The Past Perfect Tense is used when we are talking about the past and we want to go back to refer to an earlier past time.
The past perfect tense is used:
1. As the past equivalent of the present perfect tense:
When I arrived Anne had just left.
The doctor arrived quickly but the patient had already died.
He wasn't exactly a stranger - I had met him once before.
2. It is not, however, restricted to actions whose time is unspecified (past equivalent of the simple past)
He told me that he had left his case on the 4.40 train.
3. For an action which began before the time of speaking in the past, and was still continuing at that time (past equivalent of the present perfect):
Bill was in uniform when I met him. He had been a soldier for ten years, and planned to stay in the army till he was thirty.
3. For an action which began before the time of speaking in the past, and stopped at that time or just before it (past equivalent of the present perfect)
The old tree, which had stood there for 300 years, suddenly crashed to the ground.
4. For an action which stopped some time before the time of speaking (not a present perfect equivalent)
He had served in the army for ten years; then he had retired and married. His children were now at school.
5. With conjunctions of time (When, after, as soon as)
When I had written all my letters, I did some gardening.
She didn't feel the same after her cat had died.
6. In reported speech:
He said, "I have been in England for ten years".
He said that he had been in England for ten years.
He said, "I went to England three years ago".
He said that he had gone to England three years before.
7. For unfulfilled hopes and wishes (with hope, expect, mean, suppose, think, want)
I had hoped to send him a letter, but I didn't manage it.
8. With before to refer to a later action which was not completed, or which was not done in time:
She died before I had had a chance to speak to her (or: before I had a chance ...)
9. With no sooner ... than and hardly/scarcely/barely.... when to suggest that one thing happened very soon after another:
She had no sooner left the room than they began to gossip about her.
Hardly had he begun his speech when he was interrupted.
10. As the past equivalent of the Simple Past tense:
Tom was 23 when it all began. His father had died five years before.
11. In conditional sentences, type 3:
If he had moved faster everything would have been all right.
12. After wish, if only, would rather to refer to past actions that didn't happen:
If only you had told me that earlier.
13. In expressions It was...
It was the third time he had been in love that year.
14. In dependent clauses after a past perfect verb either the past simple or the past perfect can be used:
She told me that my husband had called when I was out (or: when I had been out).
Exercise:
On the basis of the following examples list as many uses of the Past Perfect Tense as possible:
1. The ambulance arrived quickly, but the patient had already died.
2. We cleaned as soon as our guests had left.
3. When I came she had already left.
4. Juliet was excited because she had never been to dance before.
5. The story begins when Anne was twenty. Her parents had died ten years before.
6. I began collecting stamps in February and by November I had collected more than 2,000.
7. He hadn't finished by yesterday evening.
8. I had wanted to call her, but I didn't have time.
9. He wasn't exactly a stranger - I had met him once before.
10. I explained that I had forgotten my keys.
11. I could see from his face that he had received bad news.
12. He touched the wire before he had switched off the mains.
13. He told me that somebody had phoned when I was out (or: when I had been out).
14. They were quarrelling about the property their father had left them when he died (or: when he had died).
15. I had intended to make a cake, but I ran out of time.
16. I wish I had said I couldn't come.
17. If only he had told me before.
18. I would rather you had told her the truth.
19. If he had told me before I wouldn't have lost all that money.
20. It was the first time she had seen an elephant.
21. I had hardly closed my eyes when the telephone rang.
22. I had no sooner closed the door than somebody started knocking on it.
23. No sooner had she agreed to marry him than she began to have serious doubts.
24. He would have done anything his wife had asked.
TIME and TENSE relations in the past
You are not allowed to leave this room until you have finished sorting out the boxes.
Not allowed to go have finished allowed to go
Nothing was moved in the room until the police had taken photographs.
Not until after the police had taken photographs did we move anything in the room.
Nothing is being moved police take photographs we move things
#He refused to sign the agreement until (after) certain points had been cleared up.
Not until after certain points had been cleared up, did he agree to sign the document.
#We did not get down to business until after we had been introduced to each other properly.
Only after we had been introduced to each other properly, did we get down to business.
#She did not stop crying until the dogs had reached her.
When the dogs had reached her, she stopped crying and started to fight.
# She had searched her bag three times before she finally found the keys.
She couldn't open the door until she had searched her bag carefully and found the keys.
