Practice with Past Perfect


Directions: Combine the two events into one sentence using past perfect tense using “had” or “has” in one of the verb phrases. Add subordinating conjunctions or rearrange the order of the events, but don’t change the meaning.

Example: A) The police caught Kevin stealing B) He was sent to juvenile detention home.

____After the police had caught Kevin stealing, he was sent to a juvenile detention home.______

1. A) I did my chores. B) My mother let me go to the party.

2. A) It rained early in the morning. B) The grass was wet.

3. A) Curt was sick for several days. B) He went to the doctor.

4. A) Spencer worked hard in school. B) He was able to get a good job.

5. A) No one ate at the restaurant. B) The restaurant went out of business.

6. A) They copied all their homework assignments. B) They were not prepared for the test.

7. A) He ate so much cake. B) He felt sick for the rest of the day.

Please write down the verbs and verb phrases (including the “be” verbs).

1.  Pirates who have been wounded in battle are highly respected.


2. These pirates may be wearing eye patches, peg legs, or hook hands.

3. Today, many pirates are operating from Somalia.

4.  These pirates will ride around in little boats and steal from big boats.

5.  Somalia is a very poor country where many people starve.

6.  Is it wrong to steal food if you are starving?

7.  Alex will be downloading Pirates of the Caribbean tonight.

8.  Some pirates do not have boats; they have computers.

9.  After having seen Pirates of the Caribbean, Alex wished she had not downloaded it.

10.  Do you think people should be punished for downloading files illegally?

11.  If I were a pirate, I would have a bird who talks.

12.  The flag with the skull and crossbones is called a Jolly Roger.

13.  The Jolly Roger was flown to identify a ship’s crew as pirates.

14.  Pirates wouldn’t really make maps that show where their treasure is.

15.  Often, the “treasure” that pirates stole was food, alcohol, clothing, or medicine.

16.  Pirates cannot help but to sing songs when they are drinking.

17.  Pirates may have followed a set of rules called the “pirate’s code.”

18.  After having been a pirate for 20 years, Captain Jonah is resting in Davy Jones locker.

19.  “Davy Jones’ locker” is an idiom for the bottom of the sea.

20.  Aren’t pirates interesting?

Change the verb into present perfect tense.

1.  My best friend and I (know) ______each other for fifteen years.

2.  He (write) ______many creative stories.

3.  Things (change) ______a lot since middle school.

4.  He (dream) ______of going to California.

Change the verb tense into future perfect tense.

Example: By this time next year, we (move) ______into our new house.

Answer: By this time next year, we will have moved into our new house.

1.  When he retires, he (work) ______for fifty years.

2.  At midnight, the speakers (present) ______their projects for ten hours.

3.  By the end of 5th hour, Ethan (run) ______5 miles.

4.  The boys (leave) ______by then.