Unit 1 The Past Perfect Tense

 

Formation

 

This tense is formed with had and the past participle:

Affirmative: / had/I'd worked etc.

Negative: / had not/hadn't worked etc.

Interrogative: had I worked? etc.

Negative interrogative: had I not/hadn't I worked?

 

Main uses

1. The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.

Present: Ann has just left. If you hurry you'll catch her.

Past: When I arrived Ann had just left.

Present: I've lost my case.

Past: He had lost his case and had to borrow Tom's pajamas.

Note! Unlike the present perfect the past perfect is not restricted to actions whose time is not mentioned. We could therefore say:

He had left his case on the 4.40 train.

 

2. Completed action before another past moment or before a particular time in the past (adverbials by 5 o’clock, by the time etc.):

We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

John discovered that Leslie had lied to him.

Т hey were concerned with why the machine had not run the day before.

Compare:

By the time I got to the station, the train had left

The train left 5 minutes before I got to the station

Before he did military service he went to university

In the last two examples we talk about a sequence of past events in the order that they happened. The Past Indefinite is by far more common in such sentences, especially with terminative verbs.

He knocked at the door twice before a voice asked: "Who's there?"

It happened before you came.

Note!

The Past Perfect is not used simply to describe an event in the distant past. There must be another past event with which it contrasts. We use the Past Simple to talk about a single activity in the past:

Sorry, we are late. We took the wrong train.

    

Thus, past perfect can be used for an action which began before the time of speaking in the past, and

(a) was still continuing at that time

Bill was in uniform when I met him. He had been a soldier for ten years/since he was seventeen, and planned to stay in the army till he was thirty.

Ann had lived in a cottage for sixty years/ever since she was born, and had no wish to move to a tower block. (The past perfect continuous tense had been living would also be possible here.)

(b) stopped at that time or just before it.

The old oak tree, which had stood in the churchyard for 300 years/since before the church was built, suddenly crashed to the ground. (The past perfect continuous tense had been standing would also be possible here.)

Peter, who had waited for an hour/since ten o'clock, was very angry with his sister when she eventually turned up. (had been waiting would also be possible.)

(c) for an action which stopped some time before the time of speaking.

He had served in the army for ten years; then he retired and married. His children were now at school.

(Here we cannot use either since or the past perfect continuous). Note also that the past perfect here has no present perfect equivalent. If we put the last verb in this sentence into the present tense the other tenses will change to the simple past.

He served in the army for ten years; then retired and married. His children are now at school.

 

3. The past perfect is also the past equivalent of the simple past tense, and is used when the narrator or subject looks back on earlier action from a certain point in the past:

I had just poured myself a glass of beer when the phone rang. When I came back from answering it the glass was empty. Somebody had drunk the beer or thrown it away.

He met her in 1967 and again ten years later. Her hair, which had been grey at their first meeting, was now white.

But if we merely give the events in the order in which they occurred no past perfect tense is necessary:

He met her first in 1967 when her hair was grey. He met her again in 1977/He didn't meet her again till 1977. Her hair was now white.

Note the difference of meaning in the following examples:

She heard voices and realized that there were three people in the next room.

She saw empty glasses and cups and realized that three people had been in the room. (They were no longer there.)

He arrived at 2.30 and was told to wait in the VIP lounge. (he received his instructions after his arrival).

He arrived at 2.30. He had been told to wait in the VIP lounge. (he received them before arrival, possibly before the journey started).

 

4. In reported speech after past verbs like said, told, asked, explained, wondered etc. It refers to things that had already happened when the conversation took place.

I told her that I had done enough work for one day.

Note:

the Past Simple is often used instead of the Past Perfect in dependent clauses after a past perfect verb:

He told me that somebody had phoned when I was out.

If we have two such actions: ‘He had been to school but he had learnt nothing there, so was now illiterate’ and wish to combine them with a time conjunction, we can use when etc. with two past perfect tenses:

When he had been at school he had learnt nothing, so he was now illiterate.

But it is more usual to put the verb in the time clause into the simple past:

When he was at school he had learnt nothing,...

Similarly:

He had stayed in his father's firm till his father died. Then he had started his own business and was now a very successful man.

