1.
Using the verbs in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses (Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous)
I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at 8:00. I (try) __________ to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it.
Correct Answer
B. Had been trying
Explanation
The speaker is apologizing for leaving without the person last night. They explain that they had told the person to meet them early because the show started at 8:00. The speaker then reveals that they had been trying to get tickets for that play for months, indicating ongoing and continuous action in the past. Therefore, the correct answer is "had been trying."
2.
By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have) __________ five cups of coffee...
Correct Answer
A. Had had
Explanation
The correct answer is "had had". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that happened before another action in the past. In this case, the action of having five cups of coffee happened before the action of leaving the coffee shop. Therefore, "had had" is the correct form to use.
3.
...and I (wait) __________ over an hour.
Correct Answer
B. Had been waiting
Explanation
The correct answer is "had been waiting". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continued up until a specific point in time. In this case, the action of waiting started in the past and continued for over an hour. Therefore, "had been waiting" is the appropriate verb form to use in this context.
4.
I had to leave because I (arrange) __________ to meet Kathy in front of the theater.
Correct Answer
A. Had arranged
Explanation
The correct answer is "had arranged". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the phrase "had to leave" suggests that the speaker had a prior obligation or plan to meet Kathy. Therefore, the past perfect tense "had arranged" is used to indicate that the arrangement was made before the speaker had to leave.
5.
When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick) __________up the tickets and she was waiting for us near the entrance.
Correct Answer
A. Had already picked
Explanation
When the speaker arrived at the theater, Kathy had already picked up the tickets and was waiting for them near the entrance. This implies that Kathy had performed the action of picking up the tickets before the speaker's arrival. The past perfect tense "had already picked" accurately conveys this sequence of events. The other option, "had already been picking," suggests a continuous action that does not fit the context of the sentence.
6.
She was really angry because she (wait) __________ for more than half an hour.
Correct Answer
B. Had been waiting
Explanation
The correct answer is "had been waiting." This is because the sentence indicates that the anger was a result of waiting for more than half an hour, suggesting a continuous action in the past. The past perfect continuous tense "had been waiting" accurately describes this ongoing action of waiting before the anger occurred.
7.
She said she (give, almost) __________ up...
Correct Answer
A. Had almost given
Explanation
The correct answer is "had almost given." This is because the past perfect tense "had given" is used to indicate an action that occurred before another past action. In this case, the action of giving up almost happened in the past, before the time of the conversation.
8.
...and (go) __________into the theater without us.
Correct Answer
A. Had gone
Explanation
The correct answer is "had gone". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that happened before another past action. In this case, the action of going into the theater happened before the action of the speaker and others.
9.
Kathy told me you (be) __________late several times in the past and that she would not make plans with you again in the future.
Correct Answer
A. Had been
Explanation
The correct answer is "had been". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and is referring to a repeated action in the past. "Had been" is the past perfect tense of the verb "be" and is used to indicate an action that happened before another action in the past. In this case, Kathy's statement about being late happened before her decision not to make plans with the person again in the future.
10.
She mentioned that she (miss) __________ several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be on time!
Correct Answer
A. Had missed
Explanation
The correct answer is "had missed". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that happened before another action in the past. The speaker is referring to a specific time in the past when the person missed several movies due to their late arrivals.
11.
What is the tense we use to talk about an action that happened BEFORE another past action?
Correct Answer
A. Past Perfect
Explanation
The tense we use to talk about an action that happened before another past action is the Past Perfect. This tense is used to indicate that the action had already been completed before another past action took place. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
12.
What is the tense we use to emphasize the duration of a past action happened before a past action?
Correct Answer
B. Past Perfect Continuous
Explanation
The tense we use to emphasize the duration of a past action that happened before another past action is the Past Perfect Continuous. This tense is formed by using "had been" + the present participle form of the verb. It is used to describe an ongoing action or event that started in the past and continued up until another point in the past. It emphasizes the duration of the action and highlights that it was in progress before the other past action took place.
13.
Past Perfect Continuous is also used to express feelings of....
Correct Answer
B. Annoyment and anger
Explanation
The Past Perfect Continuous is used to express ongoing actions or situations that happened before a specific point in the past. In this case, it can be used to express feelings of annoyment and anger that were ongoing in the past.
14.
The structure of Past Perfect is...
Correct Answer
A. Had + verb in past participle
Explanation
The structure of Past Perfect is "had + verb in past participle". This tense is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. It emphasizes the completion of the first action before the second action took place. The past participle form of the verb is used to indicate that the action has already been completed.
15.
The structure of Past Perfect Continuous is...
Correct Answer
B. Had + been + verb in gerund
Explanation
The correct answer is "had + been + verb in gerund" because the Past Perfect Continuous tense is formed by using "had" as the auxiliary verb, followed by "been" and the main verb in its gerund form (-ing). This tense is used to describe an ongoing action that happened in the past before another past action or event.