much dinner last night because I ______ such a big lunch.

→ I ate lunch *before* dinner.
✔ had eaten

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✔ 6. I couldn’t buy any groceries last night because when I got to the supermarket, it ______ already ______.

→ It closed *before* I arrived.
✔ had already closed

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✔ 7. Last week our teacher gave back the essays we ______ the week before.

→ We wrote the essays *before* she gave them back.
✔ had written

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✔ 8. The house was quiet when Andrew got home. Everyone ______ to bed several hours earlier.

→ Everyone went to bed *before* Andrew got home.
✔ had gone

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✔ 9. They got to school late yesterday. The bell ______ already ______.

→ The bell rang *before* they arrived.
✔ had already rung

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✔ 10. Sheila couldn’t come to my house last night because she ______ already ______ other plans.

→ She made plans *before* I invited her.
✔ had already made

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✔ 11. We couldn’t find the house. It was clear that he ______ us the wrong address.

→ He gave us the wrong address *before* we tried to find the house.
✔ had given

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✔ 12. Annie didn’t want to come to the movie with us because she ______ it the week before.

→ She saw the movie *before* we invited her.
✔ had seen

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✔ 13. By the time the police arrived at the bank, the robber ______ already ______.

→ The robber escaped *before* police arrived.
✔ had already escaped

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✔ 14. I couldn’t get into my apartment when I came home from work last night because I ______ to take my key.

→ I forgot *before* I got home.
✔ had forgotten

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. had / left
2. had / changed
3. had / started
4. had / flown
5. had / eaten
6. had / closed
7. had / written
8. had / gone
9. had / rung
10. had / made
11. had / given
12. had / seen
13. had / escaped
14. had / forgotten

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## 💡 Tip for Learning:
Ask yourself: “Which action happened FIRST?” — That’s the one that needs the past perfect (“had + past participle”).

You’re doing great practicing this tense — it’s essential for telling stories accurately in English!

Let me know if you’d like a printable version or more practice! 😊