The editorial team at ProProfs Quizzes consists of a select group of subject experts, trivia writers, and quiz masters who have authored over 10,000 quizzes taken by more than 100 million users. This team includes our in-house seasoned quiz moderators and subject matter experts. Our editorial experts, spread across the world, are rigorously trained using our comprehensive guidelines to ensure that you receive the highest quality quizzes.
This is a short quiz to test your use of the past perfect tense (when it is used with the past simple tense).
Questions and Answers
1.
When Airi _______ at school, she realized she _______ her textbook.
A.
Had arrived, forgot
B.
Arrived, had forgotten
C.
Forgot, had arrived
D.
Had forgotten, arrived
Correct Answer
B. Arrived, had forgotten
Explanation The correct answer is "arrived, had forgotten". This is because the first action of arriving at school happened in the past before the realization of forgetting the textbook. Therefore, the past perfect tense "had forgotten" is used for the action that occurred earlier, while the past tense "arrived" is used for the action that happened later.
Rate this question:
2.
When I _______ the new teacher, I was so surprised. I _______ his class before!
A.
Met, had taken
B.
Had met, took
C.
Had taken, met
D.
Took, had met
Correct Answer
A. Met, had taken
Explanation The correct answer is "met, had taken". This is because the sentence is in past perfect tense, indicating that the action of taking the class (had taken) occurred before the action of meeting the new teacher (met).
Rate this question:
3.
Fraser _______ sushi before he _______ to Japan.
A.
Never ate, had come
B.
Came, had never eaten
C.
Had come, never ate
D.
Had never eaten, came
Correct Answer
D. Had never eaten, came
Explanation The correct answer is "had never eaten, came". This is because the sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that happened before another action in the past. Fraser had never eaten sushi before he came to Japan, implying that he tried sushi for the first time after he arrived in Japan.
Rate this question:
4.
I _______ any money on the weekend because I _______ my wallet on Friday.
A.
Didn't have, had lost
B.
Hadn't had, lost
C.
Didn't lose, hadn't had
D.
Hadn't lost, didn't have
Correct Answer
A. Didn't have, had lost
Explanation The correct answer is "didn't have, had lost". This is because the first blank requires the past simple form of "have", which is "didn't have". The second blank requires the past simple form of "lose", which is "had lost". This means that the person did not have any money on the weekend because they had lost their wallet on Friday.
Rate this question:
5.
When Yuka _______ washing the dishes, she _______ the TV on.
A.
Finished, had turned
B.
Turned, had finished
C.
Had finished, turned
D.
Had turned, finished
Correct Answer
C. Had finished, turned
Explanation This sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of finishing the dishes (washing the dishes) occurred before the action of turning on the TV. Therefore, the correct answer is "had finished, turned."
Rate this question:
6.
When we went to Osaka, my friend _______ a lot about the city because she _______ there many times.
A.
Was, had known
B.
Had known, was
C.
Knew, had been
D.
Had been, knew
Correct Answer
C. Knew, had been
Explanation The correct answer is "knew, had been". This is because the sentence is in the past tense and refers to two different points in time. "Knew" is used to indicate a past habitual action of the friend knowing about Osaka. "Had been" is used to indicate a past experience of the friend being in Osaka multiple times.
Rate this question:
7.
It was a very difficult movie, but I _______ it because I _______ the book.
A.
Had understood, read
B.
Read, had understood
C.
Had read, understood
D.
Understood, had read
Correct Answer
D. Understood, had read
Explanation The correct answer is "understood, had read". The sentence structure suggests that the speaker found the movie difficult, but still understood it because they had previously read the book. The past perfect tense "had read" indicates that the action of reading the book occurred before the action of understanding the movie.
Rate this question:
8.
When we went camping we _______ outside because we had forgotten our tent! (sleep)
Correct Answer slept, Slept
Explanation The sentence states that "When we went camping, we slept outside because we had forgotten our tent." This means that the action of sleeping outside occurred because the action of forgetting the tent had already happened. The past perfect tense "had forgotten" is used to indicate that the action of forgetting happened before the action of sleeping.
Rate this question:
9.
Yuka _______ English for eight years by the time she _______ from university. (study, graduate)
Correct Answer had studied, graduated
Explanation This sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the action of studying English occurred before the action of graduating from university. Therefore, the correct answer is "had studied, graduated."
Rate this question:
10.
Fraser _______ scuba diving many times before he _______ his scuba license. (go, receive)
Correct Answer had gone, received
Explanation The correct answer is "had gone, received" because the sentence is in the past perfect tense. "Had gone" indicates that Fraser went scuba diving multiple times before a specific point in the past, and "received" indicates that he obtained his scuba license at that specific point in the past.
Rate this question:
Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.