II. The Past Perfect Tense

Exercise 1

Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the Past Perfect Tense.

1. The typist had typed the article by five o'clock.

2. He told me that he had almost finished translating the text.

3. By the end of the year he had learnt to speak French.

4. More than a year had passed since I first met him.

5. When he had written and sent the letter he felt better.

6. I was at the party but I didn't talk to Tom. When I came he had just left.

7. As I hadn't got an answer, I sent him another letter.

8. The whole family had gone to bed when Tony returned.

9. After the guests had gone, Liz sank into an arm-chair and drew a long breath.

10. They hadn't completed the test when the teacher came.

11. We reached the village before it had grown dark.

12. They had agreed upon the plan before I arrived, so I couldn't interfere.

13. It was not until they both had signed the papers that he managed a smile.

14. This man had been ill for weeks when the doctor came; nothing could be done for him.

15. We had hardly left home when it began to rain heavily.

16. Hardly had he answered the phone when his brother came.

17. By the end of that year he had almost recovered.

18. The clock had no sooner struck five than the first guests appeared.

19. No sooner had I come than the lecture began.

20. He waited until the rider had disappeared and started on his way home.

Exercise 2

Look at the list of things Jane and Pete had(*)/hadn't done before they went to the airport. They phoned their neighbours asking them to help them out. Make up their requests.

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> Pattern: Jane: Before I left the house, I hadn't turned off the cooker, ...

Pete: Before I went to the airport, Ihadn7 cancelled the newspapers, ...

Jane	Pete
1. turn off the cooker 2. take the passports* 3. close the kitchen window 4. shut the fridge door* 5. take the plants to the neighbours 6. turn off the radio* 7. cancel the milk* 8. phone parents	1. take the camera* 2. cancel the newspapers 3. turn off the TV pack the umbrella* take the tickets take the cat to Nick* turn on the security system

What had they done?

Exercise 3

Read the following letter. The author went back to his home town after many years and wrote this letter to his friend. Supply the appropriate forms of the verbs in brackets.

Dear Chris,

Many things had happened since I last was in New Baytown. My best friend, Tony, was no longer there when I came. He (to go) away. By the way, the neighbours told me on the first day I came here that Mr. Jackson didn't live in Oak Street any longer. He (to leave). You wouldn't recognize the Grand Street. They (to change) everything there. But on the whole I found the town much as it (to be), green and quiet. On the second day I went to see our school and it was still there, but they (to add) a new wing. The bookstore where we used to buy textbooks and pens was no longer there. It (to close) down. But they (to build) a new bookstore not far from it and (to open) a very nice cafe in the old building where the bookstore (to be).

On the whole, I was very pleased to see the place again. I (not to see) it for ten years, you know.

Yours,

Mike

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Exercise 4

Complete the following sentences using the Past Perfect Tense of the verbs suggested in brackets.

> Pattern: When she left, she remembered that she (not to lock the kitchen window).

When she left, she remembered that she hadn't locked the kitchen window.

1. I was very sorry to hear that he (to leave).

2. When we got to the University, the lecture (to start already).

3. When he came home after work, the family (to start watching TV).

4. He didn't return to his work until he (to spend all his money).

5. When I met her I understood why David (to refuse to marry her).

6. I didn't know what to do when I understood that I (to leave my purse at home).

7. He didn't start watching TV until he (to walk his dog).

8. She managed to grasp the main idea of the article only after she (to read it twice).

9. She was tired because she (to walk too much).

10. They never started eating until they (to wash their hands).

11. We didn't meet Lucy because she (to go away the day before).

12. By the end of that year we (to forget our quarrels).

13. Betty didn't speak until everyone (to stop chattering).

14. They suddenly remembered that they (not to send the parcel to its owner).

15. She returned to the hotel after she (to visit her old friend).

16. He didn't get anything until he (to pay for it).

Exercise 5

Join the following pairs of sentences by making one of them a clause with the verb in the Past Perfect Tense. Use the conjunctions given in brackets.

> Pattern: They went for a walk. They did their homework. (after) They went for a walk after they had done their homework.

