In 1735 Charles-Marie de la Condamine (sail) to South America. At that time, scientists (argue) about the shape of the Earth. The French Academy (want) him to take measurements of the Equator, along with two other scientists. The work (take) them eight years and in the end, another scientific team (find) the answer they (look for). While de la Condamine (travel) home along the River Amazon, he (learn) many interesting things about the local people and their way of life. When he (arrive) in Paris in 1745, he (receive) a hero’s welcome.
Advanced
Exercise 10. Complete the text with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verb in brackets.
At half past eight, Mr. Dursley (pick) up his briefcase, (peck) Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and (try) to kiss Dudley good-bye but (miss), because Dudley now (have) a tantrum and (throw) his cereal on the walls. “Little tyke,” (chortle) Mr. Dursley as he (leave) the house. He (get) into his car and (back) out of number four’s drive. It (be) on the corner of the street that he (notice) the first sign of something peculiar – a cat that (read) a map. Mr. Dursley (blink) and (stare) at the cat. The cat (stare) back. As Mr. Dursley (drive) around the corner and up the road, he (watch) the cat in his mirror. It now (read) the sign that said Privet Drive – no, it (look) at the sign; cats couldn’t read maps or signs. Mr. Dursley (give) himself a little shake and (put) the cat out of his mind. As he (drive) toward town he (think) of nothing except a large order of drills he (hope) to get that day. As he (pull) into the driveway of number four, the first thing he (see) – and it (not / improve) his mood – (be) the tabby cat he had spotted that morning. It now (sit) on his garden wall. He (be) sure it (be) the same one – it (have) the same markings around its eyes.
(Abridged from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by JK Rowling)
Exercise 11. Complete this radio news report with the verbs given. Use the Present Simple, the Present Continuous, the Past Simple, the Past Continuous giving alternatives where possible. Sometimes you may need to change the order of the adverb and verb.
Emergency services were bombarded with phone calls from all over the north of England last night by people who (report) seeing blue objects shoot across the sky. Mrs Linda Hayward (drive) along the B456 road at the time. ‘I usually (come) along that bit of road at about ten. As I (go) past the old barn, I (see) a single bright blue light going across the road in front of my car. I (stop) the car and (watch) it for about fifteen minutes. It (travel) quite slowly from east to west and then it suddenly (disappear). Until now I never (believe) in UFOs, although my son forever (try) to persuade me that they (exist). But now I (think) that maybe he (be) right.’ At the height of the panic, police stations (get) around a thousand calls an hour from members of the public. Sergeant Ron Drake of the Ambledale police (be) particularly busy. ‘Between 10 and 11 o’clock we (receive) around thirty calls. The callers said they (see) a single blue light about as big as a car over the village. We now (consider) searching the fields around Ambledale for any evidence left behind.’ Dr Bart Mastow, a lecturer in astronomy at Trumpton University (offer) a simple explanation. ‘The reports that (come) in last night (suggest) that it (be) a meteor shower. This (be) not unusual on a small scale, but last night’s shower (seem) to have been very large. In fact, we (get) an increasing number of meteor showers, and my department currently (research) possible reasons for this.’ But many witnesses to the events (believe) that they (observe) more than a meteor shower, and the Ministry of Defence (say) that they (take) the reports of UFO sightings very seriously.
Exercise 12. Underline the correct form.
1. How do you get on / are you getting on in Paris? Sorry I haven’t written / I’m not writing before but I train / I’ve been training hard for my basketball team. We played / have played in a tournament last week – we come / came third! I really enjoy / enjoyed taking part, but I haven’t done / I wasn’t doing anything else for the past month.
2. Unfortunately, when Sarah’s big day arrived / was arriving, things have gone / went disastrously wrong at first. For a start, it was raining / has been raining and as the traffic was so heavy, she arrived / was arriving nearly ten minutes late for her interview. Then while she was crossing / has crossed the road, a passing bus splashed / was splashing her with water. But inside the building her luck changed / has changed. ‘Mr. Fortescue is expecting / has expected me,’ she was telling / told the receptionist. ‘He hasn’t arrived / doesn’t arrive yet,’ she was told. ‘Just take a seat.’ Perhaps everything would be all right after all!
3. An art historian has discovered / is discovering two missing paintings by Fra Angelico (c. 1395-1455) in the home of a pensioner from Oxford who has died / died earlier this year. Jean Preston bought / has bought the paintings when she was working / has been working in America in the 1960s. Shortly before her death, a friend recognized / has recognized them as part of a group of six small paintings which Angelico painted / has painted in 1439. Miss Preston paid / was paying about £200 for the pair, but experts say / said they are now worth around £1 million.
Past Perfect
Elementary
Exercise 1. Make the following sentences negative and interrogative.
1. Susan had come home by 6 o’clock. 2. The plane had landed by that time. 3. Tom had cooked dinner before the TV program started. 4. He had seen a crocodile in his yard before. 5. The letter had arrived by the time he was home. 6. Alex had met the girl before. 7. He had left his keys in the car. 8. Alice had called me before she left. 9. The children had eaten all the chocolates. 10. He had read the book before.
Exercise 2. Answer the following questions using the Past Perfect Tense and the prompts given.
Model: Why didn’t you invite Dick to your party? (go to Moscow)
I didn’t invite him because he had gone to Moscow.
1. Why did she refuse to go to the pictures with you? (see the film)
2. Why couldn’t you get into the flat? (lose the key)
3. Why did you come so soon from your holiday? (spend all the money)
4. Why didn’t you see Ann on Sunday? (go away for the weekend)
5. Why did you rush to the cloak-room during the first break? (leave the books there)
6. Why didn’t you ring Tom up? (quarrel with him)
7. Why didn’t you send him a letter at once? (send a telegram)
8. Why didn’t you give Nina the book yesterday? (give it to Lena)
9. Why were you late for classes yesterday? (miss the 8 o’clock train)
10. Why didn’t you make salad? (not buy vegetables)
11. Why did he feel so upset? (lose his job)
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences making use of the suggested phrases and the Past Perfect.