# Let's buy a smaller car! - No, let's wait till we have saved enough money for a big one.
They waited until they had saved enough money
TM 126 The simple past and the past perfect, simple and continuous
PEG 175-7,194-7
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
1 He (give) me back the book, (thank) me for lending it to him and (say) that he (enjoy) it very much; but I (know) that he (not read) it because most of the pages (be) still uncut.
2 When he (see) his wife off at the station, he (return) home as he (not have) to be at the airport till 9.30. 3 He (not have) to pack, for his wife already (do) that for him and his case (be) ready in the hall. 4 He (not have) to check the doors and windows either, for his wife always (do) that before she (leave) the house. 5 All he (have) to do (be) to decide whether or not to take his overcoat with him. In the end he (decide) not to. 6 At 8.30 he (pick) up his case, (go) out of the house and (slam) the door behind him. 7 Then he (feel) in his pockets for the key, for his wife (remind) him to double-lock the front door. 8 When he (search) all his pockets and (find) no key he (remember) where it (be). 9 He (leave) it in his overcoat pocket. 10 Then he (remember) something else; his passport and tickets (be) in his overcoat pocket as well.
11 I (arrive) in England in the middle of July. I (be told) that England (be) shrouded in fog all year round, so I (be) quite surprised to find that it was merely raining. 12 I (ask) another passenger, an Englishman, about the fog and he (say) that there (not be) any since the previous February. 13 If I (want) fog, he said, I (come) at quite the wrong time. 14 However, he (tell) me that I could buy tinned fog at a shop in Shaftesbury Avenue. 15 He (admit) that he never (buy) fog there himself but (assure) me that they (sell) good quality fog and that it (not be) expensive. I suppose he was joking.
16 When the old lady (return) to her flat she (see) at once that burglars (break) in during her absence, because the front door (be) open and everything in the flat (be) upside down. 17 The burglars themselves (be) no longer there, but they probably only just (leave) because a cigarette was still burning on an ornamental table. 18 Probably they (hear) the lift coming up and (run) down the fire escape. 19 They (help) themselves to her whisky too but there (be) a little left, so she (pour) herself out a drink. 20 She (wonder) if they (find) her jewellery and rather (hope) that they had. 21 The jewellery (be given) her by her husband, who (die) some years before. 22 Since his death she (not have) the heart to wear it, yet she (not like) to sell it. 23 Now it (seem) that fate (take) the matter out of her hands; and certainly the insurance money would come in handy.
24 I (put) the P5 note into one of my books; but next day it (take) me ages to find it because I (forget) which book I (put) it into.
25 A woman (come) in with a baby, who she (say) just (swallow) a safety pin.
26 I (think) my train (leave) at 14.33, and (be) very disappointed when I
(arrive) at 14.30 and (learn) that it just (leave). 27 I (find) later that
I (use) an out-of-date timetable.
28 He (park) his car under a No Parking sign and (rush) into the shop. When he (come) out of the shop ten minutes later the car (be) no longer there. 29 He (wonder) if someone (steal) it or if the police
(drive) it away.
30 It (be) now 6 p.m.; and Jack (be) tired because he (work) hard all day. 31 He (be) also hungry because he (have) nothing to eat since breakfast. 32 His wife usually (bring) him sandwiches at lunch
time, but today for some reason she (not come).
33 He (keep) looking at her, wondering where he (see) her before.
34 I (look) out before I (go) to bed and (see) a man standing on the opposite pavement watching the house. 35 When I (get up) the following morning he (be) still there, and I (wonder) whether he (stay) there all night or if he (go) away and (come) back.
36 When I (open) the door I (see) a man on his knees. 37 He clearly (listen) to our conversation and I (wonder) how much he (hear). 38 When I (ask) him what he (do), he (say) that he (drop) a 50p piece outside the door and (look) for it. 39 I (not see) any sign of the money, but I (find) a small notebook and pencil which he probably (drop) when the door (open) suddenly. 40 So he (take) notes of our conversation! 41 The notes (be) written in a foreign language, so I (turn) to the stranger and (ask) him to translate. 42 But he (pull) my hat over my eyes and (run) off down the corridor. 43 By the time I (recover) from the shock he (disappear) round the corner. 44 Curiously enough, when I (move) my foot I (find) that I (stand) on a 50p piece. 45 Perhaps he (tell) the truth after all!