Note the use of the past perfect in the following examples:

When we returned from our holidays, we found our house in a mess What had happened while we had been away? A burglar had broken into the house and had stolen a lot of our things (Now that the time of the burglary has been established relative to our return, the story can continue in the simple past). The burglar got in through the kitchen window He had no difficulty in forcing it open Then he went into the living-room

Note the reference to an earlier past in the following narrative:

Silas Badley inherited several old cottages in our village He wanted to pull them down and build new houses which he could sell for high prices He wrote to Mr Harrison, now blind and nearly eighty, asking him to leave his cottage within a month Old Mr Harrison was very distressed (The situation has been established through the use of the simple past. What follows now is a reference to an earlier past through the use of the simple past perfect.) He had been born in the cottage and stayed there all his life His children had grown up there, his wife had died there and now he lived there all alone

 

5. The Past Perfect is used to express an unrealistic hope, wish etc. (hope, mean, intend, think etc.)

I had intended to make a cake but ran out of time.

They had hoped to get to the summit but Travers fell ill at base camp.

 

Past and past perfect tenses in time clauses

 

1. Clauses with when

a) When one past action follows another, He called her a liar, She smacked his face, we can combine them by using when:

When he called her a liar she smacked his face.

When two simple past tenses are used in this way there is usually the idea that the first action led to the second and that the second followed the first very closely or if the earlier action was a short one and they did not happen simultaneously:

When he opened the window' the bird flew out.

When the play ended the audience went home.

When I put the cat out it ran off into the bushes.

Compare:

When we got back the babysitter went home. (first we got back, then she went home)

When we got back the babysitter had gone home. (first she went home, then we got back)

b) The past perfect is used after ‘when’ when we wish to make it clear or to emphasize that the first action was completed before the second one started:

When I had read the letter, I started to cry. (I finished the letter before I started to cry.)

Compare with:

When I read the letter, I started to cry. (I started to cry after I started reading the letter.)

When he had shut the window we opened the door of the cage. (We waited for the window to be quite shut before opening the cage.)

When she had sung her song she sat down. (Note: 'When she sang her song she sat down " might give the impression that she sang seated. The same is: When I had washed the cat it ran off into the bushes).

In a moment the butler came in, to clear up. When he had left again, she said: "Your servant is an honest man, isn't he?"

Compare:

When he had seen all the pictures he said he was ready to leave. (When he had finished looking…)

When he saw all the pictures he expressed amazement that one man should have painted so many. (Immediately he saw them he said this.)

c) the Past Perfect is usual when the subjects of the two clauses are the same:

When I had put the cat out I locked the door.

When they had shown him round, fed him on their best, and thrust him into their softest chair, they eagerly demanded news.

Still, even if the subjects are the same the Past Simple is usually used when we are talking about people’s immediate reactions:

When she saw the mouse she screamed.

When they reached Grosvenor Square, Angela got out of the taxi and looked about her, puzzled.

When she returned with the grammar, she drew a chair near

 

2. We can also use the past perfect in this way with as soon as, the moment, immediately.

As soon as I had told her the news, I regretted it.

She ushered me out of the room as soon as I paid/ had paid my subscription

 

 

3. In after clauses

After the will had been read there were angry exclamations.

To emphasize that the second event is the result of the first we prefer the past simple for both:

She became famous after she appeared on the TV.

With terminative verbs the Past Perfect may be replaced by the Past Indefinite.

After we had passed our exams, we went out to celebrate.

We can also say:

After we passed our exams, we went out to celebrate.

Shortly after we returned from Basel, Roy moved to London.

After we rose from the table James immediately went to make a telephone call.

The use of the past perfect merely emphasizes the fact that the event in the after clause preceded the other event. It is correct to use either the past perfect or the past simple in after clauses.

 

4. The past perfect can be used with till/until and before to emphasize the completion or expected completion of an action.

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when before or after is used in the sentence. Both sentences below are correct.

She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

If the Past Perfect action did not happen at a specific time, Past Perfect must be used at all times.

She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska.

 

a) in till/until + past perfect + simple past combinations the simple past action may precede the past perfect action;

He refused to go till he had seen all the pictures.

He did not wait till we had finished our meal.

 

b) in before + past perfect + simple past combinations the simple past action will always precede the past perfect action The Past Perfect here refers to a later action which was not completed or done in time It is rendered in Russian as прежде, чем я успел, смог:

Before we had finished our meal he ordered us back to work.

Before we had walked ten miles he complained of sore feet.

He died before I had had a chance to speak to him.

