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Unit 3

The document explains the structure and usage of the past perfect tense in English, including affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms. It provides examples and exercises to practice filling in the past perfect tense, modal verbs with the perfect infinitive, and the use of relative pronouns. Additionally, it covers various contexts in which the past perfect tense is applied, such as actions before another past action and reported speech.

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dorrabouassida2
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16 views5 pages

Unit 3

The document explains the structure and usage of the past perfect tense in English, including affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms. It provides examples and exercises to practice filling in the past perfect tense, modal verbs with the perfect infinitive, and the use of relative pronouns. Additionally, it covers various contexts in which the past perfect tense is applied, such as actions before another past action and reported speech.

Uploaded by

dorrabouassida2
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The structure of the past perfect tense:

Affirmative:​
Subject + had + past participle​
Example:

●​ She had finished her homework before she went to bed.


●​ They had left by the time I arrived.​

Negative:​
Subject + had + not + past participle (often contracted to hadn't)​
Example:

●​ I hadn't eaten lunch before the meeting.


●​ He hadn't seen the movie before.​

Interrogative:​
Had + subject + past participle?​
Example:

●​ Had you seen her before yesterday?


●​ Had they finished their work by the time we arrived?​

Usage of the Past Perfect Tense:

1.​ Action before another past action:


○​ It is used to show that one event happened before another in the past.
○​ Example: She had already left when I arrived.​

2.​ Action with a result in the past:


○​ It emphasizes that an action had a clear result or impact at a particular
moment in the past.
○​ Example: He was tired because he had worked all day.​

3.​ Reported speech:


○​ It’s used when the reporting verb is in the past, and you want to refer to an
earlier action.
○​ Example: She said she had visited the museum before.​

4.​ Third conditional (hypothetical past situations):


○​ Used in "if" clauses to describe a situation that didn't happen in the past.
○​ Example: If I had known, I would have helped you.​
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Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb
in the past perfect tense.
1.​ By the time the concert started, they __________ (arrive) at the venue.
2.​ She __________ (already leave) by the time I called her.
3.​ I __________ (never see) such a beautiful sunset before I went on vacation last year.
4.​ He __________ (finish) all the work before the deadline.
5.​ When I arrived at the airport, the flight __________ (take off) already.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct option (past perfect or simple


past).

1.​ She __________ (had visited / visited) Paris several times before she moved there.
2.​ By the time we __________ (had arrived / arrived), the meeting had already started.
3.​ They __________ (had never seen / never saw) such a beautiful movie before.
4.​ I __________ (had eaten / ate) breakfast when she called me.
5.​ When we __________ (had left / left), it started raining.

Exercise 3: Correct the mistakes in the sentences below.

1.​ By the time I arrived, she had already went home.


2.​ He had never saw that movie before.
3.​ They had finished their lunch when the waiter brought the bill.
4.​ She hadn’t studied for the test when she passed it.
5.​ I had knew him for years before we moved to the same city.
○​

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the correct word.

Words to use: suicide, funeral, suspect, arrest, invalid, reveal, nonsense, assume,
suspicion, share

1.​ The police __________ that the man was involved in the robbery, but they didn't
have enough evidence to charge him.
2.​ She didn’t attend the __________ because she was out of town.
3.​ He made a serious accusation, but it turned out to be pure __________.
4.​ The detective found a new clue that could __________ the identity of the real culprit.
5.​ The witness’s testimony was considered __________ because it contradicted the
facts.
6.​ The family was in complete shock after hearing the news of the tragic __________.
7.​ They decided to __________ their findings with the rest of the team during the
meeting.
8.​ It is easy to __________ that someone is guilty without having all the facts.
9.​ The police made an __________ at the suspect's house early this morning.
10.​There was growing __________ about the company's financial activities, leading to a
full investigation.

​
​
Usage of Modal Verbs with the Perfect Infinitive:

1.​ Expressing a past possibility​


Use modal verbs like could, might, or may to talk about something that could have
happened in the past, but didn't.
○​ Could have + V3: Indicates a possibility that didn't happen but was possible.​
Example: She could have helped you if you had asked her.
○​ Might have + V3: Indicates something that was possible but uncertain.​
Example: They might have missed the bus.
2.​ Expressing a past obligation or advice​
Use should have to indicate that someone ought to have done something, but
didn't.
○​ Should have + V3: Shows that someone made a mistake by not doing
something or expresses regret.​
Example: I should have studied harder for the exam.
3.​ Expressing a past regret or hypothetical situation​
Use would have to talk about something that would have happened if
circumstances had been different. It is often used in the third conditional (hypothetical
situations in the past).
○​ Would have + V3: Talks about a result that didn't happen but would have,
given different circumstances.​
Example: If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
4.​ Expressing certainty or deduction about the past​
Use must have to express a strong belief or deduction about something that
definitely happened in the past.
○​ Must have + V3: Indicates something that is certain or highly probable in the
past.​
Example: He must have forgotten to call you, that's why he didn't answer.
5.​ Expressing a past action that was avoided or failed​
Use can’t have to indicate something that was not possible or definitely didn't
happen.
○​ Can’t have + V3: Expresses certainty that something didn't happen in the
past.​
Example: She can't have known about the meeting because she wasn’t
there.

​
=> When modal verbs are combined with the perfect infinitive, they indicate the possibility,
necessity, or certainty of an action that could have occurred in the past but didn't.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct modal verb + perfect
infinitive (have + past participle).

1.​ She __________ (call) me earlier if she had known I was waiting for her.
2.​ You __________ (study) harder for the test; you would have passed it.
3.​ He __________ (take) the wrong bus to get here; that’s why he’s late.
4.​ They __________ (arrive) on time, but their flight was delayed.
5.​ I __________ (help) you with the presentation if you had asked me.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct modal verb + perfect infinitive to


complete the sentences.

1.​ She __________ (must / should) have gone to the doctor. She looks very ill.
2.​ They __________ (could / should) have invited me to the party, but they forgot.
3.​ If I had known about the situation, I __________ (would / must) have acted
differently.
4.​ I __________ (can’t / could) have imagined that she was the one who did it.
5.​ You __________ (might / would) have seen him at the concert; he’s a huge fan of the
band.

​
The relative pronouns who, which, and that are used to introduce relative clauses, which
provide additional information about a noun in the main clause​
Who → used for people (subject or object).
Which → used for things or animals.
That → used for people, things, or animals (informal, often in restrictive clauses).
​
​
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with "who," "which," or "that."

1.​ The teacher _______ helped me with the project was very patient.
2.​ The book _______ I borrowed from the library is really interesting.
3.​ The person _______ called you yesterday is my cousin.
4.​ The movie _______ we watched last night was fantastic.
5.​ The car _______ is parked outside belongs to my neighbor.
6.​ The woman _______ lives next door is a doctor.
7.​ I met a man _______ works in the same office as my brother.
8.​ The dog _______ bit me ran away.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, or that).

1.​ The artist _______ painted this picture is very famous.


○​ a) who
○​ b) which
○​ c) that
2.​ The house _______ I grew up in is now for sale.
○​ a) who
○​ b) which
○​ c) that
3.​ The team _______ won the championship was very talented.
○​ a) who
○​ b) which
○​ c) that
4.​ The book _______ is on the table belongs to Sarah.
○​ a) who
○​ b) which
○​ c) that
5.​ The child _______ lost his toy was very upset.
○​ a) who
○​ b) which
○​ c) that

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