The Answer.

I would use this text for practicing the Past Perfect tense.

If the students don’t know the rule about the Past Perfect, I’ll tell the rule in Russian. To make sure that the students have understood the rule I can ask them to find sentences with the Past Perfect in the text.

Exercise 1. Fill in the gaps using Past Perfect form. This exercise is completion drill exercise (or exercise in gap filling). The exercise will enable the students to remember the form and the elements of Past Perfect construction. They invited several local celebrities.

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

Exercise 2. Choose the correct form of the verb. This exercise is a matching drill exercise and it practices the students in differentiating the situations, where Past Perfect is used.

1. He couldn’t believe his sister … his pizza.

• had eaten

• ate

2. He can’t believe his sister … his pizza.

• had eaten

• ate

3. Children … their homework so they were allowed to play with us.

• had done

• did

4. Jane … of going to Africa before her friend suggested it.

• didn’t think

• hadn’t thought

5. What … today?

• did you do

• had you done

6. Boys … all their beer before they realized there wasn’t any left.

• drank

• had drunk

7. When the teacher told us there wasn’t any time left we … the test.

• hadn’t even started

• didn’t even start

8. My cat ripped my skirt! I was so mad, I … it!

• just bought

• had just bought

9. My brother … to the market this afternoon to buy some cheese.

• had gone

• went

10. I … for my test all the day so I was upset when I didn’t do well/

• revised

• had revised

Exercise 3. Describe one of the days of your life. Use the Past Perfect tense to tell about some actions which prevented some results.

It’s a creative exercise. The students will have to produce utterances based on their own life experience. This exercise can be done orally in class or set as the students’ homework to be done in writing.