1. We walked home after (закончили работу в саду). 2. They thought that (она еще не пришла). 3. Did you ever see him after he (окончил институт). 4. I went down to the beach after (они ушли). 5. Before she entered the Medical Institute she (работала няней). 6. The girl felt easier after she (поговорила с ним). 7. When I turned round (она уже вышла из комнаты). 8. When Mother came home (дети уже легли спать). 9. She didn’t want to speak to him (после того, как они поссорились). 10. He couldn’t believe that (мы сделали это сами).
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences using the Past Simple or the Past Perfect forms of the verbs in brackets.
1. When I (to come) home, Mother already (to cook) dinner. 2. When Father (to return) from work, we already (to do) our homework. 3. When the teacher (to enter) the classroom, the pupils already (to open) their books. 4. Kate (to give) me the book which she (to buy) the day before. 5. Nick (to show) the teacher the picture which he (to draw). 6. The boy (to give) the goats the grass which he (to bring) from the field. 7. The mother (to see) that Nick (not to wash) his hands. 8. The teacher (to understand) that Lena (not to do) her homework. 9. I (to know) that my friend (not yet to come). 10. Tom (to return) from the cinema at five o’clock. 11. Tom (to return) from the cinema by five o’clock. 12. I (to finish) my homework at seven o’clock. 13. I (to finish) my homework by seven o’clock. 14. He (to think) that he (to lose) the money. 15. Ann (to tell) me that she (to see) an interesting film. 16. When I (to wake) up yesterday, Father already (to go) to work. 17. Nick (to think) that his father (not yet to come) home. 18. Mary (to tell) us that she (to cook) a good dinner. 19. Yesterday I (to find) the book which I (to lose) in summer. 20. When we (to come) to the station, the train already (to leave).
Exercise 5. Translate into Russian using the Past Simple or the Past Perfect.
1. Когда мы пришли в кино, фильм уже начался. 2. Когда Мэри пришла домой, ее муж уже приготовил ужин. 3. Шерлок Холмс понял, кто украл кольцо. 4. Он был счастлив, потому что он выиграл в лотерею. 5. Я не знала, что он уже уехал. 6. Сандре было страшно, потому что она никогда не летала на самолете раньше. 7. Джеймс не мог открыть дверь, потому что кто-то ее запер. 8. Они сказали, что дети уже легли спать. 9. Он понял, что она никогда его не любила. 10. Когда он пришел в университет, он понял, что оставил учебник дома. 11. Он был очень расстроен, потому что потерял кошелек. 12. Когда он пришел на остановку, автобус уже ушел.
Intermediate
Exercise 6. Comment on the use of the Past Perfect.
1. He had already learnt that when he wanted anything it was better to ask his mother first. 2. It was not likely that he was going to be drawn into an argument with an obstinate beggar like Swithin, pig-headed as a mule, who had never known a statue from a straw hat. 3. Talking to him was very easy; just like talking to someone you had known all your life. 4. The other children who had grown up with him were still the same. 5. Hardly had she sat down when a very stout gentleman flopped into the chair opposite hers. 6. George made no answer, and we found that he had been asleep for some time. 7. We knew that as a girl she had lived in the country. 8. He couldn’t meet me. He hadn’t been well for a few weeks. 9. Denny had fallen ill and Andrew was working for him. 10. I met Strickland before I had been a fortnight in Paris. 11. Old Jolyon saw Irene where he had seen her the first time, on the log. 12. Paying for what he had not eaten he left the cafe. 13. The occasion wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared.
Exercise 7. Use the Past Perfect and the prompts in brackets to complete the sentences.
Model:
When she left, she remembered that she (not /lock the kitchen window).
When she left, she remembered that she hadn’t locked the kitchen window.
1. I was very sorry to hear that he (leave). 2. When we got to the University, the lecture (start already). 3. When he came home after work, the family (start watching TV). 4. He didn’t return to his work until he (spend all his money). 5. When I met her I understood why David (refuse to marry her). 6. I didn’t know what to do when I understood that I (leave my purse at home). 7. He didn’t start watching TV until he (walk his dog). 8. She managed to grasp the main idea of the article only after she (read it twice). 9. She was tired because she (to walk too much). 10. They never started eating until they (wash their hands). 11. We didn’t meet Lucy because she (go away the day before). 12. By the end of that year we (forget our quarrels). 13. Betty didn’t speak until everyone (stop chattering). 14. They suddenly remembered that they (not/ send the parcel to its owner). 15. She returned to the hotel after she (visit her old friend). 16. He didn’t get anything until he (pay for it). 17. When she went to bed, she remembered that she (not /lock the door). 18. She felt tired because she (work too hard the day before). 19. She went for a holiday after she (pass the exams) 20. I didn’t know what to do when I (spend all the money). 21. I didn’t look at the present until after she (go). 22. I was very sorry to hear that he (die). 23. He didn’t start eating until he (wash his hands). 24. When I met Helen, I understood why Bill (marry her). 25. He understood the book only after he (read it again).
Exercise 8. Connect the following pairs of sentences using Past Perfect and the conjunctions in brackets. Do not change the order of the clauses.
Model: a) They went home. They finished their work. (after)
They went home after they had finished their work.
b) The sun set. I was ready to go. (before)
The sun had set before I was ready to go.