Mixed exercises:
1) The boss (arrive) late that day and (be told) that everyone ( read) newspapers and (make) paper aeroplanes all morning. Apparently, no one (do) any work: they (take) the phone off the hook and (not open) any of the mail. She (be about) to lose her temper and (go) to sack them all when someone (point out) that it (be) April 1 and that they (pull) her leg.
2) I (nie rozpoznałem) Sally at first because she (dawniej była dużo szczuplejsza). She (przybrała sporo na wadze) and her hair (siwiały). Whan I (widziałem ją ostatnio) she (była szczuplejsza) and her hair (były czarne). She (dawniej ćwiczyła) regularly but for the past few years she (nie miała czasu) to continue since she (przeprowadziła się) to London. It (zabrało mi ) some time to get used to seeing her looking so different.
3) Father (go) up the ladder without securing it and, sure enough, the ladder (slip) and he (be stuck) on the roof. Well, no sooner (the ladder - fall) to the ground than it (start) to pour with rain, so there (be) no one in the street to hear his cries for help. By the time the rain (stop) it (get) dark and although he (go on) shouting all evening, no one (hear) him and he (have to) spend the whole night on the roof. The next morning, by the time I (get) there, he (be rescued) by the window cleaner. It was the first time I (see) him look embarrased - it (be) one of the funniest sights I (ever see).
4) a) I am an old man now and I think it is high time I (write) about a certain summer experience of mine. So far no one (believe) in my story but I don't lose hope that someone will take it seriously.
b) The sky (be) starry on that July night as I (go) out for my usual evening walk. The whole village already (fall) asleep, only here and there a friendly light (flicker) or a dog (bark). The local people (laugh) at my practice of walking about at night while every good Christian (rest) in his bed, (spend) the day on hard work. But I (not surprise). I (be) there for only a week and I (know) that it (take) time before local people (get) used to a stranger.
c) Those walks (mean) a lot to me. Before I (leave) for that village my doctor (tell) me to make a choice. „If you have a good rest in the country, you will live, if you don/t, you'd better start saving for a coffin”, he (say) and I (know) he (be) serious. I (have) a fairly long history o fheart trouble and he (save) my life a couple of times before. I (tell) him I (follow) his advice and he (give) me a smile of approval. „You (make) the right decision, my friend”, he (say), „ coffins cost a lot of money these days.” We both (laugh) and (shake) hands.
d) There (be) nothing unusual about that night and I (not believe) if somebody (tell) me that it (change) the whole meaning of my life and (make) me want to live for at least a hundred years more.
e) I (cross) the stream when I (notice) a strange machine among the bushes, which (emit) a light of unusual intensity. Then a figure (appear) in front of the machine. If the light (be) less intense, I (find) it easier to describe that person, but I almost (blind), besides he (wear) a kind of spacesuit which (mask) his face. As soon as I (see) him I (realize) that something of great importance (happen). He (take) out a small box, (turn) it towards me and, although not a single word (speak), I (understand) the following message:
f) `Fifty-five miles to the north off the coast of Easter Island you will find the remains of a past civilization, which now (long forget) but which (be) far more advanced than the present one. For many years Man (try) to solve a great many vital problems such as the cure for cancer or the shortage of food. Useful clues will be discovered in that sunken city. Turn them to the advantage of mankind. You (choose) to propagate what you (just tell). In 59 years' time we shall come again and we only hope that by that time sufficient progress (make). So long, my friend....” and both the box and the figure (vanish). The huge machine (take) off noiselessly and (go) in less than a few seconds.
g) As a person to save mankind I (be) the worst possible choice since despite my doctor's optimism my days (number) and I (get) tired of convincing people that my words are not old man's ramblings. I have no money to finance the search myself - please, take my appeal seriously and do what you can for the welfare of mankind.
5) A thousand years ago York (be) one of the largest, richest and most famous cities in the whole of Britain. A monk at that time (describe) it as packed with a huge population, rich merchandise, and traders „from all parts, especially Danes”. People in the 10th century (call) it Jorvik, and (know) it as the capital of the North of Englandm and one of Europe's greatest trading ports. It (owe) its prosperity to the hard work and commercial enterprise of Viking settler from Scandinavia whe (capture) it in AD 866 and almopst totally (rebuild) it.
