Because…

Write ten sentences about James with because an a verb in the Past Perfect, like this:

Example:

• James couldn't play football because he hadn't learnt to play as a child.

Exercise 226

Another genius

Work with a partner. Invent a story about another amazing child genius. Write the story about his / her life in a short paragraph. Use the Past Perfect and words and phrases such as by the time, at the age of, after, before, as soon as.

Past Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect or Past Continuous?

Exercise 227

Put the verb into the most suitable form, the Past Continuous, the Past Perfect or the Past Perfect Continuous.

1. It was very noisy next door. Our neighbours were having (have) a party.

2. We were good friends. We had known each other for a long time.

3. John and I went for a walk. I had difficulty keeping up with him because he _____ (walk) so fast.

4. Mary was sitting on the ground. She was out of breath. She _____ (run).

5. When I arrived, everybody was sitting round the table with their mouths full. They _____ (eat).

6. When I arrived, everybody was sitting round the table and talking. Their mouths were empty but their stomachs were full. They _____ (eat).

7. Jim was on his hands and knees on the floor. He _____ (look) for his contact lenses.

8. When I arrived, Kate _____ (wait) for me. She was rather annoyed with me because I was late and she _____ (wait) for a very long time.

9. I was sad when I sold my car. I _____ (have) it for a very long time.

10. We were extremely tired at the end of the journey. We _____ (travel) for

more than 24 hours.

Past Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous?

Exercise 228

Use the Past Perfect Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. It is midnight. I (study) __________ for five straight hours. No wonder I'm getting tired.

2. It was midnight. I (study) __________ for five straight hours. No wonder I was getting tired.

3. Mary suddenly realized that her mother was asking her a question. She couldn't answer because she (daydream) ___________ for the last ten minutes.

4. Wake up! You (sleep) __________ long enough. It's time to get up.

5. She __________ (work) as a clerk for twelve years before she resigned.

6. I __________ (search) for a house for a week now but so far I haven't found anything suitable.

7. She __________ (cry). Her eyes are red.

8. She __________ (cry). Her eyes were red.

9. She __________ (call) on clients since this morning.

10. Norma and John have been married for 20 years. They __________ (live)

in New York since 1998. John __________ (work) on Wall Street for four

years and he has made a lot of money since he started working there.

Norma hasn't worked since they moved to New York but she __________

(write) a book for the past two years. She has had a lot of spare time

since their son left home five years ago to work in France.

11. They were wet because they __________ (walk) in the rain.

12. On entering the bathroom I got annoyed. somebody __________ (use)

my toothbrush.

13. She went to the doctor. Her leg _________ (ache) for two days.

Exercise 229

Translate the sentences from Russian into English. Mind the use of the Past Perfect Continuous.

1. Она долго работала и чувствовала себя совершенно разбитой.

2. Она пришла в институт и закончила перевод, который делала накануне.

3. Он жил в Киеве пять лет перед тем, как переехал в Москву.

4. Когда мы пришли, они уже нас давно ждали.

5. Он не знал, давно ли она живет здесь.

6. Как долго российские ученые проводили исследования космоса, прежде чем первый человек полетел в космос?

7. В комнате все было в ужасном беспорядке. Вероятно, дети играли там в индейцев все утро.

8. Повар резала мясо и овощи в течение получаса, прежде чем начала их тушить.

9. Пациент мучился от зубной боли дня два, до того как пошел к зубному врачу.

10. Чтобы успешно сдать экзамен, студент упорно готовился к нему

целую неделю.