She went out before o had realized what was happening.

I discovered the news before I had b ее n in the house for а n hour.

Уо u would have to talk to him before he had made u р his mind

Past perfect tenses in both time clause and main clause are also possible:

It was a very expensive town. Before we had been here a week we had spent all our money.

 

   5. If action of one of the clauses is not fully accomplished before the action of the other clause occurs, the unaccomplished action is expressed by the Past Perfect.

They had not gone four miles before he understood that it was going to rain.

He had not been there for two days before he admitted that he should not have accepted the invitation.

Sentences of this kind are best rendered in Russian as не успе ли они... как, не успев проехать и..., etc.

 

6. Verbs of knowing, understanding etc. are not normally used in the past perfect tense in time clauses except when accompanied by an expression denoting a period of time:

When she had known me for a year she invited me to tea but

When I knew the work of one department thoroughly I was moved to the next department

or

As soon as I knew etc.

Compare with:

When I had learnt the work of one department I was moved.

 

7. The Past Perfect is used in the principal clause of а complex sentence with an adverbial clause of time introduced bу the conjunctions scarcely... when, hardly... when, nearly... when, по sooner... (the word order is often inverted):

She had hardly sat down when а very stout gentleman flopped into the chair near her.

No sooner had they established themselves in the house than he perceived to his dismay а return о / her gloomy mood.

 

    

 

Practice

 

Ex. 1 Explain the use of the Past Perfect in the following sentences and describe the character of the action expressed by it

1. He asked me if I had had breakfast. 2. He now opened the low gate that he had so often swung on as a small boy. 3. She was sure that he had never lied to her before. 4. He knew that as a girl she had lived in Rome. 5. Jack chose the hotel. He had never been there before but he had heard his mother speak of it once. She had said she had liked it. 6. He was pleased to meet Dave again. He had known him for ten or eleven years, and they had played tennis together in Paris. 7. He remembered how the ball had hit squarely on the nose and the bleeding hadn't stopped for three hours. 8. They had been married only a few months when they gave Up living in London. 9. He glanced up and down the beach to see if he had left anything. 10. She realized that she was faint for food. She had eaten nothing since the picnic. 11. He quite forgot that Julian had been divorced for some time. 12. He decided to wait till he had talked to the man himself. 13. He was not aware how long he had sat there. 14. I called at nine and the man said she had gone out about an hour ago. 15. I knew he would ask me for news of his son as soon as he had seen the last guest off. 16. It happened that his desire to go to France fell in with certain ideas which had been of late discussed at the committee. 17.I took my temperature again later in the evening, when David had gone, and found that it had gone up by point two degrees, which made me feel more unwell than ever.

 

Ex. 2 Use Past Perfect or the Past Indefinite in the following clauses of time

1. He wanted her to believe that when he (to return) things would change. 2. She knew that he would not speak till they (to reach) their house. 3. She took her manicure set and began to do her nails, waiting till he (to finish) eating. 4. He decided to read nothing but the dictionary until he (to master) every word of it. 5. And then came the great idea — he would write. He would begin as soon as he (to get) back. It would be slowly succeeding at first. He would go on studying. And then after some time, when he (to prepare) himself he would write great things. 6. She asked if Grant would wait until the doctor (to see) the patient. 7. She told him not to come back until he (to talk) to her on the telephone first. 8. He would have to make a decision sooner or later, but he wanted it to be as late as possible, when the other problems (to be) solved.!). I said we'd better leave this little chat until I (to make) coffee. 10. He did not sign the contract until he (to drag) a formal approval out of me. 11. He said he'd tell me all about it when he (to get) back. 12.1 sat there for another five minutes, until my eyes (to begin) to close and my head to nod with sleep. 13. When he (to find) the photo, I took the album back to the shelf.

