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The past perfect

A Introduction



I felt really tired when I took the train to work yesterday because Sarah and 1 had been to a party the evening before. We hadn't gone to bed until after one. I hadn't been on the train long when I had a bit of a shock. I suddenly realized that I'd left my wallet at home. Then I began to wonder. Had I left it in the office the day before? I just couldn't remember. I wanted to go back to bed. I felt awful.

The situation is in the past (I took the train ... I felt tired ...). When we talk about things before this past time, we use the past perfect.

Sarah and I had been to a party the evening before.

I'd left my wallet at home.

We are looking back from the situation of the train journey to the earlier actions - going to a party and leaving home without the wallet.


Here are some more examples of the past perfect. It was twenty to six. Most of the shops had just closed.

I went to the box office at lunch-time, but they had already sold all the tickets. By 1960 most of Britain's old colonies had become independent.

As well as actions, we can use the past perfect to talk about states.

I felt better by the summer, but the doctor warned me not to do too much. I'd been very ill. The news came as no surprise to me. I'd known for some time that the factory was likely to close.

B Form

The past perfect is had + a past participle.

He had enjoyed the party, or He'd enjoyed the party.

They hadn't gone to bed until late. Where had he put his wallet? For irregular past participles see page 383.

C Present perfect and past perfect

Compare these examples.

present perfect (before now) past perfect (before then)

My wallet isn't here. I've left it behind. My wallet wasn't there. I'd left it behind.

The match is over. United have won. The match was over. United had won.

That man looks familiar. I've seen him The man looked familiar. I'd seen him

somewhere before. somewhere before.

19 Review of the past simple, continuous and perfect 20 The past perfect continuous


18 Exercises

1 The past perfect (A)

Read about each situation and then tick the right answer.

► Two men delivered the sofa. I had already paid for it.

Which came first, a) the delivery, or b) V the payment?

1 The waiter brought our drinks. We'd already had our soup.
Which came first, a) the drinks, or b) the soup?

2 I'd seen the film, so I read the book.

Did 1 first a) see the film, or b) read the book?

3 The programme had ended, so I rewound the cassette.

Did I rewind the cassette a) after, or b) before the programme ended?

4 I had an invitation to the party, but I'd arranged a trip to London.

Which came first, a) the invitation, or b) the arrangements for the trip?

2 The past perfect (A-B)

Add a sentence with the past perfect using the notes.

► Claire looked very suntanned when I saw her last week.
She'd just been on holiday, (just / be on holiday)

1 We rushed to the station, but we were too late.

………………………………………………………………………. (the train /just / go)



2 I didn't have an umbrella, but that didn't matter.

........................................................................................................................... (the rain / stop)

3 When I got to the concert hall, they wouldn't let me in.

................................................................................................................... (forget / my ticket)

4 Someone got the number of the car the raiders used.

............................................................................................................. (steal / it / a week before)

5 I was really pleased to see Rachel again yesterday.

…………………………………………………………………….. (not see / her / for ages)

6 Luckily the flat didn't look too bad when my parents called in.

………………………………………………………………………(just / clean / it)

7 The boss invited me to lunch yesterday, but I had to refuse the invitation.

………………………………………………………………... (already / eat / my sandwiches)

3 Present perfect and past perfect (C)

Put the verbs in the present perfect (have done) or past perfect (had done).

? It isn't raining now. It's stopped (stop) at last.

? We had no car at that time. We'd sold (sell) our old one.

 

1 The park looked awful. People.............................................. (leave) litter everywhere.

2 You can have that newspaper. I ........................................... (finish) with it.

3 There's no more cheese. We.............................................. (eat) it all, I'm afraid.

4 There was no sign of a taxi, although I.............................................. (order) one half an hour before.

5 This bill isn't right. They ............................................. (make) a mistake.

6 I spoke to Melanie at lunch-time. Someone .............................................. (tell) her the news earlier.

7 I was really tired last night. I............................................... (have) a hard day.

8 Don't you want to see this programme? It.................................................. (start).

9 It'll soon get warm in here. I............................................... (turn) the heating on.

10 At last the committee were ready to announce their decision.
They ……………… ................. (make) up their minds.



Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2065


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