Most of the city's buildings (make) of wood and long since(demolish), or (burn) down or (rot) away. In some parts of modern York, however, near the rivers Ouse and Foss which run through the centre of the city, archaelogists (find) that remains of Jorvik do still survive. They are buried deep under the streets and buildings of the 20th century city. Here the damp soils (preserve) the timber buildings. While streets of houses, shops, workshops and warehouses are to be found, often still standing shoulder high. (...)
Between 1976 and 1981 archaelogists from the York Archaelogical Trust (excavate) a part of this lost and all-but-forgotten city. The dig (take) place in Coppergate, before the city's new Coppergate Centre (build). Four rows of buildings (fins). The remains (be) so well preserved that every aspect of life at the time (can) be reconstructed.
York Archaelogical Trust (decide) to try to tell the story of Jorvik as it (be) a thousand years ago. To do so it (build) the Jorvik Viking Centre in the huge hole created by the dig. Two of the rows of buildings (reconstruct) as we think they (be). A further two (preserve) just as the archeological team (discover) them, the ancient timbers set out as they (find) in the late 1970s, deep below the new shopping centre, where they (lie) for centuries.
In the Jorvik Viking Centre people from the 20th century journey back to the 10th century, past some of the thirty or so generations of York's people who (walk) the pavements of coppergate. (...)
(Leo Jones - Progress to FC)
Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences:
He apologized for the trouble he caused
He apologized for the trouble he had caused
When we reached the forest it started to rain.
When we reached the forest it had started to rain
She had opened the letter when she saw Father hiding in the corner.
She opened the letter when she saw Father hiding in the corner.
She noticed that there were three people in the room.
She noticed that there had been three people in the room.
I was reading a book that evening
I read a book that evening.
I saw him after the meeting.
I was seeing him after the meeting.
What have you been doing ?
What have you done ?
Before I filled in my tax-form, I phoned my aunt four times.
Before I had filled in my tax-form, I phoned my aunt four times.
Before I read Quirk, I had three cups of coffee.
Before I had read Quirk, I had three cups of coffee.
When we arrived they were having tea.
When we arrived they had had tea.
When we arrived they had tea.
VINCE Unit 4:
5 Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same.
a) You have missed the beginning of the film. HAS
The film has already started.
b) I can't seem to stop sneezing lately. BEEN ----
c) Paul is different from what he used to be. HAS ----
d) This has been my home for thirty years. HAVE ----
e) Eating Chinese food is new to me. BEFORE ----
f) Is there any news? HAPPENED ----
g) I bought my car in 1985 and I'm still driving it. BEEN ----
h) I don't know where my keys are. HAVE ----
i) Sue doesn't have her dictionary with her; it's at home. HAS ----
j) Tony hasn't been to Paris before. FIRST ----
Paraphrase the following sentences:
The climbers hope for a break in the weather, as they will attack the summit then.
As soon as there…………………………………………………………………………………
We'll miss the beginning of the film.
The film …………………………………………………………………………………………
The guerillas escaped before the soldiers arrived.
By the time ……………………………………………………………………………………...
There is a smell of onions in the kitchen now.
The kitchen ……………………………………………………………………………….……..
First you must drink your medicine to the last drop; then you can go out to play.
The moment.……...……………………………………………………………………………..
Nothing was moved in the room until the police had taken all photographs.
Not until after……………………………………………………………………………
When we reach home, the supper will be ready.
When we reach home, the servants ……………………………………………………………
He started working for the army two years before the outbreak of the war.
When the war ………………………………………………………………………………………...
I have never before eaten raw octopus.
This is ……………………………………………………………………………………………
When she found a new job, she became more confident - and she still is.
Since she………………………………………………………………………………………...
Complete the text with the most suitable forms of the verbs in brackets:
>I (phone)..................................... about your advertisement for a bicycle for sale, which I just (see)........................... in the local paper. (you sell)................................ it or is it still available?
>We (live)...................... in this house since 1970, that is to say, ever since my father (die)..................... He (come)................................. to this country twenty years ago. He (be).............................. born in South Africa in 1900. When he (meet)......................... my mother, he (be)................................ a soldier for ten years, but he (not resign)............................... until they (put).............................. aside enough money to come here.
>I (try)………………….. to catch you since two - that's four hours now! I (ring)…………… at least five times.
>Mary's mother (retire) ………………….. in two years because she then (be)……………… sixty. She (work)……………………….. in the same school for thirty years by then.
> She survived the trip only thanks to him. She (not meet)………………. him before, but she (be)………………… certainly glad that she (auxiliary)…………… by the end of her stay. The first thing that (happen)………………… was that the hotel where she (plan)…………… to stay (never receive)………………… her booking.