 

Ex. 3 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences with when - clauses

1. When he (to see) Bell, he (to come) straight to him, smiling. When Jimmy (to get) to the cafe a little late, Christine (not to arrive) yet. 3. When Ted (to turn) to thank the doctor, he already (to walk) away. 4. When she (to walk) she (to carry) herself like a ballet-dancer..'). We (not to walk) a hundred yards towards the cottage when the inspector suddenly (to go) down on his knees. (i. One afternoon I went to play tennis with some neighbours and when I (to return) my mother (to disappear). 7. When she (to smile), she (to seem) friendly and simple. 8. When I (to go) down to Hugh's room he (to sit) at his table reading a small book.!). When Paula (to tidy) up she (to go) out of doors. 10.I (to meet) her on the beach when I (to have) my early walk. 11. When he (to finish) speaking, everyone (to clap). 12.I (to have) a good sleep when I (to get) back yesterday. 13. The play (to be) in progress for about twenty minutes when Grant (to find) his seat at the back of the dress circle. 14. When Jack (to look) back, the Holts (to dance) cheek to cheek. 15."How do you like that?" he (to ask) her when he (to finish)\ painting. 16. When she (to come) back, he (to eat) the sandwiches. 17.I (to do) the washing when she (to arrive). 18. When Theo (to go) for a walk he (to look) exclusively at hi own feet. 19.I (not to go) very far from the turn-off when I (to notice) there was a car behind me. 20. When they (to go) I (to go) to the woods. 21.I (to get) out a box of matches when he (to offer) me a light. 22. She (not to talk) to me two minutes when she suddenly (to feel) faint. 23.He (to shrug) when Peter (to explain) the details. 24. When they (to show) him round and (to feed) him on their best, they eagerly (to demand) news. 25. When she (to return) with the book she (to draw) a chair and (to sit) down beside him.

 

Ex. 4 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences with as soon as-clauses

1. He (to telephone) to his office as soon as he (to reach) his house. 2. "I (to come) as soon as I (to get) your message," Lloyd said. 3. He always (to dislike) anybody as soon as he (to be) appointed] to a position of authority. 4. He (to dial) the number but (to replace) the receiver as soon as the familiar voice (to answer) the telephone. 5. David (to disappear) as soon as we (to have) breakfast. 6. As soon as I (to hear) the sound I (to know) what had happened. 7. He (to open) the letter as soon as he (to enter) the room. 8. As soon as he (to enter) I (to be) struck by the expression on his face.

 

Ex. 5 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences with after-clauses

1. After they (to have) coffee Meg (to invite) him to go over the house. 2. She (to see) him every day after we (to arrive) in New York.3. After we (to lunch) we (to go) and (to sit) out in the garden. 4. There (to be) another raid in the early hours of the morning after we (to go) to bed. 5, After he (to take) the girl home, he (to go) down the road to the village. 6. I (cannot) stay in Wales after what (to happen). 7, After she (to go), Willy (to lock) the door and (to go) into the bedroom. 8. There (to be) a short silence after he (to leave).

 

Ex. 6 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences with till/until-clauses

1. Neither of us (to speak) until we (to arrive) at the office. 2.She (not to speak) until the steps (to move) on. It. Savina (to say) nothing until they (to order) but Eric knew she was waiting. 4. He (to wait) until he (to hear) a. hello from the other end of the telephone. 5.She (to wait) motionless until he (to finish) his speech. (i. So I (to go) on searching until I (to select) a dozen books that I wanted to read. 7. She (to wait) until he (to shave) and (to finish) dressing. 8. His anger (to last) till his wife (to put) the soup on the table. 1). Then he (to go) out to the reading-room and (to explore) magazines until the place (to close) at ten o'clock. 10. Nicole (to wait) silently till he (to pass); then she went on. 11. He (to hope) to delay my going until he (to come) to some decision. 12. We (to sit) in silence till the worst of the storm (to be) over. 13. He drove very slowly and when he met another car, he usually (to stop) altogether until it (to pass). 14.She (to laugh) till her eyes (to fill) with tears.

 

Ex. 7 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences with before-clauses

1. He (to stumble) against the chair before he (to find) the lamp. 2. He (to decide) to get a present for his children before he (to leave) Rome. 3. He (to begin) apologizing before I (to pay) the driver. 4. The noise of their footsteps (to become) distant before my father (to speak) again. 5. He (to knock) and (to ring) for some time before he (to make) himself heard. 6. He (to walk) quite close to them before he (to speak). 7. They (not to go) four miles before Tony (to get) the impression that the children liked driving with him. 8.I (to realize) before you (to be) here a fortnight that you never were cut out for this life. 9. Miss Able (to hunt) everywhere for the box before she (to find) it. 10. Almost before I (to shut) my eyes, I (to feel) a nudge in my side. 11. The next morning Hudson (to come) into my room before I (to finish) breakfast. 12.She looked so cool and fresh that he (to spend) a moment admiring her before he (to speak). 13. He (to hang) around the theatre for seven years before he (to have) any recognition at all. 14. He (not to be) there for two days before he (to say) that the wish to see her had been the reason for his coming. 15.She went, unwillingly, at the end of the week. Before she (to be) gone twenty-four hours he (to find) his mistake. 16. He (to know) before he (to say) this that it would annoy her. 17. On the beach they (to find) a suitable place for lunch before they (to go) very far. 18. In the summer Willy often (to take) very early walks by the sea before anyone (to be) up. 19.Thank God I (to find) it out before I (to make) more of a fool of myself. 20.The bus (to begin) to move before he (to reach) it.