1. She tore up the letter. She read it. (as soon as) 2. He died. He was very ill. (before) 3. I didn’t understand the problem. He explained. (until) 4. She wrote the letter. She went to the post office. (after) 5. I arrived in Odessa. My friend left the town. (when) 6. She read the message carefully. She wrote the reply. (before) 7. He left the room. I turned on the radio. (as soon as) 8. He had dinner. He went to the cinema. (after) 9. The man didn’t leave. He didn’t receive a definite answer. (till) 10. We didn’t disturb him. He finished his work. (until) 11. We reached the football ground. The game started. (when) 12. John worked as a skilled builder. He began to study architecture. (before) 13. Harold couldn’t leave for home. He completed everything. (till) 14. The river became deeper, it rained heavily. (after)
Exercise 9. Connect the following pairs of sentences using Past Perfect and the conjunctions after, as soon as, before, until, till, when. More than one variant is possible.
Model: They came. She finished her work.
They came after she had finished her work.
1. The children returned from school. The mother cooked dinner. 2. They went for a walk. It stopped raining. 3. The frosts began. She made winter things for her children. 4. I waited. She did the room. 5. He took his bath. His wife laid the table for breakfast. 6. Nick left for school. Nelly was ready. 7. The children fell asleep. The parents came back from the pictures. 8. The mother waited. The children went to the skating-rink. 9. The bell rang. He went to bed. 10. She called on them. They went to the pictures. 11. They came to the skating-rink. The snow began. 12. It grew dark. The children went home.
Exercise 10. Fill in the Past Perfect or the Past Simple.
1. He (remember) so well the house where he (spend) his youth and first (meet) Jayne. 2. Sherlock Holmes (guess) that Cadogan West (not take) the plans of the submarine. 3. She (look) at the documents he (give) her, and (stare) at him with surprise. 4. She (return) to the hotel after she (visit) her old friend. 5. When I (meet) him, I (understand) why Anne (divorce) him. 6. She (be) tired because she (walk) too much. 7. I (be) very sorry to hear that he (leave). 8. Before Frank (open) the parcel, the messenger (disappear). 9. He (finish) painting the wall by 5 o’clock and (go) straight home. 10. She (explain) to the police that everyone (go) out to lunch.
Exercise 11. Read the following information about famous moments in history. Then underline the correct form. Only one verb in each paragraph is past perfect.
A. Columbus left Spain in August 1492 with three ships, to try and find a way to India by sailing west instead of east. When his ships finally reached / had finally reached land on 12 October, he thought he was there, but the ships actually arrived / had actually arrived in America instead.
В Captain Robert Scott wanted to reach the South Pole first. He and his companions finally arrived there on 1 January 1912 after a terrible journey across the ice, but found / had found a Norwegian flag. Unfortunately for Scott, Roald Amundsen got / had got there on 14 December, 18 days earlier.
С Leonardo painted his famous The Last Supper between 1495 and 1498, but the painting started to deteriorate within 50 years. The most common explanation for this used to be that Leonardo used / had used the wrong kind of paint, but experts have always disagreed about this, and many believe that the damp in the wall is the cause of the damage. Between 1978 and 1999, experts restored / had restored the painting, and the public can now see it again.
Exercise 12. Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Past Perfect form of the verb in brackets.
1. When I tried to use my laptop, I realized the battery (run) down. 2. I (turn) the computer off, but forgot that I (not save) my work. 3. I only remembered I (not pay) the bill when my Internet connection (stop) working. 4. When I (receive) the e-mail, I couldn’t understand who (send) it. 5. When I (check) the instructions, I understood what I (do) wrong. 6. I knew I (receive) a virus when I (run) the anti-virus program. 7. As soon as I (download) the document, I knew I (make) a mistake. 8. I could see what (go) wrong as soon as I (look) inside the printer. 9. I knew I (press) the wrong key when nothing (happen). 10. When the screen (go) blank, I couldn’t understand how it (happen).
Exercise 13. Read the text about Julius Caesar. Then complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Past Perfect form of the verb in brackets.
Julius Caesar (come) from an aristocratic Roman family, though his family was not rich by Roman standards. When he was 15 his father (die), and to avoid political problems in Rome, Caesar (serve) as a soldier in the east. By the time he (return) to Rome, he (win) awards for bravery. He (become) a member of the Senate, and governor of what is now Spain. By the age of 40 he (rise) to the top of the political world, and (form) a political alliance with a powerful general, Pompey, and a rich man, Crassus. Between 58 B.C. and 49 B.C. he (fight) a war against the people of what are now France, Belgium, Switzerland and parts of Germany. By the end of this war, according to the historian Plutarch, three million men (die). In 50 BC the Senate (order) Caesar to return to Rome. By that time, Crassus was dead and Pompey (become) Caesar’s enemy. In the civil war that followed, Caesar (defeat) all his enemies. By the time a group of Roman senators (murder) him in 44 BC, he (be) the most powerful man in Rome for only a year.
Exercise 14. Choose the correct form, A, В or C, to complete the text.
On 26 December 2004, Tilly Smith, а 10-year-old British schoolgirl, 1) _____ on the beach with her family. They 2) _____ Christmas in Thailand. Suddenly Tilly 3)______ that something was wrong. She could see that the water 4)____and waves 5) ____up the beach. The beach 6) ____ smaller and smaller. She 7) ____ that there had been an earthquake in Sumatra that morning, but she 8) ____ a geography lesson she 9)_____ at school just two weeks before. So she 10) ____ her mother what she 11) _____ about earthquakes and giant waves. Luckily for the Smith family, Tilly’s teacher Andrew Kearney 12)____ the class about earthquakes and 13) ___ them a video of a tsunami in Hawaii. Tilly 14) ___ screaming at her parents to get off the beach. They 15) ___ Tilly back to their hotel, which was not too close to the shore, and 16) ____ the alarm. One of the staff, who was Japanese, 17) _____ the word tsunami, and 18) _____ everyone to leave the beach. From their room on the third floor, the Smiths 19)_____ the terrible effects of the tsunami on the area. Thanks to Tilly, everybody from that beach 20) ____ .
