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Past Perfect V Past Simple Tenses

The document explains the difference between Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses in English. Past Simple is used for completed actions, while Past Perfect indicates that one action occurred before another in the past. It includes examples and a test section for practice.

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Aslia Sangcopan
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2 views3 pages

Past Perfect V Past Simple Tenses

The document explains the difference between Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses in English. Past Simple is used for completed actions, while Past Perfect indicates that one action occurred before another in the past. It includes examples and a test section for practice.

Uploaded by

Aslia Sangcopan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Past Simple v Past Perfect

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What is the Difference?
In general, we use the Past Simple for completed actions in the past. We use the Past
Perfect to show that one action happened before another in the past

Past Simple
This is the most commonly used tense when we talk about the past. We use it when
we list things that we have done, or when we tell stories. For example:

■​ This morning I woke up, left the house, went to the butcher's, and came
home.
■​ Yesterday, I had a cup of tea with my mum, took the train to London, and
visited my friend.

In these examples, the Past Simple is enough because you are explaining tasks you
completed in the past.

Past Perfect
We use Past Perfect to show tha a past action happened before another action.
Let’s compare:

■​ I forgot my wallet. (Simple Past. Completed action)


■​ My friend lent me some money as I had forgotten my wallet. (I forgot my
wallet before my friend lent me some money)​

■​ I left the oven on. (Simple Past. Completed action.)


■​ The house was full of smoke because I had left the oven on! (I left the oven on
before the house became full of smoke)​

■​ She met him. (Simple Past. Completed action)

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■​ She had met him online a few times before the meeting. (She met him before
the meetings)

​
But here’s the important thing…

We use the past perfect when one action happened in the past before another
action… WHEN BOTH ACTIONS ARE RELATED!

●​ My friend lent me some money as I had forgotten my wallet.


●​ The house was full of smoke because I had left the oven on!
●​ She had met him online a few times before the meeting.
●​ I went to Paris in 2008, but I had been there before with my family.
●​ He ate at that restaurant last night. He had not eaten there before.
●​ They had played football on the beach for 2 hours, when they finally stopped
for ice cream.

Test
📝 Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in
brackets (Past Simple or Past Perfect).

1.​ When I got to the cinema, the film __________ (already/start).


2.​ She __________ (read) the book before she saw the movie.
3.​ By the time we reached the top of the mountain, we __________ (walk) for six
hours.
4.​ He __________ (not/realise) he had left his wallet at home until he got to the
shop.
5.​ They __________ (finish) dinner when the doorbell rang.
6.​ We __________ (never/visit) that museum before last Saturday.
7.​ When I called her, she __________ (already/go) to bed.
8.​ As soon as I __________ (turn) the corner, I remembered I had forgotten my
umbrella.
9.​ She was upset because she __________ (fail) the test.
10.​The cat __________ (run) away before we could catch it.
11.​I __________ (meet) Sarah at the party, but I felt like I had seen her somewhere
before.
12.​He __________ (lock) the door and then __________ (leave) for work.

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13.​When the taxi arrived, she __________ (already/pack) her suitcase.
14.​The teacher was angry because the students __________ (not/do) their
homework.
15.​After we __________ (watch) the film, we discussed it for hours.
16.​The train __________ (already/depart) when we got to the platform.
17.​I felt tired because I __________ (not/sleep) well the night before.
18.​She __________ (buy) a new dress before she went to the wedding.
19.​The fire alarm went off because someone __________ (burn) toast in the
kitchen.
20.​He __________ (never/be) to Italy before his trip last summer.

Answers
1.​ had already started
2.​ had read
3.​ had walked
4.​ did not realise
5.​ had finished
6.​ had never visited
7.​ had already gone
8.​ turned
9.​ had failed
10.​had run
11.​met
12.​locked, left
13.​had already packed
14.​had not done
15.​had watched
16.​had already departed
17.​had not slept
18.​had bought
19.​had burned
20.​had never been

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