 

Ex. 8 Use the required past forms in the following complex sentences containing the correlatives scarcely / hardly / nearly / barely / when and no sooner... than

1. She hardly (to sit) down when a very stout gentleman wearing a very small hat (to flop) into the chair opposite hers. 2. He hardly (to reach) the door of his office when he (to encounter) two young men. 3. He emerged from the theatre with the first of the crowd; but he scarcely (to take) his position on the edge of the sidewalk when the girls (to appear). 4. He barely (to disappear) when Dennis (to come) sliding down the stairs. 5. No sooner, however, they (to establish) themselves in their new house than he (to perceive) to his dismay a return of her absorbed and brooding manner. 6. He barely (to arrive) in' Rome when he (to get) a telegram from home that his father was seriously ill. 7. No sooner the curtain (to fall) than he (to rise) to go". 8. Hardly he (to ask) his questions when she (to answer) them. 9. He scarcely (to take) his coat off when he (to begin) to read the letter. 10. The band barely (to begin) to play when he (to go) away. 11. The rain nearly (to stop) when he (to reach) his hotel. 12. They barely (to come) out of the house when a sudden shouting (to arise).

 

Ex. 9 Use the required present or past forms in the following sentences containing the adverbs scarcely, hardly, nearly and barely

1. Haven't we got enough junk in the house already? There (to be) barely room to move as it is. 2. David got really angry and beat his fist on the wall. Bits of plaster began to fall thick on the floor. "How amazing!" he said. "I hardly (to touch) it." 3. When the train got in, it (to be) nearly midnight. 4.I heard his father say: "I scarcely (to speak) to my son today." 5. Charles became impatient. He scarcely (to have) time to listen to our congratulations. 6. Last summer I very nearly (to go) to Spain. 7. There (to be) scarcely anyone there whom I knew. 8. Charles did not hope to become a doctor. He (to be) nearly twenty-six. 9. This was the side of my life he scarcely (to know). 10.I scarcely (to have) a glass of water since breakfast. 11.I asked her about her plans. But she scarcely (to listen). 12.I saw that all the family nearly (to come) to a disaster. 13. After ten minutes of the film, during which the star barely (to get) into her clothes, Ann rose to go. 14.I scarcely (to know) him up to the time I came to London. 15.The man (to be) hardly recognizable. 16.Grant hardly (to have) enough time to examine the room before the landlady came back. 17. You (to have) hardly any right to talk to me about these children. 18. He looked at his brother for agreement, but Philip barely (to move) his head. 19.I hardly (to see) him this week. 20.I (to be) nearly through with my work. 21. If you stand back, your face (to be) hardly visible. 22.It occurred to me that since we began our walk, he hardly (to talk) without guard. 23.His voice quavered. He nearly (to cry).

 

