Past Perfect Jumbled Sentences Quiz | photocopiables - Free Printable

Let's solve this Past Perfect Tense worksheet step by step. The goal is to rearrange the jumbled words into correct sentences using the past perfect tense (had + past participle) for the verb in parentheses.

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🔹 Understanding Past Perfect Tense:

The past perfect describes an action that was completed before another past action or time.
Structure: Subject + had + past participle + ...

Example:
> Maggie had already wrapped her painting when the exhibition started.
(“Wrapped” happened before “started.”)

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

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1. was / already / over / when / my sketch / I / the art lesson (finish)

- Key verb: finish → past perfect: had finished
- Main clause: "I had already finished my sketch"
- Time clause: "when the art lesson was over"

✔ Answer:
I had already finished my sketch when the art lesson was over.

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2. to the school / his portfolio / he / as soon as / submitted / Mark / it (complete)

- Verb: complete → past perfect: had completed
- Subject: Mark
- Action: He submitted his portfolio after completing it.
- Structure: "As soon as he had completed his portfolio, he submitted it to the school."

✔ Answer:
As soon as Mark had completed his portfolio, he submitted it to the school.

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3. the prime minister / open / the exhibition / by the time / for five days / it / visited (be)

- Verb: be → past perfect: had been
- It had been visited for five days by the time the prime minister opened the exhibition.
- So: "It had been visited for five days by the time the prime minister opened the exhibition."

✔ Answer:
It had been visited for five days by the time the prime minister opened the exhibition.

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4. Adam / to Tate modern / he / an abstract painting / never / before / went (see)

- Verb: see → past perfect: had seen
- He had never seen an abstract painting before going to Tate Modern.
- Subject: Adam
- "Adam had never seen an abstract painting before he went to Tate Modern."

✔ Answer:
Adam had never seen an abstract painting before he went to Tate Modern.

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5. hardly / painting / over / Sarah / was / the exam / when (begin)

- Verb: begin → past perfect: had begun
- "Sarah was hardly painting over when the exam had begun."
- But this sounds awkward. Let's restructure:
- “The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over.”

Wait — better:
"Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam began."
But we must use past perfect for begin, so the earlier action is beginning of the exam.

Actually:
“Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam had begun.” ✘ – double past perfect?

Wait — “had hardly started” is fine, but begin should be in past perfect if it’s earlier than another past event.

But here:
She was painting over when the exam began → so exam beginning is the earlier event?

No — she was already painting when the exam began? That doesn't make sense.

Better interpretation:
She had hardly started painting over when the exam began.

So:
"Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam began."

But the verb given is begin, and it must be in past perfect.

Ah! So:
"The exam had hardly begun when Sarah was painting over?" No.

Wait — perhaps:
"Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam had begun" — but that's incorrect grammar.

We need to use had begun for "begin".

Let’s try:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over. → still not natural.

Better:
Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam began. — but then "begin" is simple past.

But the instruction says: use begin in past perfect.

So:
"The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over." — but "was painting" is past continuous.

Alternatively:
"Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam had begun." — grammatically possible but awkward.

Wait — maybe the intended meaning is:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah started painting over.

But the word order includes: hardly / painting / over / Sarah / was / the exam / when

Hmm. Let's parse the words:

- "Sarah was hardly painting over when the exam had begun."

That would mean: She was barely painting when the exam started.

But again, "painting" is a gerund.

Better:
Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam began. — but "begin" is not used in past perfect.

Wait — the verb is begin, and we must use it in past perfect.

So:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over.

But “was painting” is not the main verb.

Perhaps:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah had started painting over. — now both are past perfect — but that implies both actions were completed before some other point, which isn’t clear.

Wait — the original jumbled words:
"hardly / painting / over / Sarah / was / the exam / when (begin)"

This seems like a typo or misordering.

Best interpretation:
"Sarah was hardly painting over when the exam had begun."

But "was painting" is present continuous in past.

Alternative:
"Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam began." — but again, "begin" is not in past perfect.

Wait — maybe the intended structure is:

When the exam had barely begun, Sarah was painting over.

But "painting over" is unclear.

Perhaps: Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam started.

But "begin" must be in past perfect.

So:
Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam had begun. — double past perfect — only if there's a third event.

But no.

Wait — perhaps the correct version is:

The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over.

But that uses "begun" (past perfect), and "was painting" (past continuous).

Yes — that works.

So:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over.

But the subject is "Sarah", and "was" is with her.

So:
When the exam had barely begun, Sarah was painting over.

But the jumbled words start with "hardly / painting / over / Sarah / was / the exam / when"

So likely:
Sarah was hardly painting over when the exam had begun.

But "hardly painting" is awkward.

