Read, Write, English!

Practice using the Past Perfect tense with these 50 mixed exercises. Fill in the blanks, choose the correct option, and correct the mistakes to master this essential grammar skill.

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Fill in the Blanks (1-20)

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the Past Perfect tense (had + past participle).

1. She __________ (finish) her homework before the movie started.
2. They __________ (leave) the house by the time I arrived.
3. I __________ (not/eat) anything before the meeting began.
4. We __________ (already/see) that movie before it was removed from the theater.
5. The baby __________ (fall) asleep before the guests arrived.
6. __________ you __________ (complete) the project before the deadline?
7. He __________ (not/study) for the test, so he failed.
8. The birds __________ (fly) south before winter began.
9. __________ she __________ (cook) dinner before you got home?
10. It __________ (stop) raining by the time we left the house.
11. My parents __________ (travel) to Europe before they retired.
12. __________ the dog __________ (bark) at strangers before the mailman came?
13. I __________ (not/feel) well before the party started.
14. The children __________ (draw) pictures before the teacher arrived.
15. __________ they __________ (wait) for the bus long before it arrived?
16. The teacher __________ (explain) the lesson before the bell rang.
17. We __________ (not/sleep) well before the storm hit.
18. __________ he __________ (write) the email before the meeting started?
19. The flowers __________ (bloom) beautifully before the frost came.
20. I __________ (not/joke) about it before you brought it up.

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Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)

Choose the correct form of the verb in the Past Perfect tense.

21. She __________ a movie before the power went out.
    a) had watched
    b) had been watching
22. They __________ to the radio before the news started.
    a) had listened
    b) had been listening
23. I __________ my homework before the teacher collected it.
    a) had done
    b) had been doing
24. The cat __________ on the couch before the dog came in.
    a) had slept
    b) had been sleeping
25. __________ you __________ to the party before it ended?
    a) Had / come
    b) Had / been coming
26. The students __________ in the library before the fire alarm went off.
    a) had studied
    b) had been studying
27. He __________ his car before it started raining.
    a) had washed
    b) had been washing
28. __________ the baby __________ before the doctor arrived?
    a) Had / cried
    b) Had / been crying
29. We __________ for the train before it was announced as delayed.
    a) had waited
    b) had been waiting
30. The sun __________ brightly before the clouds covered it.
    a) had shined
    b) had been shining
31. __________ they __________ dinner before the guests arrived?
    a) Had / cooked
    b) Had / been cooking
32. I __________ to the music before the party ended.
    a) had danced
    b) had been dancing
33. The birds __________ in the sky before the storm began.
    a) had flown
    b) had been flying
34. __________ she __________ a letter before the phone rang?
    a) Had / written
    b) Had / been writing
35. The kids __________ in the pool before it started raining.
    a) had swum
    b) had been swimming

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Sentence Correction (36-50)

Correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

36. She had been finish her homework before the movie started.
37. They had leave the house by the time I arrived.
38. I had not ate anything before the meeting began.
39. We had already saw that movie before it was removed from the theater.
40. The baby had fell asleep before the guests arrived.
41. Had you completed the project before the deadline? (Correct)
42. He had not study for the test, so he failed.
43. The birds had flew south before winter began.
44. Had she cook dinner before you got home?
45. It had stop raining by the time we left the house.
46. My parents had travel to Europe before they retired.
47. Had the dog barked at strangers before the mailman came? (Correct)
48. I had not feel well before the party started.
49. The children had draw pictures before the teacher arrived.
50. Had they wait for the bus long before it arrived?

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Answer Key

Fill in the Blanks (1-20)

1. had finished | 2. had left | 3. had not eaten | 4. had already seen | 5. had fallen | 6. Had / completed | 7. had not studied | 8. had flown | 9. Had / cooked | 10. had stopped | 11. had traveled | 12. Had / barked | 13. had not felt | 14. had drawn | 15. Had / waited | 16. had explained | 17. had not slept | 18. Had / written | 19. had bloomed | 20. had not joked

Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)

21. a) had watched | 22. a) had listened | 23. a) had done | 24. a) had slept | 25. a) Had / come | 26. a) had studied | 27. a) had washed | 28. a) Had / cried | 29. a) had waited | 30. a) had shined | 31. a) Had / cooked | 32. a) had danced | 33. a) had flown | 34. a) Had / written | 35. a) had swum

Sentence Correction (36-50)

36. She had finished her homework before the movie started.
37. They had left the house by the time I arrived.
38. I had not eaten anything before the meeting began.
39. We had already seen that movie before it was removed from the theater.
40. The baby had fallen asleep before the guests arrived.
41. Had you completed the project before the deadline? (Correct)
42. He had not studied for the test, so he failed.
43. The birds had flown south before winter began.
44. Had she cooked dinner before you got home?
45. It had stopped raining by the time we left the house.
46. My parents had traveled to Europe before they retired.
47. Had the dog barked at strangers before the mailman came? (Correct)
48. I had not felt well before the party started.
49. The children had drawn pictures before the teacher arrived.
50. Had they waited for the bus long before it arrived?

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