Ex. 10 Use Past Perfect or the Past Indefinite in the following sentences

1. From downstairs {to come) the sound of a radio playing a song he never (to hear) before. 2. He (to re-read) what he (to write). 3. I (to know) he (to make) a joke because he (to giggle) but I could not see it. 4. I was going round to see Roberta after dinner. I (to arrange) this visit the day before. 5. As she (to rise), there (to shoot) through his mind something that he (to read) in the etiquette books, and he (to stand) up awkwardly, worrying as to whether he (to do) the right thing, and fearing that she might take it as a sign that he (to be) about to go. (1. When she (to enter) the house at dinner-time and (to find) Tom gone she (to know) what (to happen). He (to leave) no note, nor any message. She (to know) that in the last moment he even (not to think) of her, and she (not to be) hurt by it. In whatever way he could, he (to love) her. 7.I (to press) the door gently. It always (to be) left open at night in the old days. When I (to become) quite certain that it (to be) locked, I (to step) back into the moonlight and (to look) up at the house. Although it (to be) barely midnight, there (to be) not a light showing. They (to be) all abed and asleep. I (to feel) a resentment against them. I (to expect) them to welcome me back at the door. 8. On the fifteenth of October Andrew (to set) out alone for London. Now that the exam (to be) so close at hand, he (to feel) that he (to know) nothing. Yet, on the following day when he (to begin) the written part of the examination, he (to find) himself answering the papers with a blind automatism. He (to write) and (to write), never looking at the clock, filling sheet after sheet. He (to take) a room at the Museum Hotel, where Christine and he (to stay) on their first visit to London. Here it (to be) extremely cheap. But the food (to be) bad; Between his exams he (to live) in a kind of daze. He scarcely (to see) the people in the street. After the written part, the practical part of the examination (to begin); and Andrew (to find) himself dreading this more than anything which (to go) before. Luckily his practical part (to go) well enough. His case (to be) an illness which he (to treat) \ before. He (to feel) that he (to write) a good report.

 

Ex. 11 Use the required past forms in the following sentences which pattern actions related to the same past moment

1. Grant just (to change) into some dry things and (to wait) for dinner to be announced when there was a knock at the door. 2. Then we realized that Rich;.ard (to come) in through the garden and (to stand) in the room listening. 3. Outside on the square it (too stop) raining and the moon (to try) to get through the clouds. 4. Saturday lunch was over. Mary still (to sit) at the table smoking. Kate and John (to retire) to the sofa and (to talk) in low voices. Paula and the twins (to go) out on to the lawn where the twins now (to play). Barbara (to sit) on the window-seat reading "Country Life". 5. When Roger returned into the room, the girl (to stop) crying but (to shiver) from head to foot. 6. Then she saw her father. He (to lay) his fishing rod and (to take) something from his pocket. 7. Bernard (to take) off his hat and (to carry) it in his hand. 8. When the telephone rang Wolfe (to finish) his egg and (to drink) coffee. 9. It was dark by the time I reached London. The black-out (to begin) and it (to rain) heavily. 10. Pierce (to tow) the boat quite fast now. The dog, who (to swim) out after him, (to accompany) the boat.

    

Ex. 12 Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or past perfect simple

1 A: I'm sorry we're late. We 1………….. (miss) the train. B: How2............................ (that/happen)? A: Well, I 3............................ (get) the times wrong and when we 4............................ (arrive) at the station, the train s............................ (just leave). 2 A: 6............................ (you/have) a good meal at Hilary's? B: Well no, it7............................ (be) very embarrassing. When we 8............................ (arrive), we9............................ (know) immediately that she 10............................ (forget) about the whole thing. A: So what n............................ (she/do)? B: Well, she n............................ (pretend) that she 13............................ (not forget) and14............................ (say) that the meal 15............................ (not be) ready because she 16............................ (get) home from work very late.

A: Oh no, how awful! 3 It "............................ (be) a beautiful morning. It 18............................ (rain) in the night and so the ground "............................ (be) fresh and clean and it 20............................ (smell) wonderful. None of the Taylor family 21............................ (be) awake though. They 22............................ (all go) to bed very late the night before. Their Australian cousin 23............................ (arrive) unexpectedly that evening and they 24............................ (sit up) talking most of the night. Although it25............................ (be) now 8 o'clock in the morning, they 26............................ (only be) in bed for about two hours.

 

Ex. 13 Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or past perfect simple

1. James ………... (sit) outside the office waiting for the interview. He 2............................ (feel) so nervous that he 3............................ (not know) what to do with himself. The person who 4............................ (go in) before him 5............................ (be) in there for nearly an hour. And she 6............................ (look) so confident when she 7............................ (go) in. Not like James. He 8............................ (feel) sure that she 9............................ (already get) the job. The problem 10............................ (be) that he "............................ (want) this job so much. It n............................ (mean) everything to him. He 13............................ (think) about it such a lot before the day of the interview. He 14............................ (imagine) himself performing brilliantly at the interview and being offered the job immediately. But now here he 15............................ (be) feeling terrible. He 16..................................... (cannot remember) all those things he "............................ (plan) to say. At that moment, he 18............................ (almost decide) to get up and leave. But no - he 19............................ (have to

do) this. He 20............................ (spend) so much time thinking about it that he 21.................................... (cannot give up) like that. His hands 22............................ (be) hot and sticky and his mouth 23............................