Better:
Sarah had hardly started painting over when the exam had begun.

But "start" isn't the verb.

Wait — the verb is begin, so we must use had begun.

So:
The exam had barely begun when Sarah was painting over.

But that's not matching the word list.

Wait — let's rearrange the words properly.

Words:
hardly / painting / over / Sarah / was / the exam / when (begin)

Possible sentence:
When the exam had barely begun, Sarah was painting over.

But "was painting" is not from the verb "begin".

Alternatively:
Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.

But "begin" is not used in past perfect — "had begun" is.

So yes — Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.

But "begin" is used in past perfect form: had begun

So: ✔ Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.

But the word list has "painting", not "started".

"Painting" is a noun or gerund.

"Painting over" = the act of covering something with paint.

So:
"Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began."

Yes — "had begun" is past perfect.

So: ✔ Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.

But the jumbled words don't have "started" — they have "painting".

So: "Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began."

"Begin" is used correctly in past perfect: had begun

And "painting over" is the object.

Yes.

✔ Answer:
Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.

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6. Alan / finished / a frame for his painting / it / he / when / ? (buy)

- Question: "When did he finish it?"
- Verb: buy → past perfect: had bought
- He had bought a frame for his painting when he finished it?

Wait:
He finished the painting after buying the frame.

So:
When did Alan finish it? He had already bought a frame for his painting.

But the sentence must be one full sentence.

Jumbled: "Alan / finished / a frame for his painting / it / he / when / ? (buy)"

So:
When did Alan finish it? He had bought a frame for his painting.

But we need one sentence.

Possibly:
When Alan finished it, he had already bought a frame for his painting.

Yes — "had bought" is past perfect, showing the purchase occurred before finishing.

✔ Answer:
When Alan finished it, he had already bought a frame for his painting.

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7. made with finesse / a Picasso painting / I (x2) / a painting / never / saw / until (see)

- Verb: see → past perfect: had seen
- I had never seen a painting made with finesse until I saw a Picasso painting.

But "a painting" appears twice.

"made with finesse" modifies "a painting".

So:
"I had never seen a painting made with finesse until I saw a Picasso painting."

Yes.

But "I (x2)" means "I" appears twice.

So:
I had never seen a painting made with finesse until I saw a Picasso painting.

✔ Answer:
I had never seen a painting made with finesse until I saw a Picasso painting.

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8. once / to paint / a seascape / wanted / he / through it / Tom / at the magnificent sea town (arrive)

- Verb: arrive → past perfect: had arrived
- Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town.

Yes — arrival happened before the desire to paint? Or the desire was before arrival?

"Once he had arrived" → past perfect.

So:
Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town.

But "through it" — what does "it" refer to?

"Through it" — possibly "through the town"?

But "at the magnificent sea town" — maybe "through it" means "through the town".

But "arrived at" doesn't take "through".

Better:
"Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town."

"through it" might be a red herring or error.

Wait — "through it" could be "through it" meaning "after arriving".

But "arrived at" is correct.

Alternatively:
"Tom had wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town."

But the verb is "arrive", so we use had arrived.

So:
Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town.

✔ Answer:
Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town.

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9. the pictures / as soon as / a photo collage / he / the famous painter / started (collect)

- Verb: collect → past perfect: had collected
- He started collecting pictures as soon as he became a famous painter?

But the jumbled words:
"the pictures / as soon as / a photo collage / he / the famous painter / started"

So:
"He started collecting the pictures as soon as he became the famous painter."

But "become" isn't in the list.

Wait — "started" is the verb, but we need to use collect in past perfect.

So:
"He had already collected the pictures as soon as he started?"

No — that doesn't work.

Wait — perhaps:
"As soon as he became the famous painter, he started collecting the pictures."

But "become" isn't listed.

Wait — "he / the famous painter / started" — maybe "he started being the famous painter"?

No.

Another idea:
"He had already collected the pictures as soon as he started being the famous painter."

But "being" not in list.

Wait — "a photo collage" — maybe he collected a photo collage?

No — "collect" is the verb.

So:
"He started collecting the pictures as soon as he became the famous painter."

But "become" not in list.

Wait — perhaps:
"The famous painter had already collected the pictures as soon as he started."

But "started" what?

Not clear.

Wait — maybe:
"As soon as he started, the famous painter had collected the pictures."

But "started" is not specified.

Perhaps:
"He had already collected the pictures as soon as he started being the famous painter."

But "being" not in list.

Wait — perhaps:
"The famous painter had already collected the pictures as soon as he started."

Still incomplete.

Wait — maybe:
"He had collected the pictures as soon as he started being the famous painter."

But again, "being" not in list.

Wait — perhaps the sentence is:
As soon as he became the famous painter, he had already collected the pictures.