1. He left the room. I turned on the TV. (after)

1. She didn't talk to him. He finished revising for his exams (until)

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3.She worked as a flower-girl. She owned a flower-shop. (before)

4. She looked at the sky. The sun set. (until)

5. She cooked dinner. She called her family to the dining-room. (after, as soon as)

6. Alan read the article in the newspaper. He went downstairs to tell the news to his wife. (after)

7. Alice didn't think about time. She understood she was late. (until)

8. They reached the mountain top. The sun set. (when, as soon as)

9. She tore up the note. He read it carefully. (as soon as)

10. I didn't understand him. He repeated his words twice. (until)

11. She looked at him. He disappeared in the darkness. (until)

12. The Browns left their house. They sold it. (when)

13. John opened the parcel and looked up. The messenger disappeared. (before)

14.Larry got that job. He managed to buy a new car. (after)

15. Margaret read the contract. She signed it. (after)

Exercise 6

Supply the beginnings for the following sentences. Use the Past Perfect Tense and the conjunctions HARDLY ... WHEN, and SCARCELY ... WHEN and NO SOONER ... THAN.

> Pattern: ... when the guests came.

a) Hardly had she finished cooking when the guests came.

b) She had hardly finished cooking when the guests came.

1. ... the doorbell rang.

2. ... the light went off.

3. … the batteries ran out.

4. ... the washing machine broke down.

5. ... the pipe started leaking.

6. ... she spilt some coffee on the carpet.

7. ... the door-handle came off.

8. ... some strange noise began.

9. ... it started to rain.

10. ... he felt tired.

11. ... burglars broke into the house.

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Exercise 7

Use the Past Simple or the Past Perfect Tense instead of the infinitives in brackets.

A

1. He (to sit) in the park until the light (to fade).

2. He (to remember) so well that house, where he (to spend) his youth and first (to meet) Mabel!

3. When he (to rush) into the room he (to see) at once that she (to burn) the letter which he (to hope) so much to read.

4. As soon as he (to understand) it he (to quiet) down.

5. David (to look up) at his friend and (to see) that he just (to get) a bad news.

6. 'Why you (to go) there before I (to come)?' he asked. 'You (to promise) to wait for me.'

7. After the sun (to rise), they (to start) walking slowly towards the lake.

8. 'What (to happen) here before I (to come)?' she asked. Nick (to explain) that he (to want) to play with the dog and they (to break) the vase. After he (to try) to clean the carpet he (to decide) to tell the truth.

9. She (not to remember) the place. But suddenly it all (to come back) to hen how they (to be afraid of) their teacher, how they (to quarrel), how they (to share) their secrets...

10. There (to be) a rule in their house. They never (to start) eating and even (not to sit down) at the table until everyone who (to be able) to do so (to gather) in the dining-room.

11. As soon as everyone (to come) and (to sit down) Mr. Hull (to open) the will. Everyone (to expect) something different from what he (to read out), so they (to return) home really disappointed.

12. When the tourists (to come back) to the hotel, they (to discover) that a new guest (to arrive). Some of them (to know) him before, and they (not to like) it. But of course they (not to show) their disappointment, while the newcomer (to prefer) not to notice those he (to meet) before.

13. He (to be) happy. He (to be over) with the article at last! It (to be) good. After he (to read) it through again, he (to see) it even more clearly. The editor, who (not to praise) him for his last article, was going to be pleased this time. He (to

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dial) the number and the secretary (to tell) him that the editor (to go out).

14. He (to be) so angry that he (not to be able) to speak until he (to count) to fifteen... Then he (to start) to explain that he even (not to be present) at the Board meeting and (to have) nothing to do with that decision.

15. After the plane (to land) and he (to pass) the customs and the luggage control, Mr. Jenkins (to take) a taxi and (to go) to the hotel.

16. When he (to come) he was surprised by the unusual silence hi the typing pool. The one remaining typist (to explain) that everyone (to go out).

17. Hardly he (to open) the door when he (to notice) some changes in the house.

18. No sooner Dave (to start) to read than the phone (to ring). He (to get up) and (to take) the receiver. It (to be) his friend Pete. He (to tell) Dave that his favourite team (to win). After Dave (to hear) the news he (to go) to tell it to his father. He (to be sorry) he (to miss) the match but glad that the Rovers (to lose). He (not to return) to the book until he (to tell) about it to the family.

