Grammar Test (Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous, Past Simple, Past
Continuous)
Task 1. Choose the correct past form of the verb to complete each sentence.
1. Joseph ... science and ... to become an inventor.
a) loves, wants
c) loved, wanted
b) was loving, was wanting
d) had loved, wanted
2. The balloon ... high in the sky for 10 minutes before it landed.
a) floated
c) had been floating
b) was floating
d) float
3. They ... the king for permission before men flew in the balloon.
a) have asked
c) had been asking
b) asked
d) had asked
4. One day he ... in front of the fire with his laundry drying nearby.
a) was relaxing
c) had been relaxing
b) relaxed
d) had relaxed
5. Before he came to the conclusion that smoke had the power to lift things up he ...
small pieces of paper coming out of the chimney.
a) saw
c) had been seeing
b) had seen
d) see
Task 2. Complete the sentences using the correct Past Perfect or Past Perfect
Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1. By the age of 14, he _______________ (act) in some school performances.
2. I _________________ (enter) competitions for several years before I won.
3. She______________ never ______________ (study) Sociology until she
______________ (go) to university.
4. I _________________ (think) of what to write when suddenly I had a great idea for
a story.
5. Before he was fifty he ___________________ (not/enjoy) experiments.
Task 3. Recall the grammar rules and match the timelines (A–D) with the
sentences (1–4).
A
B
x
x
Past
x
Past
C
Past
D
Past
1. Maria had been studying Astronomy for 5 years before she decided to enter the
university.
2. She was making travel arrangements for her boss at her previous job.
3. My mother had worked as a freelancer before she found a well paid job.
4. His friend’s father got a pay rise.
Task 4. Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentences.
1. I became interested in science after I have taken part in a school science project.
2. The Montgolfier had presented their first air balloon in 1783.
3. He went on a long holiday after he finished his studies.
4. What did they see while they flew?
5. What was you doing last night at 8.00 pm?
6. They became famous they had made their first invention.
7. I had been working as a teacher since many years.
Answers
Task 1. Choose the correct past form of the verb.
1
2
3
4
5
c
c
d
a
B
Task 2. Complete the sentences using the correct Past Perfect or Past Perfect
Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1. had acted;
2. had been entering;
3. had never studied, went;
4. had been
thinking; 5. hadn’t enjoyed.
Task 3. Recall the grammar rules and match the timelines (A-D) with the
sentences (1-4).
A
B
C
D
1
3
4
2
Task 4. Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentences.
1. I became interested in science after I had taken part in a school science project.
2. The Montgolfier presented their first air balloon in 1783.
3. He went on a long holiday after he had finished his studies.
4. What did they see while they were flying?
5. What were you doing last night at 8.00 pm?
6. They became famous after they had made their first invention.
7. I had been working as a teacher for many years.
Recall the grammar rules and match the timelines (A–D) with the sentences (1–4).
A
B
x
x
Past
x
Past
C
Past
D
Past
1. Maria had been studying Astronomy for 5 years before she decided to enter the
university.
2. She was making travel arrangements for her boss at her previous job.
3. My mother had worked as a freelancer before she found a well paid job.
4. His friend’s father got a pay rise.
Recall the grammar rules and match the timelines (A–D) with the sentences (1–4).
A
B
x
x
Past
x
Past
C
Past
D
Past
1. Maria had been studying Astronomy for 5 years before she decided to enter the
university.
2. She was making travel arrangements for her boss at her previous job.
3. My mother had worked as a freelancer before she found a well paid job.
4. His friend’s father got a pay rise.
Recall the grammar rules and match the timelines (A–D) with the sentences (1–4).
A
B
x
x
Past
x
Past
C
Past
D
Past
1. Maria had been studying Astronomy for 5 years before she decided to enter the
university.
2. She was making travel arrangements for her boss at her previous job.
3. My mother had worked as a freelancer before she found a well paid job.
4. His friend’s father got a pay rise.