But "become" not in list.

Wait — look again:
"the pictures / as soon as / a photo collage / he / the famous painter / started (collect)"

Maybe:
"He had collected the pictures as soon as he started making a photo collage."

But "making" not in list.

Wait — "a photo collage" — perhaps "he started a photo collage" — but "started" is the verb.

But we need to use collect in past perfect.

So:
He had already collected the pictures as soon as he started the photo collage.

But "started" is not the verb — we must use collect.

So:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started the photo collage.

But "started" is not in past perfect.

Wait — "started" is the verb, but we need to use collect in past perfect.

So:
As soon as he started, he had collected the pictures.

But "started" what?

Possibly:
As soon as he started being the famous painter, he had collected the pictures.

But "being" not in list.

Wait — maybe the intended sentence is:
As soon as he started, the famous painter had collected the pictures.

Still awkward.

Wait — perhaps:
The famous painter had collected the pictures as soon as he started.

But "started" what?

Unless "started" refers to becoming famous.

But without "became", it's hard.

Wait — maybe:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started being the famous painter.

But "being" not in list.

Perhaps "started" is the verb, and we ignore it? No.

Wait — the verb to use is collect, so had collected.

So:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started.

But "started" is not the verb — it's just a word.

Wait — perhaps:
As soon as he started, he had collected the pictures.

But that’s not logical.

Wait — maybe:
The famous painter had collected the pictures as soon as he started a photo collage.

But "a photo collage" — perhaps he started creating it.

But "started" is not in past perfect.

Wait — perhaps:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started making a photo collage.

But "making" not in list.

This is tricky.

Alternative:
As soon as he started, he had already collected the pictures.

But "started" what?

Wait — perhaps the sentence is:
He had already collected the pictures as soon as he started being the famous painter.

But "being" not in list.

Wait — maybe "started" means "started his career"?

But not stated.

Perhaps the best we can do is:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started.

But that’s incomplete.

Wait — look at the words:
"the pictures / as soon as / a photo collage / he / the famous painter / started (collect)"

Maybe:
As soon as he started, the famous painter had collected the pictures.

Still odd.

Wait — perhaps:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started the photo collage.

But "started" is not the verb — we need to use collect in past perfect.

So:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started the photo collage.

Yes — "had collected" is past perfect for "collect".

"Started" is simple past.

So: ✔ He had collected the pictures as soon as he started the photo collage.

But "a photo collage" — is it "started a photo collage"?

Yes.

So:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started a photo collage.

But "a photo collage" is the object of "started".

Yes.

✔ Answer:
He had collected the pictures as soon as he started a photo collage.

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10. the car in the picture / already / my friend / depicted / it / I / when (draw)

- Verb: draw → past perfect: had drawn
- "I had already drawn the car in the picture when my friend depicted it."

Yes — I drew it first, then my friend depicted it.

So:
I had already drawn the car in the picture when my friend depicted it.

✔ Answer:
I had already drawn the car in the picture when my friend depicted it.

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11. varnished / the people in her painting / she / to last / after / for many years / Jane / it (paint)

- Verb: paint → past perfect: had painted
- Jane had painted the people in her painting to last for many years after she varnished it.

Wait — "varnished" is the verb, but we need to use paint in past perfect.

So:
Jane had painted the people in her painting to last for many years after she varnished it.

Yes — "had painted" is past perfect, and "varnished" is simple past.

So:
Jane had painted the people in her painting to last for many years after she varnished it.

✔ Answer:
Jane had painted the people in her painting to last for many years after she varnished it.

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12. Sandra / in the auction / before / it / her painting / sold / ? (varnish)

- Verb: varnish → past perfect: had varnished
- Question: Had Sandra varnished her painting before it was sold in the auction?

So:
Had Sandra varnished her painting before it was sold in the auction?

Yes — past perfect question.

✔ Answer:
Had Sandra varnished her painting before it was sold in the auction?

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. I had already finished my sketch when the art lesson was over.
2. As soon as Mark had completed his portfolio, he submitted it to the school.
3. It had been visited for five days by the time the prime minister opened the exhibition.
4. Adam had never seen an abstract painting before he went to Tate Modern.
5. Sarah had hardly begun painting over when the exam began.
6. When Alan finished it, he had already bought a frame for his painting.
7. I had never seen a painting made with finesse until I saw a Picasso painting.
8. Tom wanted to paint a seascape once he had arrived at the magnificent sea town.
9. He had collected the pictures as soon as he started a photo collage.
10. I had already drawn the car in the picture when my friend depicted it.
11. Jane had painted the people in her painting to last for many years after she varnished it.
12. Had Sandra varnished her painting before it was sold in the auction?

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