We prepared these past perfect exercises in the multiple questions test format with answers to help you improve your knowledge of the past perfect tense. The explanation tab includes past perfect examples, sentences, usage, formula and structure. You can download ready-made worksheets in PDF or Word formats from the worksheet section.
EXERCISE
EXPLANATION
Updated September 2025
Exercises
Progress
0%
Choose the correct option to complete the Past Perfect Tense Exercises below.
1
When I arrived at the station, the train _____.
a.
had already left
b.
leaves
c.
was leaving
2
She _____ her homework before her parents got home.
a.
had finished
b.
was finishing
c.
finished
3
By the time I woke up, my parents _____ breakfast.
a.
had made
b.
made
c.
were making
4
After she _____ the book, she returned it to the library.
a.
was reading
b.
had read
c.
read
5
He _____ about the meeting because no one had told him.
a.
hadn’t known
b.
wasn’t knowing
c.
didn’t know
6
They _____ in Paris before they moved to London.
a.
were living
b.
had lived
c.
lived
7
When we arrived, they _____ their dinner.
a.
had eaten
b.
eat
c.
were eating
8
By the time the movie started, we _____ our popcorn.
a.
were eating
b.
had eaten
c.
ate
9
She didn’t pass the test because she _____ enough.
a.
had not studied
b.
studied
c.
was studying
10
We _____ the tickets before they sold out.
a.
bought
b.
were buying
c.
had bought