1. A walked В had walked С was walking
2. A spent В had spent С were spending
3. A felt В had felt С was feeling
4. A rose В had risen С was rising
5. A came В had come С were coming
6. A got В had got С was getting
7. A did not know В had not known С was not knowing
8. A suddenly remembered В had suddenly remembered С was suddenly remembering
9. A had В had had С was having
10. A told В had told С was telling
11. A learnt В had learnt С was learning
12. A taught В had taught С was teaching
13. A showed В had shown С was showing
14. A started В had started С was starting
15. A took В had taken С were taking
16. A raised В had raised С were raising
17. A understood В had understood С was understanding
18. A ordered В had ordered С was ordering
19. A watched В had watched С were watching
20. A survived В had survived С was surviving
Exercise 15. Put the verb in brackets into the Past Simple, the Past Continuous or the Past Perfect.
1. When the ceremony (take place)? 2. Two cars (already/ arrive) and (stand) ready to start. 3. I could read from his face that he (hesitate) to tell the truth. 4. She (lead) him to the cab that (wait) at the door. 5. My father (be) forty and (be) a widower for fifteen years. 6. He (stand up) quickly and (clasp) his hands which (tremble). 7. I (meet) him for the first time the day before yesterday. 8. He asked her where she (stay) because he (want) to see her again. 9. Hardly we (take) our seats when he (come over). 10. Watson (know) that his friend always (smoke) pipe after pipe when he (think) over a difficult problem.
Exercise 16. Put the verb in brackets into the Past Simple, the Past Continuous and the Past Perfect.
1. Tom (sit) in a corner with a book. I told him that he (read) in a very bad light. 2. When I (arrive) the lecture already (start). 3. I (make) a cake when the light (go) out. I had to finish it in the dark. 4. Unfortunately when I arrived Ann just (leave), so we only had time for a few words. 5. He (have) a bath when the phone (ring). Very unwillingly he (get) out of the bath and (go) to answer it. 6. When we (reach) the field, the game already (start). 7. He suddenly (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong direction. 8. When I (look) for my passport, I (find) this old photograph. 9. You looked very busy when I saw you last night. What you (do)? 10. The boys (play) cards when they (hear) their father’s step. They immediately (hide) the cards and (take) out their lesson books. 11. He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow). 12. I (call) Paul at 7.00 but it wasn’t necessary because he already (get) up. 13. When I (hear) his knock I (go) to the door and (open) it, but I (not recognize) him at first because I (not wear) my glasses. 14. When I came in they (sit) round the fire, Mr. Waits (do) a crossword puzzle, the others (read). Mrs. Waits (smile) at me and (say), “Come and sit down.” 15. I (see) you yesterday from the bus. Why you (use) a stick? – I (use) it because I (hurt) my leg that morning. 16. The children (come) to the party at 4 o’clock yesterday; but before that Mr. and Mrs. Chambers (decorate) the room, Mrs. Chambers (bake) cakes, and Mr. Chambers (buy) a small present for every little guest. 17. As they (walk) along the road they (hear) a car coming from behind them. Tom (turn) round and (hold) up his hand. The car (stop). 18. When I (arrive) at the station Mary (wait) for me. She (wear) a blue dress and (look) very pretty. 19. When I (see) him he (paint) a portrait of his wife. 20. While he (water) the flowers it (begin) to rain. 21. When I last (see) her she (hurry) along the road to the station. I (ask) her where she (go) and she (say), “London”, but I don’t think she (tell) the truth because there (not be) any train for London at that time. 22. The men (say) that they (work) on the road outside my house and that they (want) some water to make tea. 23. Richard (get) a new exercise-book yesterday because he (fill) his old one. 24. When I (look) through your books I (notice) that you have a copy of “Nightwork”. 25. When Margaret (finish) her homework she (turn) on the radio.
Exercise 17. Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
1. I just (to see) Jack. 2. She (to wash) the dishes from five till six. 3. Look! She (to draw) a very nice picture. 4. At this time yesterday I (to talk) to my friend. 5. The TV programme (to begin) before I (to come) home. 6. I (not to eat) ice-cream since summer. 7. I understood that she (not to read) my letter. 8. She (to do) the rooms when I (to come) home. 9. It’s all right: she (to find) the way out of the situation. 10. He (to come) home late yesterday. 11. She is very glad: she (to finish) her essay at last. 12. He (to translate) the whole text by eleven o’clock. 13. I never (to be) to Rome. 14. Last year we (to work) very much. 15. When I (to have) breakfast, I went to school. 16. I (not to see) you for ages! I am very glad to see you. 17. When you (to see) the “Swan Lake”? 18. My sister already (to graduate) from the University. 19. He repaired the toy which his brother (to break) the day before. 20. I (to see) an interesting TV programme this week. 21. You ever (to be) to Trafalgar Square? 22. They (to cook) the whole day yesterday.
Exercise 18. Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Only when she was going to bed, she remembered that she (to forget) to ring up her friend. 2. We already (to study) seven English tenses. 3. He (to spend) two weeks in Scotland two years ago. 4. I (to buy) a lovely fashionable dress. Now I shall look smart at the party. 5. He (to learn) English before he (to go) to the USA. 6. When she (to spend) all her money, she (to go) home. 7. I (to speak) to my friend yesterday. 8. Look! Kate (to wash) all the dishes. 9. Your mother (to return) from work? Can I speak to her? 10. She (to do) her flat the whole day on Saturday. 11. The cat (to drink) all the milk which I (to give) it. 12. You ever (to be) to Piccadilly Circus? 13. He (not to read) Turgenev since he was a pupil. 14. They (to reach) the river by sunset. 15. I (not yet to receive) an answer to my letter. 16. She is very happy: her son (graduate) from high school. 17. My brother (to train) at the stadium from six till eight yesterday. 18. My sister (to buy) a pair of nice model shoes this month. 19. I (not to dance) for ages. 20. When Nick (to come) from school, his friends (to play) in the yard. 21. When your sister (to go) to London? 22. My friend just (to recover) after a serious illness. 23. I never (to be) to the Bahamas. 24. At this time yesterday we (to talk) about you.