>After what she (do)……………… to my family, I (not talk)………….. to her until she (say)……………….. "sorry".
>It will be the first time I (speak)………………….. to a queen!
>Can you imagine that? By the time I (get)………………. back to the bathroom, the bath (overflow)……………….
Fill in the gaps, using the most suitable form of the given verb:
/ The hero, sitting in a hotel room, recalls the day when he lost his wife, Irina/
In the dark of the room he /see/.................... the polyclinic off the Arbat where he, the solicitous lover, /take/......................... Irina to treat an infection. She /stop/...................... smoking - they both /aux/............., together - and out of waiting room nervousness she /ask/.................... him to to go a kiosk for a magazine, Elle or Vogue, it /not matter/................. how old. He /remember/........................ the fatuous slap of his shoes as he /cross/................... the room. [...] Outside, [...] cottonwood seeds /lift/...................... into the evening's summer light. Poised smugly on the clinic steps, what /he, think/............................? That they /finally, achieve/...................................... a normal life, a blessed buble above the general mayhem? Meanwhile the nurse /lead/.......................... Irina to the examining room. (Since then he /become/.................................. more tolerant of killers.[...] At least they /kill/...................... deliberately). Her doctor /explain/.......................:
- I'm sorry, but the clinic /run out/..................... of Bactrim, the usual treatment. Are you allergic to ampicillin, penicillin?- he /inquire/.......................
- Yes, I /mention/ .................................. it many times before! It should /be/................. underlined on my chart.
At which point the doctor's pocket /beep/.............................. and he /step/.................... into the hall to talk on the phone to his broker. The nurse in the examining room /hear/................................. only minutes before that her apartment /be sold/............................... by the city to a Swiss corporation for offices. Who /be/...........there to complain? She /catch/................................ the word „amipicillin”. Since the clinic was out of oral doses, she /give/..................... Irina an intravenous injection and /leave/.................................. the room.
When Arkady /buy/................................ the magazine, he /follow/............................. the gauzy stream of seeds drifting back to the clinic; by that time Irina /already, die/.......................... .
(adapted from „Havana Bay” by Martin Cruz - Smith)
Put each verb in brackets into the correct tense:
A) It was announced in London this morning that the British Oil Corporation (discover) ……………………… oil under the sea near the Welsh coast. The company, which (drill) …………………………. for oil in the area since 1990, (find)…………………….. small amounts of oil near Swansea last month, and since then (discover)…………………….. larger amounts under the seabed nearby. Last year the government (lend)……………………. over 50 million pounds to BOC and (give)……………………… permission for the company to build a rafinery. The reaction of the local people (be)………………………….. mixed so far. Local MPs (already welcome)………………………. the news, but local residents are worried: "Look what (happen)……………………….. when they (find)…………………….. oil in Scotland in the 1960s. The companies got rich, but the locals were even poorer than they (be)…………………….. before. All our community members (act) ………………….. now - we (not wait)…………………………… until it (be)…………………….. too late. Ten years ago we (experience)………………………….. a similar danger, but we couldn't do anything, as we (provoked)………………………… the situation ourselves. This time it is different - we (meet) ……………………… our MPs on Thursday to discuss the issue. We (already prepared)………………….. a draft of the contract, on which we (work)…………………………… since we first (hear)………………………….. the news." The local MPs claimed that it (be)……………….. the first time that they (encounter)………………………. such an aggressive reaction to a seemingly attractive proposal. Now they say that by the time they (complete)…………………….their parliamentary duties, they (visit)……………………………. a psychiatrist at least ten times. For the last month they (consult) ……………………… an Internet site devoted to emotional breakdowns, but they are convinced sooner or later they (need).………..…... a professional.
(B) Mrs Skywalker (think) ................................. Gandalf was an ideal neighbour. He was a shy person who kept himself to himself, and he (be) ........................................... always polite. He (look) ..................................... about fifty, with greying hair, and he ( never marry) .....................................
Hardly anyone (know) .............................................. what he (do) ................................. Whenever he was asked about his job, he (simply smile) ........................................... and said that he (work) ....................................... for the government. He (get up) ....................................... early and (leave) ........................................ the flat at 8 o'clock, taking the underground to St. James' Park, where he (get off) ................................... and (walk) ........................................ the rest of the way to his office. As a rule he (finish) ................................... at about 6 o'clock, usually taking home some papers to work on in the evening. He (only go) ................................... out once every two or three weeks, and apart from that, as far as Mrs Skywalker could tell, he (see) .......................................... nobody socially.
