Past perfect interactive worksheet - Free Printable

The task is to complete the sentences using the Past Perfect Tense. The Past Perfect Tense is formed using had + past participle and is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action.

Let's solve each sentence step by step:

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1. The fire ____________ (already/reach) the roof by the time the firemen arrived.

- Solution: had already reached
- Explanation: The fire had already reached the roof before the firemen arrived.

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2. Joe Smith went to prison because he ____________ (steal) a lot of money.

- Solution: had stolen
- Explanation: Joe Smith went to prison because he had stolen a lot of money before being caught.

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3. Helen went to bed after she ____________ (watch) her favourite TV programme.

- Solution: had watched
- Explanation: Helen went to bed after she had watched her favourite TV program.

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4. My father bought the new car after he ____________ (try) it a few times.

- Solution: had tried
- Explanation: My father bought the new car after he had tried it a few times.

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5. By the time Sonia got to the party, everyone ____________ (begin) dancing.

- Solution: had begun
- Explanation: By the time Sonia arrived at the party, everyone had already begun dancing.

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6. Lorenzo ____________ (eat) all the ice cream before I opened the fridge.

- Solution: had eaten
- Explanation: Lorenzo had eaten all the ice cream before I opened the fridge.

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7. There was a lot of snow outside because it ____________ (snow) earlier in that day.

- Solution: had snowed
- Explanation: There was a lot of snow outside because it had snowed earlier in the day.

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8. Beatriz didn't pass the test because she ____________ (not study) at all.

- Solution: hadn't studied
- Explanation: Beatriz didn't pass the test because she hadn't studied at all.

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9. Look! Somebody ____________ (leave) the windows open.

- Solution: had left
- Explanation: Somebody had left the windows open before you noticed.

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10. By the time the police arrived, the burglar ____________ (break) into my neighbour's house.

- Solution: had broken
- Explanation: By the time the police arrived, the burglar had already broken into the house.

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11. The girl felt guilty because she ____________ (drink) all the milk.

- Solution: had drunk
- Explanation: The girl felt guilty because she had drunk all the milk.

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12. Our flat was robbed because we ____________ (not lock) the front door.

- Solution: hadn't locked
- Explanation: Our flat was robbed because we hadn't locked the front door.

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13. My father couldn't find the money because he ____________ (hide) it in a drawer.

- Solution: had hidden
- Explanation: My father couldn't find the money because he had hidden it in a drawer.

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14. Leonard didn't have money for the bus because he ____________ (forget) to ask his mother.

- Solution: had forgotten
- Explanation: Leonard didn't have money for the bus because he had forgotten to ask his mother.

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15. My cousin ____________ (never/visit) a mine until his father took him one day.

- Solution: had never visited
- Explanation: My cousin had never visited a mine until his father took him there.

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16. Her bicycle wasn't there because a friend ____________ (take) it without asking her.

- Solution: had taken
- Explanation: Her bicycle wasn't there because a friend had taken it without asking her.

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17. Daniel was arrested after he ____________ (escape) from prison.

- Solution: had escaped
- Explanation: Daniel was arrested after he had escaped from prison.

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18. When Kathy met Jonathan, he ____________ (join) the Navy.

- Solution: had joined
- Explanation: When Kathy met Jonathan, he had already joined the Navy.

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19. Before they arrived at the airport, they ____________ (pay) the taxi driver.

- Solution: had paid
- Explanation: Before they arrived at the airport, they had paid the taxi driver.

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20. His dog ____________ (die) two weeks ago. He was very sad.

- Solution: had died
- Explanation: His dog had died two weeks ago, which made him very sad.

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Final Answers:

1. had already reached
2. had stolen
3. had watched
4. had tried
5. had begun
6. had eaten
7. had snowed
8. hadn't studied
9. had left
10. had broken
11. had drunk
12. hadn't locked
13. had hidden
14. had forgotten
15. had never visited
16. had taken
17. had escaped
18. had joined
19. had paid
20. had died

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Final Answer Box:

\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
1. \text{had already reached} \\
2. \text{had stolen} \\
3. \text{had watched} \\
4. \text{had tried} \\
5. \text{had begun} \\
6. \text{had eaten} \\
7. \text{had snowed} \\
8. \text{hadn't studied} \\
9. \text{had left} \\
10. \text{had broken} \\
11. \text{had drunk} \\
12. \text{hadn't locked} \\
13. \text{had hidden} \\
14. \text{had forgotten} \\
15. \text{had never visited} \\
16. \text{had taken} \\
17. \text{had escaped} \\
18. \text{had joined} \\
19. \text{had paid} \\
20. \text{had died} \\
\end{array}
}