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Simple Past vs. Past Perfect Tense | ESL Exercise

December 29, 2024 - B2pdf

Fill in the blanks with a verb in the simple past or past perfect tense.

Progress 0 of 12 answered
1I ............... have his number, so I couldn't call him.
Wrong!
Use "didn't" with the base verb "have" for a negative sentence in the simple past.
2Before that trip, we ............... each other for a long time.
Wrong!
Use "hadn't known" for a situation that was true before another time in the past.
3By the time I got home, I ............... the key, so I couldn't get into the house.
Wrong!
Use "had lost" because the losing happened before the later past situation.
4I ............... the key with me, so I couldn't get into the house.
Wrong!
Use "didn't have" to describe a past situation at that time.
5Did you ............... a good time at the party last night?
Wrong!
Use "have" after "did" because the main verb stays in the base form.
6I didn't ............... his address.
Wrong!
Use "know" after "didn't" because the main verb stays in the base form.
7They were anxious because she ............... returned yet.
Wrong!
Use "hadn't" with the past participle "returned" for something not completed before a past time.
8He ............... anything at the meeting yesterday.
Wrong!
Use "didn't say" for the completed past event at the meeting.
9When I met her again after 10 years, I ............... her.
Wrong!
Use "didn't recognize" for the main event at that past time.
10She ............... the offer yesterday.
Wrong!
Use "didn't accept" for the main completed action in the past.
11I failed the test because I ............... enough.
Wrong!
Use "hadn't learned" because the lack of learning happened before the test result.
12By the time you arrived, ...............?
Wrong!
Use "Had she gone" to ask about an action completed before another past action.
Done.
Score: 0/12
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Answers

  1. I didn’t have his number, so I couldn’t call him.
  2. Before that trip, we hadn’t known each other for a long time.
  3. By the time I got home, I had lost the key, so I couldn’t get into the house.
  4. I didn’t have the key with me, so I couldn’t get into the house.
  5. Did you have a good time at the party last night?
  6. I didn’t know his address.
  7. They were anxious because she hadn’t returned yet.
  8. He didn’t say anything at the meeting yesterday.
  9. When I met her again after 10 years, I didn’t recognize her.
  10. She didn’t accept the offer yesterday.
  11. I failed the test because I hadn’t learned enough.
  12. By the time you arrived, Had she gone?
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