G4: Verb Tenses III

G4: Verb Tenses III - Past Perfect vs. Simple Past

by Tom Rohrbach

Multiple Choice Quiz

In this practice quiz, we will try to trick you! In some sentences, only simple past is correct;

in others, both simple past and past perfect are correct, but past perfect is better and clearer.

In other sentences, only past perfect works. Can you figure out which is which? It’s not easy!

Janet rushed to the mall last night. However, the store she wanted to get to __ (close).
1. closed ONLY
2. had closed ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had closed” is better and clearer.
Paul __ (feel) a little better when he apologized to his wife.
1. felt ONLY
2. had felt ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had felt” is better and clearer.
After his first IELTS test was over, Alejandro __ (realize) that he had to study English a lot more.
1. realized ONLY
2. had realized ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had realized” is better and clearer.
By the time Jill and Perry got married, they __ (be) together for over 8 years.
1. were ONLY
2. had been ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had been” is better and clearer.
My wife thought I __ (not + remember) our wedding anniversary, but I had actually been planning a surprise for her for over a month.
1. didn't remember ONLY
2. hadn't remembered ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “hadn’t remembered” is better and clearer.
The dog was growling because he __ (have) a bone and he didn’t want anyone to take it away from him.
1. had ONLY
2. had had ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had had” is better and clearer.
Henry didn’t know that the bus __ (already + leave) before he got to the bus stop.
1. already left ONLY
2. had already left ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had already left” is better and clearer.
You’re late again. That’s it! I __ (wait) for you for the last time. I’m leaving!
1. waited ONLY
2. had waited ONLY
3. NEITHER of these verb tenses is correct here.
Angie was sleeping when the doorbell __ (ring) at midnight.
1. rang ONLY
2. had rung ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had rung” is better and clearer.
Perry __ (already + marry) Jill before Ben proposed to her.
1. already married ONLY
2. had already married ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had already married” is better and clearer.
By his 23rd birthday, my older brother __ (already + have) six different jobs in four different cities.
1. already had ONLY
2. had already had ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had already had” is better and clearer.
The professor __ (leave) his office when Becky arrived, so she didn’t get to speak with him about her research paper.
1. left ONLY
2. had left ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had left” is better and clearer.
When the computer programmers came out of their window-less office, the ground was soaked and the street was flooded. Obviously, it __ (rain).
1. rained ONLY
2. had rained ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had rained” is better and clearer.
The treasure hunter told the New York Times that he __ (find) a sunken chest with over 500 Spanish gold coins.
1. found ONLY
2. had found ONLY
3. BOTH are correct here, but “had found” is better and clearer.