(feel) dry. Finally the door of the office 24............................ (open). The woman who 25............................ (go in) an hour earlier 26............................ (come out) looking very pleased with herself. She 27............................ (smile) sympathetically at James. At that moment James 28............................ (hate) her. The managing director then 29............................ (appear) at the office door. 'Would you like to come in now, Mr Davis? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.' James 30............................ (suddenly wish) that he 31............................ (go) home after all. He 32............................ (get up), legs shaking and forehead sweating and 33............................ (wonder) whether he 34............................ (look) as terrified as he 35............................ (feel).

 

Ex. 14 Translate the following into English bringing out the difference between sentences which pattern actions related to the same past moment and those containing consecutive actions

1. Он снова положил руки на стол и посмотрел на них. 2. Он снова положил руки на стол и глядел на них. 3. Мальчик бросил лодку и поплыл к берегу. 4. Мальчик бросил лодку и теперь плыл к берегу. 5. Они закончили еду и теперь пили кофе. 6. Она поела и отнесла тарелки на кухню. 7. Они вышли из кино и пошли вверх по улице. 8. Они вышли из кино и теперь шли вверх по улице. 9. Джо спустился в холл и там ждал своего приятеля. 10.Ветер прекратился, а дождь все шел. 11. Дети потеряли мяч в высокой траве и теперь искали его. 12. Ветер сдул с него шляпу, и теперь она катилась по улице. 13.Ветер сдул с него шляпу, и она покатилась по улице. 14. Мэри нашла старую шляпу и стала ее примерять. 15.Мэри нашла старую шляпу и теперь примеряла ее.

 

Ex. 15 Make up situations to justify the use of the past forms in the following sentence patterns

1. He threw the rug over the radiator of the car and walked up the path. He had thrown the rug over the radiator of the car and was walking up the path. 2. She bought her ticket and moved away from the window. She had bought her ticket and was moving away from the window. 3. Не opened the window and looked out with pleasure at the river flowing past. He had opened the window and was looking out with pleasure at the river flowing past. 4. He put out the light and tried to sleep. He had put out the light and was trying to sleep. 5. They parked the car and walked along the wall. They had parked the car and were walking along the wall. 6. The rain stopped and John went out to mow the lawn. The rain had stopped and John was mowing the lawn. 7. He shaved and had a shower. He had shaved and was having a shower. 8. He had a glass of whiskey and ate his food with appetite. He had had a glass of whiskey and was eating his food with appetite. 9. They finished their meal and had coffee. They had finished their meal and were having coffee.

 

Ex. 16 Translate the following into English concentrating on the use of the Past Perfect

Я оделся и вышел в сад. Всходило солнце. Ветра не было, но' в саду всё падали листья. Березы за одну ночь пожелтели до самых верхушек.

Я вернулся в дом. Там было тепло. Маленькая береза, которую принес мой сын и которую мы посадили в кадушку, стояла у окна. Вдруг я заметил, что она тоже за одну ночь вся пожелтела и несколько листьев уже лежало на полу.

Теплая комната не спасла березку. Через день она вся облетела. Мой сын и все мы были очень огорчены. Мы уже свыклись с мыслью, что она останется зеленой всю зиму. Лесничий только улыбнулся, когда мы рассказали ему, как мы пытались сохранить зеленую листву березки.

 

Unit 2 The Past Perfect Continuous tense

Formation

 

This tense is formed with had been + the present participle.

I had/ I'd been working

They had not/hadn 't been working

Had you been working?

Had you not/hadn't you been working?

It is not used with verbs which are not used in the continuous forms, except with want and sometimes wish:

The boy was delighted with his new knife. He had been wanting one for a long time.

 

Note! this tense has no passive form.

 

Main uses

 

1. The past perfect continuous bears the same relation to the past perfect as the present perfect continuous bears to the present perfect:

Bill had been saving since Christmas to buy a new bike.

Mary was out of breath; she had been running.

Note:

When the action began before the time of speaking in the past, and continued up to that time, or stopped just before it, we can often use either form:

It was now six and he was tired because he had worked since dawn

or

It was now six and he was tired because he had been working since dawn.

    

Sometimes the difference between them is simply one of the emphasis.