It was only when Gandalf (disappear) ................................... that Mrs Skywalker (learn) ........................................ what he (really do) ............................................ The papers printed a story that a secret service agent (kill) ........................................ in a mysterious accident. Next to the article there was a large photograph of Gandalf.
(C) Trinity (stand) .................................. by the window for a few minutes, looking at the trails of smoke rising up from the chimneys into the grey morning sky. A bus (stop) .................................... on the road between her house and the village in the valley below. Watching the line of passengers getting on one by one, she (feel) ................................. envious of them. They could go to work, but she (always leave - passive) ........................................... at home to look after the baby and do the housework. She (walk) ................................ back into the sitting room. She (even not begin) .................................................. to tidy up, but somehow she could not find the energy for it this morning. She ( have) ................................... a terrible night and (be) ............................... woken up by the baby so many times that all she (want) ...................................... to do was go back to sleep. But she knew that it would not be possible. Then she (hear) ...................................... the baby crying again. 'Oh, no, not again!' she sighed to herself. As she (walk) ...................................... upstairs, she (begin) ....................................... to wonder whether marrying Neo and having a child (all be) ........................................... a terrible mistake. But she (know) ........................................ that it (be) ................................................. too late to change things now.
TM 123 The present perfect and the simple past
PEG 175-7,182-9
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: present perfect or simple past. (In some cases the present perfect continuous is also possible. .)
1 Paul: I (play) football since I was five years old.
Tom: You (play) since you (come) to England?
Paul: Oh yes. I (play) quite a lot. I (join) a club the day after I (arrive).
2 Tom: You (play) any matches?
Paul: We (play) about ten. We have two more to play. We (have) a very good season, we (win) all our matches so far, though we (not really deserve) to win the last one.
3 Tom: I (play) football when I (be) at school but when I (leave) school I (drop) it and (take) up golf.
4 Ann: Hello, Jack! I (not see) you for ages! Where you (be)?
Jack: I (be) in Switzerland. I (mean) to send you a postcard but I (not have) your address with me.
Ann: Never mind. You (have) a good time in Switzerland? How long you (be) there?
Jack: I (be) there for a month. I only just (get) back. Yes, I (enjoy) it thoroughly. I (ski) all day and (dance) all night.
5 Ann: I (ski) when I (be) at the university, but I (break) a leg five years ago and since then I (not do) any.
6 When I first (come) to this house, it (be) a very quiet area. But since then a new housing estate (be) built and it (become) very noisy.
7 My son (not start) work yet. He's still at the High School.
- How long he (be) at school?
- He (be) at the High School for six years; before that he (spend) five years at the Primary School in Windmill Street.
8 I just (hear) that Peter is in Australia.
- Oh, you (not know)? He (fly) out at the beginning of the month.
- You (hear) from him? Does he like the life?
- Yes, I (get) a letter last week. He (tell) me about his job. But he (not say) whether he (like) the life or not. Perhaps it's too soon to say. He only (be) there three weeks.
9 I (not know) you (be) left-handed.
- I'm not left-handed; but my oil-heater (explode) yesterday and I (bum) my right hand, so I have to use my left.
10 This bicycle (be) in our family for fourteen years. My father (use) it for the first five years, my brother (ride) it for the next five, and I (have) it for the last four.
11 I hear that your MP, Mr Simpson, (make) a very clever speech last
night. How long he (be) your MP?
- Oh, we only (have) him since January. His predecessor Mr Allen
(resign) suddenly because pf ill-health and there (be) a by-election.
12 I hear that Mr Jones (leave).
- Yes, he (leave) last week.
- Anybody (be) appointed to take his place?
- I believe several men (apply) for the job but so far nothing (be) decided.
13 Peter (meeting Ann at the airport): Hello, Ann. You (have) a good trip?
Ann: The actual flight (be) lovely, one of the best I (have) ever, but it (take) ages to get into the plane. First they (think) that one of us (be) a hijacker and they (search) us all for firearms; then they (announce) that one of the engines (be) faulty. We finally (take off) an hour later.
14 Peter: How you (spend) this extra hour before take-off)?
Ann: Oh, they (take) us to the restaurant and (feed) us and we (walk) about and (buy) things we (not need). The time (pass) all right.
