Past Tenses Exercises

You have to fill each space with either the past continuous, past perfect simple or past perfect continuous.

Don't use contractions.

1. I was exhausted at the end of the exam. I (write) for over two hours.

2. When thieves stole my favourite leather jacket, I was really upset. I (have) it for over ten years.

3. Please step out of the car, Mr. Jones. Do you realise you (drive) at over 90mph?

4. We didn't really want to go and see the musical again. We (already see) it twice - so we said "no" and we went to a restaurant instead!

5. I arrived over an hour late to the office and everyone was working. Actually, they

(work) for over two hours on the new project and I felt really guilty.

6. The kitchen was full of steam when we arrived. Joan was in the kitchen and she

(cook) a huge meal for everyone at the party.

7. It was a bit embarrassing to arrive at their house and find Mary looking so sad. I think she

(cry) before we got there.

8. No-one even noticed when I got home. They (all watch) the big game on TV.

CLOZE PASSAGE

Julie

(walk) for hours when she suddenly noticed that the sun

(sink) in the sky. She (lose) track of time because she

(think) about the most important decision she'd ever had to make in her

life.Things (not be) the same between Julie and her fiance, David, since he

accepted a job in Paris. They (know) each other for almost five years, and in that

time, they had never argued much. Lately, though, their relationship (become)

stormy. They (seem) to be finding fault with each other and disagreeing about

everything. For the first time, she (start) to wonder if she

(be) ready for marriage. And with the wedding only twenty days away, she

(need) to make up her mind soon. Everything in Julie's life

(go) well until her world fell apart just a month before. A large company

(offer) David an important position that would require him to move to France. As his wife, Julie would have to go, too. Why hadn't he discussed his decision with her?

Although Julie (always want) to live abroad she felt very confused. Was she ready to move halfway across the world, leaving behind her friends and family and the

only home she had ever known? If the answer was no, (she be) ready to say goodbye

to the only man she (ever love)?

Question 1Julie had been walking(1 point) (walk) for hours when she suddenly noticed that the sun was sinking(1 point) (sink) in the sky. She had lost(1 point) (lose) track of time because she had been thinking(1 point) (think) about the most important decision she'd ever had to make in her life.

Things hadn't been(1 point) (not be) the same between Julie and her fiance, David, since he accepted a job in Paris. They had known(1 point) (know) each other for almost five years, and in that time, they had never argued much. Lately, though, their relationship had become(1 point) (become) stormy. They seemed(1 point) (seem) to be finding fault with each other and disagreeing about everything. For the first time, she was starting(1 point) (start) to wonder if she was(1 point) (be) ready for marriage. And with the wedding only twenty days away, she needed(1 point) (need) to make up her mind soon.

Everything in Julie's life

had been going(1 point) (go) well until her world fell apart just a month before. A large company had offered(1 point) (offer) David an important position that would require him to move to France. As his wife, Julie would have to go, too. Why hadn't he discussed his decision with her?

Although Julie had always wanted(1 point) (always want) to live abroad she felt very confused. Was she ready to move halfway across the world, leaving behind her friends and family and the only home she had ever known? If the answer was no, was she(1 point) (she be) ready to say goodbye to the only man she had every loved(1 point) (ever love)?

Choose the correct form in the brackets. Click on the button to check your answer.

Use "lower case" typed answers - incorrectly spelled answers will be wrong.

1. They (were cleaning up / had cleaned up) while I was cooking dinner.

2. There was no food left when I returned. They (had eaten / ate) everything!

3. If she had visited us last summer, she (would have enjoyed / would enjoy) the hikes in the mountains.

4. I (checked / was checking) the bags before we left on holiday.

5. If he (broke / had broken) the window he would repair it.

6. She told me she was flying to Chicago last week. She (must have been / must be) in her hotel room last night.

7. By the time the presentation began, they (completed / had completed) their discussion.

8. If I (had been / were) you, I would finish my homework!

9. She is very intelligent. She (can not have thought/ couldn't have thought) that!

10. When I arrived, they (stretched their legs / were stretching their legs).