I had been working hard, so I felt that I deserved a holiday (the activity is emphasized)

I had worked hard until the report was not finished. (the result is emphasized)

 

2. The past perfect progressive forms are often used to show that an action is (or was) frequently repeated:

Jenny was annoyed Jim had been phoning her every night for a whole week

Tom looked awful. He had been drinking a lot for the last two weeks.

If we mention the number of times that we have done an action, we do not use the past perfect continuous:

He had been trying to get her on the phone.

He had tried five times to get her on the phone.

 

3. There is a difference between a single action in the simple past perfect and an action in the past perfect continuous:

By six o'clock he had repaired the engine. (This job had been completed.)

He had been repairing the engine - tells us how he had spent the previous hour/half hour etc. It does not tell us whether or not the job was completed.

An action in the past perfect may occur shortly before the time of speaking, but there could be quite a long interval between them:

He had been painting the door. (The paint was probably still wet.)

But

He had painted the door. (Perhaps recently, perhaps some time ago.)

 

Practice

Ex. 17 Explain the use of the Past Perfect Continuous in the following sentences

l. When I rang up your father, he said that people had been inquiring about you all day. 2. Pat's poodle now appeared, coming out of the stream where it had been cooling. 8. They had been driving for half an hour before Blair spoke. 4. He went to the theatre to see the play which had been running for a week. 5. The rain that had been threatening now began to fall gently. 6. Philip came into the room. He had been wandering about, not quite belonging anywhere. 7. When she came there to act as governess, the children had been running wild for a year. 8.Alice threw down the book she had been holding since she came into the room.

 

Ex. 18 Explain the use of Past Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect in the following sentences

1. I did not remember much about the Pimleys, whom I had not seen for about ten years. 2. It had been freezing for the last few days, but it had not snowed. 3. He told me he had not heard from her since the day she walked out of their office. 4. He said that they had now been hunting hard for ten days. 5. She was aware that they had been getting on each other's nerves lately. 6. I was happy that ever since Max moved in here, the place had been ringing with laughter. 7. He said frankly that he had been thinking about the offer for a long time now but he hadn't discussed it with his wife yet. 8. I knew they had known each other since the war and had now been corresponding for years. 9. It seemed to me that I had done nothing since I arrived. 10. I told him I had been in all evening. I had been waiting to talk with him.

 

Ex. 19 Use the Past Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect in the following sentences

1. Her name was Logan. She (to be) a widow for fifteen years and had no children. 2. He wanted to find out how long the two men (to stay) with them. 3. We talked about what we (to do) since we left school. 4. The last member of the party was Neville, the film star, whom David {to know) for some time. 5. The bearded man told him that the partisans (to import) arms for some time now. 6. We told them that in our absence the garden (to be) looked after by an old man who (to live) in the area since the Boer war. 7. Now they were floating in the little green boat upon the per-! fectly calm sea in which they, lately (to swim). 8. Jack was half an hour late and he asked what we (to eat) because he wanted to order the same. 9. Basil said that he (to write) all day and (not to eat) anything. 10. She said she (not to see) him since he was in his first year at the university. 11. Her lack of accent was explained by the fact that she (to be) for twenty years in London. 12. It was cold and dark in the small room because it (to rain) for five days. 13. He said he (to have) the statuette for a long time. 14. The noise woke Joe who (to sleep) in his pram by the garage door. 15. I went into the kitchen. Nothing (to be) touched in it since the morning before. 16. He said he (not to write) to me because he (to work) on the new play.

 

Ex. 20 Translate the following into English concentrating on the use of Past Perfect Continuous

1. Он поднял голову от чашки кофе, который он все помешивал, но не пил. 2. Том никак не хотел, чтобы его мать знала, чем мы все время занимались. З.Она видела по их мокрым костюмам, что они только что плавали. 4. Люди, которых она встречала, казалось, знали, где она была и что там делала. 5. В машинку был вставлен лист бумаги, на котором кто-то учился печатать. 6. Когда он вернулся, мы постарались сделать вид, что мы говорили не о нем. 7. Макс поднял книгу, которую он перед этим читал, и загнул уголок страницы, чтобы отметить место. 8. Я сидела на кухне и курила. Флора, которая играла в гостиной, пришла посмотреть, что я делаю.

 

Ex. 21 The simple past and the past perfect, simple and continuous