B

1. Somebody ... (to come) to me last year to have his portrait done. I never (to see) him before, and never (to hear) anything about him at the time. He (to offer) an extravagant price. I (refuse) him. There (to be) something in the shape of his fingers that I (to hate).

(O. Wilde)

2. It (to be) Spiro who, on discovering that our money yet (not to arrive) from England, (to subside) us, and (to take) it upon himself to go and speak ... to the bank manager about his lack of organisation.

(G. Durrell)

3. The official (to hand) our passports back to Mother, (to bow) and (to leave) us to our gloom. Some moments later Mother (to glance) at the form the official (to fill in) and (to stiffen).

(G. Durrell)

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Exercise 8

Translate into English.

a

1. После того, как вечер закончился и гости разошлись, усталые хозяева приступили к уборке.

2. Не успел я начать подготовку к экзамену, как выяснилось, что формулировки вопросов изменились.

3. Мы не приступали к работе, пока не выяснили все подробности.

4. К началу июня всё было готово к переезду. Новый дом был гораздо просторнее и удобнее того, в котором мы жили раньше. Мы закончили переезд к десятому июня и позвали гостей на новоселье.

5. Когда я приехал в город, Дэвид уже уехал в Лондон. Я столь многого ожидал от разговора с ним!

6. Джейн была не голодна, так как она только что позавтракала.

7. Этот режиссер получил приз после того, как снял свой лучший фильм.

8. Не успела эта семья снять дом, как начала искать новый из-за причуд старшего брата.

9. До того как поселиться в нашем городе, он много путешествовал. Он побывал во многих городах и странах.

10. Наш город был маленьким. После того как к нам приехала новая семья, все захотели познакомиться с ними.

В

1. К Рождеству мы устроились на новом месте и познакомились почти со всеми соседями. Только моя сестра еще не приехала, но её комната уже была готова.

2. Она старалась не напоминать ему о том, что он рассказал ей.

3. Когда Энтони и Кейт вошли в зал, там собралось уже человек двадцать.

4. Он едва успел начать свой рассказ, когда его прервал телефонный звонок.

5. Они вернулись в родной город, где жили с родителями в детстве.

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6. Прошло только полчаса с тех пор, как ушёл последний гость.

7. Мэри не прошла и двух кварталов, когда он догнал ее.

8. Когда Марджи вошла в комнату, она увидела, что все вещи стояли там, где она их оставила.

9. Я не знала, когда она ушла. Я не знала, почему она ушла.

10. Я не помнил этого человека и не думал, что встречал его раньше.

11. Едва передача закончилась, как телевизор вышел из строя.

12. Он думал... нет, он был уверен, что уже бывал здесь раньше.

13. Не успел он пройти и десяти шагов, как вернулся, потому что забыл портфель.

14. Как только мы упаковали все вещи, приехало такси и мы отправились на вокзал.

15. Он почти не изменился с тех пор, как Джеральд видел его в последний раз. Но сейчас на его лице было какое-то новое, жестокое выражение, которого не было раньше.

С

1. Крик ужаса вырвался у художника, когда он в полумраке увидел жуткое лицо, ухмылявшееся ему с полотна... Боже, да ведь это Дориан. Перемена ... ещё не совсем уничтожила его дивную красоту... Да, это Дориан. Но кто же сделал это?... Этот портрет — мерзкая карикатура (parody)... Никогда он, Холлуорд, этого не писал. И всё же, это была его картина... Что же это значит? Почему она изменилась?

(О. Уайльд)

2. Больше четырех лет он не заходил сюда — с тех пор, как он ребенком играл здесь, а затем учился. Эту большую, хорошо спланированную комнату покойный лорд Келсо специально пристроил для маленького внука, которого он ... терпеть не мог и хотел держать подальше от себя. Дориан подумал, что с тех пор в

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комнате ничего не переменилось... Он припомнил каждую минуту своего одинокого детства. В те безвозвратные дни он не думал о таком будущем!

(О. Уайльд)