Exercise 19. Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
1. They (to tell) me yesterday that you (to get) an excellent mark. 2. When you (to receive) a letter from your friend? 3. Our grandmother (to cook) dinner from twelve till three yesterday. 4. Look! What beautiful flowers she (to buy)! 5. They (to travel) along the coast of Africa last year. 6. We (not to see) each other for ages. 7. They (to eat) all the apples which I (to bring). 8. After the children (to have) dinner, they (to go) for a walk. 9. Last summer we (to live) in the country and (to go) to the river every day. 10. My sister (to spend) a lot of money yesterday. 11. She is so upset: she (to lose) the key to the front door. 12. By the 1st of September all the children (to return) from the country. 13. Columbus (to discover) America more than 500 years ago. 14. Columbus (not to know) that he (to discover) America. 15. I already (to read) five English books. 16. He (to discuss) the problem with a lot of people before he (to take) a decision. 17. Mother (to make) a delicious cake! Shall we sit down to table and eat it? 18. She (to read) an English book the whole evening yesterday. 19. I never (to be) to Greece. 20. You ever (to be) to the Niagara Falls? 21. At this time yesterday they (to sit) on the sofa and (to listen) to their grandmother who (to tell) them fairy-tales. 22. My friend just (to ring) me up from London. 23. I (to stand) at the tram-stop when it (to begin) raining. 24. We (not to skate) since last winter.
Exercise 20. Translate into English paying attention to the use of the Present Simple, Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect.
1. В прошлом году ко мне пришел один посетитель. Он сказал, что его зовут мистер Крэддл. Я никогда не видел его раньше и ничего о нем не слышал, но он мне не понравился. 2. Джейн позвонила в дверь. Дверь открылась, и она увидела небольшую прихожую. Там стояли двое мужчин и разговаривали. Когда они увидели ее, они замолчали и посмотрели на нее. 3. Я с нетерпением жду поездки в Париж, я там никогда не была раньше. 4. Когда Джек узнал, что письма, которые он послал 2 месяца назад, еще не пришли, он пошел на почту, чтобы выяснить, что с ними произошло. 5. Я всегда хотела побывать в Австралии, еще с тех пор, когда я была маленькой девочкой. Когда мне было 6 лет, мой папа купил мне книгу с замечательными картинками кенгуру и других удивительных животных. Эта книга поразила меня – до этого я никогда не видела животных, которые носят своих детенышей в сумках (pouches)! С тех пор я видела кенгуру в зоопарке много раз, но все еще хочу увидеть их на воле.
Advanced
Exercise 21. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Past Perfect.
1. I (be) very careful not to hint or remind her in any way of what she (tell) me.2. There (he) a curious expression on his face I never (see) before. 3. Almost opposite (be) that gallery where she first (meet) him and John. 4. He (be) a teacher at the University, as his father (be) before him. 5. There (be) silence after she (go). 6. And then, turning the corner of the path Old Jolyon (see) Irene exactly where he (see) her the first time, on the log. 7. And, paying for what he (not eat), he (go) out, passing two acquaintances without sign of recognition. 8. Very deliberately and carefully Poirot (retell) the conversation he (hold) with Saitrana at Wessex House. 9. She (greet) Poirot whom she (meet) before at a literary dinner in an agreeable bass voice. 10. There (be) something vaguely familiar about her face but I couldn’t remember where I (see) her before. 11. He (step) forward and there (appear) in his voice a quality of strength that his sister never (hear) before. 12. When Val (leave) them, Soames and Winifred (make) their way to the Cheshire Cheese. 13. When an hour (pass) she (hear) somebody’s feet coming down the street. 14. About twenty people already (arrive) when they (enter) the hall. 15. But he (not go) forty yards in the direction of Piccadilly when Holly’s shy face (come) up before him.
Exercise 22. Join the beginnings of the sentences in Section A with the endings in Section B using “when”, ‘while”, “because” and “after” and the correct form of the verbs in brackets (Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect). Sometimes more than one variant is possible.
Section A
1. My brother (come) home
2. The police (arrest) him
3. It (snow)
4. Anna (break) her leg
5. He (come) to the station
Section B
a. I (open) the curtains this morning.
b. we already (have) dinner, so we had to warm up the food again.
c. he (steal) a picture from the art gallery.
d. she (ski) in Austria.
e. the train (leave), so he had to buy another ticket.
Exercise 23. Make up sentences of your own combining the parts suggested with the help of the conjunctions ‘hardly... when’, ‘no sooner... than’. Mind the inversion.
Model: He (leave) the room; the bomb (explode).
Hardly had he left the room when the bomb exploded.
No sooner had he left the room than the bomb exploded.
1. The guests (leave); she (go) upstairs. 2. The sun (set); it (become) very cold. 3. The teacher (enter) the classroom; the pupils (stand up). 4. They (have) their dinner; the telephone (ring). 5. The train (start); she (cry). 6. He (finish) his story; there (be) a burst of laughter. 7. They (get married); she (begin) to make scenes. 8. She (explain) everything; he (stop) listening. 9. They (leave) town; they (feel) better. 10. She (enter) the room; the light (go out).
Exercise 24. Complete the sentences supplying the missing parts.
1. ... than they rushed out of the room. 2. ... when she cried. 3. ... than the child went to sleep. 4. Hardly had the day broken .... 5. ... when the train arrived. 6. No sooner had she left the house .... 7. Hardly had the singer appeared on the stage ... . 8. Hardly had he opened the door.... 9 . Hardly had the snow covered the ground .... 10.... than he asked another question.
