Narrative Tenses Handout

1. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. The first one is done for you.
a) I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.
b) While Diana watched/was watching her favourite television programme, there was a
power-cut.
c) Tom used to live/would live in the house at the end of the street.
d) Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident?
e) By the time Sheila got back, Chris went/had gone.
f) David ate/had eaten Japanese food before, so he knew what to order.
g) I did/was doing some shopping yesterday, when I saw that Dutch friend of yours.
h) What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday?
i) Laura missed the party because no-one was telling/had told her about it.
2. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. Only use the past perfect
where this is absolutely necessary.
a) While I (try) was trying to get my car started, a passing car (stop)........................... and
the driver (offer)......................... to help me.
b) The police (pay)............................... no attention to Clare's complaint because she
(phone).................................. them so many times before.
c) Mary (not wear) ...................................her glasses at the time, so she (not
notice)...................... what kind of car the man (drive) ................................ .
d) Nick (lie)............................... down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who
(feed)............................. the ducks.
e) Tony (admit)............................. that he (hit)................................ the other car, but said
that he (not damage)...................................... it.
f) Sorry, I (not listen)............................. to you. I (think) ..................................about
something else.
g) Helen (feel)................................. very tired, and when she (finish) ....................her
work, she (fall) .................................asleep.
h) The police (get)...................................... to Clare's house as fast as they could, but the
burglars (disappear)................................ .
i) I (phone) ...........................you last night but you (not answer)............................ .
What (you do).............................................. ?
j) We (not go).................................... out yesterday because it (rain)........................ .
3. Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable.

a) While I had a bath, someone knocked on the door.......... unsuitable...
b) Sally didn't go to a boxing match before. ......................
c) Harry tried to repair the car, but he didn't really know what he was doing. ................
d) What did you wear to the Ponsonby's party? ...........................
e) Were you eating spaghetti every day when you lived in Italy? .........................
f) I didn't know you had bought a new car. .........................
g) They all wanted to believe her, but suspected she was lying. .........................
h) As Peggy walked home, she tried to remember what happened. .........................
i) 'What a terrible day!' thought Lucy. Everything had gone wrong! .........................
j) Although it rained a lot, I was enjoying my holiday last year. .........................
4. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

When Professor Mallory, the famous archaeologist, (1) ...invited. (invite) me to take part in
his expedition to find the Lost City of the Himalayas, I (2)........................ (not hesitate) to
accept his invitation. Mallory (3)....................... (discover) an ancient map showing the
position of the city, although no European (4).................... (ever go) to the area before.
In fact, most of Mallory's colleagues either (5).................... (believe) that the city (6)
......................(never exist) or (7) ........................(feel) that it (8)................... (vanish) long ago
and (9) ..............................(become) simply a legend. According to the Professor, the builders
of the city (10).......................... (hide) it among the mountains in order to protect its
immense riches. He (11)............................ (believe) that the descendants of these ancient
people (12)......................... (still keep) themselves apart from the rest of mankind for the very
same reasons. So when we (13)........................... (set off) on a cool May morning towards the
distant mountains, each of us (14)............................ (look forward) to exciting discoveries.
For a week or more we (15) ...........................(climb) higher and higher, following the map,
which Mallory (16) ..........................(study) from time to time. Then one afternoon, while we
(17).................................... (rest) at the top of a valley, we (18)................... (notice) that a rider
on a horse (19) ..........................(wave) at us from the other side of the valley. A rider whose
clothes (20)................................ (shine) like gold!

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1. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. The first one is done for you.

a) I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

d) Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident?

e) By the time Sheila got back, Chris went/had gone.

f) David ate/had eaten Japanese food before, so he knew what to order.

3. Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable.

4. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

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