Grammar - Exercises

Grammar exercises
You will now do some exercises.

Select the correct form. Simple Past or Past Perfect?

  1. After Fred [spent/had spent] his holiday in Italy he [wanted/had wanted] to learn Italian.
  2. Jill [phoned/had phoned] Dad at work before she [left/had left] for her trip.
  3. Susan [turned/had turned] on the radio after she [washed/had washed] the dishes.
  4. When she [arrived/had arrived] the match [started already/had already started].
  5. After the man [came/had come] home he fed the cat.
  6. Before he [sang/had sung] a song he [played/had played] the guitar.
  7. She [watched/had watched] a video after the children [went/had gone] to bed.
  8. After Eric [made/had made] breakfast he [phoned/had phoned] his friend.
  9. I [was/had been] very tired because I [studied/had studied] too much.
  10. They [rode/had ridden] their bikes before they [met/had met] their friends.


Select the correct form. Simple Past or Present Perfect?

  1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. [Did you wash/Have you washed] the dishes yet?
  2. Daughter: [I washed/I have washed] the dishes yesterday, but I [had not/have not had] the time yet to do it today.
  3. Mother: [Did you already do/Have you already done] your homework?
  4. Daughter: No, [I just came/I have just come] home from school.
  5. Mother: [You came/You have come] home from school two hours ago!
  6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy [called/has called] when I [arrived/have arrived] and I [just finished/have just finished] the phone call.
  7. Mother: [Didn't you see/Haven't you seen] Lucy at school in the morning?
  8. Daughter: Yes, but we [had not/did not have] time to talk then.


Select the form. Simple Past or Past Perfect?

  1. I can't believe I (get) [had got/got] that apartment.
  2. I (submit) [had submitted/submitted] my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it.
  3. When I (show) [had showed/ showed] up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) [had arrived/arrived] before me.
  4. Most of them (fill, already) [had already filled/already filled] out their applications and were already leaving.
  5. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.
  6. I (try) [had tried/tried] to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions.
  7. They (want) [had wanted/wanted] me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) [had had/had] some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me.
  8. I (end) [had ended/ended] up listing my father as a reference.
  9. It was total luck that he (decide) [had decided/decided] to give me the apartment.
  10. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) [had gone/went] to high school together.
  11. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) [had looked/looked] at my credit report.
    I really lucked out!

Past simple vs Present Perfect

Past Simple

Present Perfect

Past Simple vs Present Perfect