Exercise 25. Fill in the blanks with the Past Simple or the Past Perfect forms of the infinitives in brackets.
1. Gemma __ badly the last few nights, and there were dark shadows under her eyes. (to sleep) (Voynich) 2. When he returned to his hotel he found a message that someone __ in his absence... (to telephone) (Hilton) 3. The Gadfly __ a moment, glancing furtively at Gemma; then he __ (to pause, to go on). (Voynich) 4. They __ the door of their inn, and __ a little way down the village, before they __ the precise spot in which it stood. (to pass, to walk, to recollect) (Dickens) 5. The moon __ .There was nothing to dispel the dark of the night (not to rise). (Abrahams) 6. Hardly __ she __ when a very stout gentleman __ into the chair opposite hers. (to sit down, to flop) (Mansfield) 7. They did not speak to him again, until he __. (to eat) (Greene) 8. Now the madman on the stairs spoke again and his mood __ suddenly __ ; he seemed quietly merry. (to change) (Priestley) 9. When Martini __ the room, the Gadfly turned his head round quickly. (to enter) (Voynich) 10. No sooner __ he __ a drink himself, than Mrs. Fettle __ in. (to take, to look) (Lessing) 11. Those grey hairs startled me. I __ they were there. (not to know) (Cain) 12. Gemma __ her hand and __ into the house. When the door __ behind her he __ and __ the spray of cypress which __ from her breast. (to pull away, to run, to close, to stoop, to pick up, to fall) (Voynich) 13. The fire __ dead, the moon __ down, and the window —grey before I went to sleep. (to be, to go, to be). (Cain) 14. I told him everything. He __ and __, like a figure cut in stone, till I __ . (to stand, to listen, to finish) (Voynich) 15. When I __ Viste Grande towards dusk I found two notes awaiting me. (to reach) (Hilton) 16. He __ hardly __ another cigarette when the general __ into the courtyard. (to light, to come) (Maugham) 17. Gemma went slowly down the stairs, Martini following in silence. She __ to look ten years older in these few days, and the gray streak across her hair __ into a broad band. (to grow, to widen) (Voynich) 18. Presently the sounds of voices and footsteps approaching along the terrace roused her from the dreamy state into which she __. (to fall) (Voynich) 19. She was a woman of nearly fifty who __ obviously __ pretty once. (to be) (Shaw) 20. They crouched down behind the group of statuary and __ till the watchman __ . (to wait, to pass) (Voynich) 21. Moreover, to him [the doctor] the affair was commonplace; it was just a hysterical woman who __ with her lover and __ poison. (to quarrel, to take) (Maugham) 22. The moon __ yet __ . I sat in the sultry dark, making patterns with the end of my cigarette and listening, listening. (not to rise) (Hansford Johnson) 23. One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends __ away to Egypt six weeks before, but he __ behind. (to go, to stay) (Wilde) 24. By this time Collard’s offer __ a thing of nightmare. (to become) (Hansford Johnson) 25. When Alison __ the first strains of the orchestra came stealing out to me from inside the hall. (to disappear) (Cronin) 26. He __ just __ the hall when a stranger __ (to leave, to enter) (Leacock) 27. On glancing at the address, he observed that it contained no name. The stranger __ far, so he made after him to ask it. (not to go) (Dickens)
Exercise 26. Translate into English paying attention to the use of the Past Simple and the Past Perfect.
( A) 1. He успел он пообедать, как ему позвонил приятель. Он только что приехал из Лондона, где провел несколько месяцев. 2. Он не прочел и трех страниц, как его прервали. 3. Иван Иванович любил эти одинокие прогулки, которые с недавнего времени стали его единственным развлечением. 4. Наконец она осталась одна. Гости ушли. 5. Не успела мисс Бетси узнать, что у миссис Копперфильд родился сын, как она уехала из дому. 6. Когда я ее видел в последний раз, она казалась очень счастливой. Она только что получила письмо от брата, который вернулся с Севера, где он пробыл долгое время. 7. Я не пробыл и пяти минут в комнате, как дверь отворилась и она вошла. 8. Оливер пробыл в стенах работного дома не более четверти часа и едва успел покончить со вторым ломтем хлеба, как мистер Бамбль вернулся и объявил, что мальчик должен немедленно предстать перед советом. 9. Когда мы приехали в гостиницу, мы прежде всего пошли к морю.
( B) 1. ...едва дверь за ним прикрылась, Валя бросилась ко мне. (Тендряков) 2. Елена закрыла окно. Она дурно спала всю ночь. (Тургенев) 3. Завьялов встал, подошел к креслу, присел на подлокотник, и положил руку на плечо Виктора. (Чаковский) 4. Даша пошла в столовую с особым чувством: теперь она стала настоящей рабочей. (Николаева) 5. Когда я проснулся, на дворе уже было темно. (Лермонтов) 6. Молодые люди спустились к Москве-реке и пошли вдоль ее берега. (Тургенев) 7. Я смотрел на него [Есенина]... он очень изменился, похудел... (Шнейдер) 8. Я не успел заснуть, как от дверей снова донесся голос вахтерши. (Тендряков) 9. Они прошли десяток метров, как вдруг Эмануил остановился. (Котов) 10. Мы вышли из сакли... Погода прояснилась. (Лермонтов) 11. Она между тем кончила письмо и запечатала его. (Чехов) 12. Когда поручик Вулич подошел к столу, то все замолчали. (Лермонтов) 13....едва я вошел в ее комнату, как кто-то прибежал с сообщением о том, что приехал Есенин. (Шнейдер) 14. Стемнело, когда они вышли из землянки. (Чаковский) 15. Настало утро; оба они поднялись. (Тургенев) 16. Утром, едва я перешагнул порог школы, как почувствовал: что-то изменилось. (Тендряков) 17. Я сел за стол, положил перед собой рукопись, закурил... (Тендряков) 18. Я стоял, пока машина не свернула за угол. (Тендряков) 19. Берсенев еще никогда не говорил с нею, как в тот вечер. (Тургенев) 20. После ужина, когда гости уехали, он пошел к себе. (Чехов) 21. Варвара Павловна пошла ей навстречу, как только увидала ее. (Тургенев) 22. Уже было поздно и темно, когда я снова отворил окно. (Лермонтов) 23. Уже совсем стемнело... когда Берсенев... подошел к двери своего приятеля. (Тургенев) 24. Аркадий подождал, пока Федот... запряг лошадей. (Тургенев) 25. Марианна еще не появилась, как Соломин уже вошел в комнату Нежданова. (Тургенев) 26. Едва лишь закрылась за ним дверь, как аудитория зашумела. (Тендряков ).
