Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or the Past Perfect Simple of the verbs in brackets
Answer:
Let’s analyze and fill in the blanks step by step, choosing the correct verb tense between Past Simple and Past Perfect Simple.
1.
Sentence:
We ______ (get) some luggage and then ______ (reach) the gate. We ______ (realise) we ______ (leave) our boarding passes at the café.
- First action: get some luggage — should be Past Simple (series of events).
- Then: reach the gate — Past Simple (next event).
- Then: realise — Past Simple (next event).
- leave boarding passes — happened before realizing, so Past Perfect.
Filled:
We got some luggage and then reached the gate. We realised we had left our boarding passes at the café.
2.
Sentence:
When we ______ (hear) the announcement about the delay, we ______ (not be) surprised. The information desk clerk ______ (inform) us about it.
- hear announcement — Past Simple (time marker “when” suggests Past Simple).
- not be surprised — probably Past Perfect or Past Simple. Here, surprise is a state existing at that point in past, so Past Simple Negative “were not surprised”.
- inform us — Past Simple.
Filled:
When we heard the announcement about the delay, we were not surprised. The information desk clerk informed us about it.
3.
Sentence:
By the time the flight attendant ______ (serve) the meal, most of the passengers ______ (fall) asleep.
- “By the time” introduces an earlier past action, so:
- Passengers fall asleep — Past Perfect (already happened before meal was served).
- Flight attendant serve meal — Past Simple.
Filled:
By the time the flight attendant served the meal, most of the passengers had fallen asleep.
4.
Sentence:
The flight attendant ______ (ask) the passengers to fasten their seat belts after everyone ______ (board) the plane.
- Passengers board plane — before the flight attendant’s request, so Past Perfect.
- Flight attendant ask — Past Simple.
Filled:
The flight attendant asked the passengers to fasten their seat belts after everyone had boarded the plane.
Summary Table
| Sentence Number | Verb | Correct Tense | Example Filled Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | get | Past Simple | got |
| reach | Past Simple | reached | |
| realise | Past Simple | realised | |
| leave | Past Perfect | had left | |
| 2 | hear | Past Simple | heard |
| not be | Past Simple (negative) | were not | |
| inform | Past Simple | informed | |
| 3 | serve | Past Simple | served |
| fall | Past Perfect | had fallen | |
| 4 | ask | Past Simple | asked |
| board | Past Perfect | had boarded |
Final Completed Sentences:
- We got some luggage and then reached the gate. We realised we had left our boarding passes at the café.
- When we heard the announcement about the delay, we were not surprised. The information desk clerk informed us about it.
- By the time the flight attendant served the meal, most of the passengers had fallen asleep.
- The flight attendant asked the passengers to fasten their seat belts after everyone had boarded the plane.
If you want, I can explain why we use Past Perfect in some parts and Past Simple in others! Let me know.