GRAMMAR 1 PAST TIME PART 2

2. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. The first one is done for you.
1	I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.
2	While Diana watched/was watching her favourite television programme, there was a power cut.
3	Tom used to/would live in the house at the end of the street.
4	Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident?
5	By the time Sheila got back, Chris went/had gone.
6	David ate/had eaten Japanese food before, so he knew what to order.
7	I did/was doing some shopping yesterday, when I saw that Dutch friend of yours.
8	I used to like/ was liking sweets much more than I do now.
9	What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday.
10	Laura missed the party because no-one was telling/had told her about it.
11	Tanya would/used to be a doctor.

ANSWER KEY

1	had forgotten
2	was watching
3	used to live
4	was driving
5	had gone
6	had eaten
7	was doing
8	used to like
9	were you doing
10	had told
11	used to

3. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. Only use the past perfect where this is absolutely necessary.
1	While I (try) .. was trying ... to get my car started, a passing car (stop) ……… and the driver (offer) ………to help me.
2	The police (pay) ……… no attention to Jo’s complaint because she (phone) ……… them so many times before.
3	Mary (not wear) ……… her glasses at the time, so she (not notice) ……… what kind of car the man (drive) ………
4	Nick (lie) ……… down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who (feed) ……… the ducks.
5	Tony (admit) ……… that he (hit) ……… the other car, but said that he (not, damage) ……… it.
6	Sorry, I (not listen) ……… to you, I (think) ……… about something else.
7	Helen (feel) ……… very tired, and when she (finish) ……… her work, she (fall) ……… asleep.
8	The police (get) ……… to Tom’s house as fast as they could, but the burglars (disappear) ……… .
9	I (phone) ……… you last night but you (not answer) ……… . What (you do) ………?
10	We (not go) ……… out yesterday because it (rain) ……….

ANSWER KEY

1	was trying, stopped, offered
2	paid, had phoned
3	was not wearing, didn’t notice, was driving
4	lay, were feeding
5	admitted, had hit, hadn’t damaged
6	wasn’t listening, was thinking
7	felt/was feeling, finished/had finished, fell
8	got, had disappeared
9	phoned, didn’t answer, were you doing
10	didn’t go, was raining

4. Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable
1	While I had a bath, someone knocked on the door	unsuitable
2	Sally didn’t go to a boxing match before.	…………..
3	Harry tried to repair the car, but he didn’t really know what he was doing.	…………..
4	What did you wear to the end-of-term party?	…………..
5	Were you eating spaghetti everyday when you lived in Italy?	…………..
6	I didn’t know you had bought a new car.	…………..
7	They all wanted to believe her, but suspected she was lying.	…………..
8	As Peggy walked home, she tried to remember what ihappened.	…………..
9	“What a terrible day!” thought Lucy. Everything had gone wrong!	…………..
10	Although it rained a lot, I was enjoying my holiday last year	…………..

ANSWER KEY

1	unsuitable
2	unsuitable
3	suitable
4	suitable
5	unsuitable
6	suitable
7	suitable
8	unsuitable
9	suitable
10	unsuitable

6. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown. Use a participle clause.
1	Norman collected the parcel, but then he realized it was the wrong one. After selecting the parcel, Norman realized it was the wrong one.
2	Sue left the house but first she checked that she had her keys. Before ……………………………………………………….
3	Mark was parking his car when he noticed the wing-mirror was broken. While ……………………………………………………….
4	Julia cleaned the house, but then she fell asleep on the sofa. After ……………………………………………………….
5	Brian bought a new television, but first he checked all the prices. Before ……………………………………………………….
6	Alan was skiing in Switzerland and met his old friend, Ken. While ……………………………………………………….
7	Kate took two aspirins, and then she felt a lot better. After ……………………………………………………….
8	Sheila went out for the evening, but first she washed her hair. Before ……………………………………………………….

ANSWER KEY

1	After collecting the parcel, Norman realized it was the wrong one
2	Before leaving the house, Sue checked that she had her keys.
3	While parking his car, Mark noticed the wing-mirror was broken.
4	After cleaning the house, Julia fell asleep on the sofa.
5	Before buying a new television, Brian checked all the prices.
6	While skiing in Switzerland, Alan met his old friend, Ken
7	After taking two aspirins, Kate felt a lot better.
8	Before going out for the evening, Sheila washed her hair.