Past Perfect Continuous
Elementary
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect Continuous form of the verb in brackets. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. She was tired because she (work) in the garden all day long. 2. They were hot because they (play) football. 3. In the morning they couldn’t open the front door because it (snow) hard all night. 4. You (wait) long before the train arrived? 5. The accident happened because the car (drive) too fast. 6. They (surf) for about half an hour when they saw a shark. 7. Before I started my own business, I (think) about it for quite some time. 8. Darrel and I (live) in New York for 7 years when he got a job offer abroad. 9. One day he woke up alone; the men who (guard) him had left, having taken all his money with them. 10. Martha said she (not/take) the medicine the doctor had prescribed. 11. Ever since I’d been a kid I (tell) myself that one day I would be famous. 12. Before his sudden departure they (plan) to work together.
Exercise 2. Give explanations for the following situations using the Past Perfect Continuous and your imagination. Try to give several explanations for each situation.
Model: The boys were hot. – They had been playing football. Or maybe they had been sunbathing.
1. The girl’s eyes were red. 2. Sasha’s English got much better. 3. The child’s clothes were covered in mud. 5. You didn’t hear the doorbell ringing. 6. The roads were flooded. 7. The man was out of breath. 8. The girl’s hands and clothes were covered in paint. 9. You lost your voice. 10. Jack lost about 10 kilos.
Exercise 3. Translate into English using the Past Simple and the Past Perfect Continuous.
1. Он был уставшим, потому что он много работал. 2. Вся одежда детей промокла. Они гуляли под дождем. 3. Он сказал, что долго думал над моим вопросом. 4. Снег шел всю ночь, и утром город был совсем белым. 5. Мама сказала, что ребенок спит уже 10 часов. 6. Алекс показал хороший результат на соревнованиях, потому что много тренировался. 7. Я прождала его около получаса, когда он пришел. 8. Мы сидели в автобусе около часа до того, как он отправился. 9. Он изучал китайский 4 года до того, как поехал в Китай. 10. Мы проговорили по телефону минуты 2, а потом у моего телефона сел аккумулятор (the battery; to go flat).
Intermediate
Exercise 4. Comment on the use of the Past Perfect Continuous.
1.She had been dreaming — a bad dream — though she couldn’t remember the details of it. 2. Betty wasn’t such a fool as not to see that Mrs Sunbury had been doing all she could to make her uncomfortable. 3. I wondered how long I’d been standing there, my hand on the phone. 4. The others had been talking a few moments when he raised his head. 5. One of the men spoke first and said the very things that Michael had been saying for so long. 6. The women came from under the trees where they had been waiting. 7. Archie couldn’t say how long he had been sitting in the deep armchair near the window. 8. The complaints she had been turning over in her mind to make to him died on her tongue. 9. They’d been doing a steady fifty ever since they had got out of Sydney, and now the speedometer was rocketing around sixty. 10. Suddenly, when he had been working six months, his wife’s aunt in Bridlington took ill and wrote asking her to come.
Exercise 5. While chasing a dangerous criminal, Sherlock Holmes asked his friend Dr. Watson to visit this man’s flat. When Dr. Watson came, he saw lots of things there, but, of course, making conclusions is Mr. Holms’ business. Try to be a Sherlock Holms and help Dr. Watson to guess what had happened or had been happening in the flat before Dr. Watson arrived. Here’s what he saw:
- There were 2 cups with a little coffee in them on the table.
- In the ash-tray there were 2 half-smoked cigars.
- There were 3 glasses and a half-emptied bottle of wine on the table.
- There was an open map of London with some marks on it in the room.
- There were some spots of fresh blood on the carpet.
- There was an empty little bottle with the sign ‘poison’ on it.
- There were papers and books lying all over the floor.
- There was nobody in the flat.
Exercise 6. Fill in the blanks with the Past Simple, Past Perfect, or Past Perfect Continuous of the infinitives in brackets.
