Past Perfect vs Past Simple

We use Past Simple for an action which happened at a definite time in the past; the time is stated, already known or implied.

• Yes
• No

We use Past Perfect for an action which happened before another past action or before a stated time in the past.

• Yes
• No

The Past Perfect is used with the following time expressions: 

• before, after, already, just, for, since, till, until, when, by the time, by, never
• yesterday, then, last night/week/month/year, three days ago

I was more than happy to see Tom again as I ... him for ages.

•  hadn't seen
• saw
• hadnot seen
• didn't see

After Fred ______ (to spend) his holiday in Italy he ______ (to want) to learn Italian.

• spent, wanted

• had spend, wanted

• had spent, wanted

• spend, had wanted

Jill ______ (to phone) Dad at work before she ______ (to leave) for her trip.

• phoned, had left

• had phoned, left

• phoned, left

• had phoned, had left

I ______ (to be) very tired because I ______ (to study) too much.

• were, had studied

• had been, studied

• was, studied

• was, had studied

I ______ (to be) very tired because I ______ (to study) too much.

• were, had studied

• had been, studied

• was, studied

• was, had studied

After Eric ______ (to make) breakfast he ______ (to phone) his friend.

• had made, phoned

• made, phoned

• made, had phoned

• had made, had phoned

She ______ (to watch) a video after the children ______ (to go) to bed.

• had watched, had gone

• watched, had gone

• watched, went

• had watched, went