15 You (book) your hotel room yet?
- Well, I (write) to the hotel last week but they (not answer) yet.
16 Peter (meeting Paul unexpectedly in London): Hello, Paul! I (not know) you (be) here.
Paul: Oh, I (be) here nearly two months. I (arrive) on the 6th of January.
17 Peter: When we last (meet) you (say) that nothing would induce you to come to England. What (make) you change your mind?
Paul: I (find) that I (need) English for my work and this (seem) the quickest way of learning it.
18 Peter: You (know) any English when you first (arrive) here? Paul: No, I (not know) a word.
19 Ann (to Yvonne, who is going to English classes): How long you (learn) English?
Yvonne: I (learn) off and on for about five and a half years. /Use the continuous form./
20 I (begin) English at secondary school and (do) it for three years. Then I (drop) it for a year and (forget) most of it. Then I (spend) two years at a secretarial college, where I (study) commercial English, and for the last six months I (study) in London.
21 At 4 p.m. my neighbour (ring) up and (say), 'Is Tom with you?' Tom, her son, (spend) most of his time in my garden playing with my children, so whenever she (not be able) to find him she (ring) me. Tm afraid I (not see) him today,' I (say). 'But my children (go) to the beach this morning and (not come) back yet. Perhaps he (go) with them.'
22 I just (have) my first driving lesson.
- How it (go)? You (enjoy) it?
- Well, I not actually (hit) anything but I (make) every other possible mistake.
23 Old Ben (sell) newspapers just inside the station entrance, and my father always (buy) his evening paper from him as he (leave) the station on his way home. But one day my father (arrive) home without his paper. 'Ben (not be) there this evening,' he (say). 'I hope he (not be taken) ill.'
24 On Saturday afternoon I (see) Frederick sitting in his garden. 'I (think) you (work) on Saturdays,' I (say). 'I (work) this morning,' (explain) Frederick, 'but at lunch time the boss (go) off to play golf and (tell) us all to go home. It's about time he (give) us a whole Saturday off actually. I (work) practically every Saturday since the beginning of the year.'
25 Ann: You (be) to Hampton Court?
Jane: Yes, I (go) there last week. The tulips (be) wonderful.
Ann: You (go) by car?
Jane: No, I (go) with my English class. We (hire) a coach.
26 Ann: Where else you (be) to since you (come) to England?
Jane: Oh, I (be) to Stratford and Coventry and Oxford and Canterbury.
27 Ann: You (see) a lot. When you (go) to Stratford?
Jane: I (go) last week. The people I work for (take) me.
28 Ann: You (see) a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre when you (be) at Stratford?
Jane: Yes, we (see) /Macbeth./ We were very lucky. We just (walk) in and (ask) if they (have) any returned tickets, and the girl at the box office (say), 'Yes, a man just (return) three stalls.'
29 Ann: You (be) to Wales?
Jane: No, I (be) to Scotland but I (not be) to Wales. I'd like to go.
30 Peter: You (see) any good films lately?
Ann: Yes, I (go) to the National Film Theatre last week and (see) a Japanese film.
Peter: You (like) it?
Ann: Yes, I (love) it, but of course I (not understand) a word.
31 Tom: I hear that Mr Benson just (die). You (know) him quite well, didn't you?
Jack: Yes. We (work) for the same company for ten years. I (not see) so much of him after he (leave) the company but we (keep) in touch.
32 Ann (think) the garage (be) empty, and (turn) off the lights. 'Hey!' (shout) Paul from under the car. Tm sorry, Paul,' (say) Ann, 'I (not know) you (be) there.'
33 Father: Tom (not come) back yet?
Mother: Yes, he (come) in an hour ago. He (go) straight to bed.
Father: Funny. I (not hear) him.
34 Paul: That's a live wire. It just (give) me a shock!
Ann: Nonsense! I just (touch) it and I (not feel) anything!
35 When Paul (come) into the room, Ann was sitting in an armchair just behind the door. Paul, not noticing Ann, (go) to the window and (look) out. Ann (cough) and Paul (spin) round. 'Hello, Ann!' he (exclaim), 'I (not see) you!'
36 Jack: You just (agree) to go, so why aren't you getting ready?
Peter: But I (not realize) that you (want) me to start at once!
PAST PERFECT & TENSES revision
4
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