1. After some desultory conversation, the Director inquired how long he __ Montanelli. (to know) (Voynich) 2. It was almost dinner-time by then, and we __ no food all day, but neither of us was hungry. (to have) (Hilton) 3. We __ in silence for some time when Ah–Yen spoke. (to smoke) (Leacock) 4. The party __ already __ for a week before I could get away from London. (to sail) (Snow) 5. Breakfast __ long __ on the table, when Arthur came tearing into the room. (not / to be) (Voynich) 6. Mr. Morrough, who __ my doctor for some years and __ also my friend, came at once. (to be, to be) (Hansford Johnson) 7....since his arrival in April he __ simply __ round the house, helping Ann with the washing up, running errands, (to hang) (Murdoch) 8. She __ there more than two months when she fell down a flight of steps and hurt her spine. (not /to be) (Mansfield) 9. He found that he __ still for over half an hour, wrestling with his thoughts. (to stand) (Lindsay) 10. Bertha __ at her husband since he came into the room, unable in astonishment to avert her eyes. (to look) (Maugham) 11. For a week the Gadfly __ in a fearful state. (to lie) (Voynich) 12. After he __ about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor’s house. (to walk) (Wilde) 13. The Carrier expected that Tackleton would pay him an early visit, and he was right. He __ to and fro before his open door many minutes when he saw the toy merchant coming in his chaise along the road. (not / to walk) (Dickens) 14. They __ from noon till sunset. (to journey) (Ch. Bronte) 15. Marian broke up their talk, and told Mr. Townsend to run away to her mother, who __ for the last half hour to introduce him to Mr. Almond. (to wish) (James) 16. I went into a fish-and-chip shop in a poor street near the station. I __ since lunch and I ordered myself a two-penny portion of chips. (not/ to eat) (Cronin) 17. The feeling of an overhanging disaster, which __ ever since his father’s stroke, settled down over his mind. (to grow) (Lindsay)
Exercise 7. Fill in the Past Continuous or the Past Perfect Continuous.
1. The four of them went out and joined Mark Gaskell, who __ at the extreme end of the terrace by himself. (to sit) (Christie) 2. Gretta __ through the blowing snow for several minutes when a man, his head lowered against the wind, walked directly into her. (to walk) (Caldwell) 3. It continued to rain and at Vienna it __ still __ . (to rain) (Hilton) 4. We __ maybe an hour when she began to lean forward and look out, and then she told me to stop. (to run) (Cain) 5. I __ at the bar one evening with an acquaintance when the man with the scar came up. (to stand) (Maugham) 6. She took his arm, and led him out to the cab that __ at the door. (to wait) (Collins) 7. When I came down to Burlington to work in the lumber mill, I was only a kid about sixteen. My brother __ there already a year. (to work) (Reed) 8. Sitting by the window at a table, where she seemed to have been writing or drawing, was a lady, whose head __ on her hand. (to rest) (Dickens) 9. Nell awoke and saw that it was still night, and that the stars __ brightly in the sky. (to shine) (Dickens) 10. He __ about half an hour when he saw Cornelius coming along the path. (to walk) (Hardy) 11. He __ of her all the morning: he ___ of her now. (to think, to think) (Collins) 12. When the doctor awoke, Miss Reid __ still __ . (to work) (Maugham)
Exercise 8. Fill in the Past Continuous, Past Perfect, or Past Perfect Continuous.
1. Abbey resumed the newspaper she __ .(to read) (Dickens) 2. By three o’clock he __ all his own cigarettes and those he could borrow from others. He __ about lunch. (to finish, to forget) (Wilson) 3. When she came out again her tears and cries __, but there was a band of rosy flush across her forehead. (to cease) (Hansford Johnson) 4. He __ still __ at her, when two of the prowlers halted on his left. (to gaze) (Lindsay) 5. Approaching the door, she found herself face to face with Mr. Linley. He __ just __ directions to one of the servants, and was re-entering the drawing-room. (to give) (Collins) 6. Rosa made a contemptuous gesture. Then she tossed the book she __ on to the ground. (to read) (Murdoch) 7. I got up from where I __ at the Carlton House writing table and went over to the fireplace. (to sit) (Murdoch) 8. She looked up at him, and found he __ her closely. (to watch) (Wells) 9. She was on the edge of tears, as nearly dishevelled as so tidy and businesslike a girl could be. I thought she __ .(to cry) (Hansford Johnson) 10. It __, but it __, and a street lamp some way off streaked the roadway with reflections. (not / to rain, to rain) (Murdoch) 11. Cowperwood got up. He was a little afraid now of this deep-seated passion he __ .(to arouse) (Dreiser) 12. She picked up the chair she __ in and quickly slipped away with it into the house. (to sit) (Maugham) 13. Elinor __ still __ at this missive... when the door opened. (to stare) (Christie) 14. "Oh, don’t get up, dear Miss Ley," said the visitor as her hostess slowly rose from the sofa upon which she __ so comfortably __. (to lie) ( Maugham )
Exercise 9. Translate into English using the suitable Past and Present tenses.
1. Чем ты занимался, пока меня не было? 2. – Почему ты вчера не ждал меня в кафе, как мы договорились? – Но я пришел туда в 5. Я ждал полчаса… – Нет, это я прождала тебя полчаса, прежде чем решила уйти. Мы же договорились встретиться в 4! 3. Когда она вошла в квартиру, то сразу поняла, что в ней побывали взломщики. Дверь была открыта, и вещи валялись по всей квартире. Кроме того, воры сломали шкаф, в котором она хранила деньги… Точнее, хранила раньше. 4. Она думала целый час, но ничего не придумала, и, когда пришло время отвечать, не знала, что сказать. 5. Вся семья работала в саду. Только Кэрол осталась дома и теперь сидела в гостиной и слушала музыку. Потом она задремала. Она спала уже час или полтора, когда зазвонил телефон. 6. Когда происходило убийство мистера Брауна, Вы, мисс Смит, вовсе не читали книгу в своей комнате, как вы сказали нам вчера. Вы были в комнате мистера Брауна! 7. – Ты читал последнюю книгу Акунина? – Нет еще. Но я читал все его предыдущие книги. – Да, я тоже. Моя любимая книга – «Пелагия и белый бульдог». Я читал ее раза три. – А мне больше нравятся книги про Эраста Фандорина. 8. Ты не помнишь, куда я положила свой кошелек? – Нет. Попытайся вспомнить, что ты делала до той минуты, когда ты обнаружила, что его нет. 9. Вася! У тебя все лицо в каких-то фиолетовых пятнах! – А, это я ел чернику. 10. – Дорогой, как я выгляжу? – Прекрасно, как всегда. – Откуда ты это знаешь? Ты ведь на меня даже не смотришь.
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