Past Perfect vs Past Simple worksheet

1. 1.
   When we got to the cinema, the film . We missed the start.a) startedb) had started
2. 2.
   Yesterday I to the dentist.a) wentb) had gone
3. 3.
   By the time the police came, the thieves .a) escapedb) had escaped
4. 4.
   First I made coffee, then I my emails.a) checkedb) had checked
5. 5.
   She was nervous because she before.a) had never flownb) has never flown

1. 1.
   When I arrived, she already left.
2. 2.
   I had visited my grandparents last weekend.
3. 3.
   By the time we got there, the shop closed.

Write two sentences about your own life: one with Past Simple and one with Past Perfect. Then explain the difference to a partner.

1. 1.b) had started It started before you got there: you missed the start.
2. 2.a) went One past event at a finished time takes the Past Simple.
3. 3.b) had escaped By the time shows the escape came first.
4. 4.a) checked Events told in order take the Past Simple.
5. 5.a) had never flown Before that past moment (being nervous), so the earlier past takes had + participle.

1. 1.When I arrived, she had already left. She left before you arrived, so the earlier action takes the Past Perfect.
2. 2.I visited my grandparents last weekend. Only one past event at a finished time: no Past Perfect needed.
3. 3.By the time we got there, the shop had closed. By the time shows the closing happened earlier.

Answers will vary. Check that each sentence follows the rule on page 1, or paste them into Clarigram to have them checked.