1. I __________ (run) for an hour before I finally reached the finish line.
a) had run
b) was running
c) had been running
d) ran
2. While they __________ (discuss) the project, the manager entered the room.
a) discussed
b) had discussed
c) were discussing
d) had been discussing
3. She was exhausted because she __________ (work) on the report all night.
a) had been working
b) worked
c) was working
d) had worked
4. I __________ (not realize) that I had left my phone at home.
a) didn’t realize
b) wasn’t realizing
c) hadn’t realized
d) had been realizing
5. The police arrived while we __________ (explain) the situation to the security guard.
a) explained
b) had explained
c) were explaining
d) had been explaining
6. By the time we reached the airport, the plane __________ (take off).
a) took off
b) had taken off
c) was taking off
d) had been taking off
7. When I opened the door, I saw that someone __________ (break) the window.
a) broke
b) had broken
c) was breaking
d) had been breaking
8. He __________ (drive) for two hours before he realized he was on the wrong road.
a) drove
b) had driven
c) was driving
d) had been driving
9. While she __________ (prepare) dinner, the guests arrived.
a) prepared
b) was preparing
c) had prepared
d) had been preparing
10. By the time she arrived, we __________ (already/order) our food.
a) already ordered
b) had already ordered
c) were already ordering
d) had been ordering
11. He __________ (read) the book when he suddenly fell asleep.
a) read
b) was reading
c) had read
d) had been reading
12. I __________ (wait) for you for half an hour before I decided to leave.
a) had waited
b) was waiting
c) had been waiting
d) waited
13. The children __________ (play) outside when it started to rain.
a) played
b) had played
c) were playing
d) had been playing
14. She __________ (learn) English for five years before she moved to London.
a) learned
b) had learned
c) was learning
d) had been learning
15. When we got to the theater, the play __________ (already/start).
a) already started
b) had already started
c) was already starting
d) had been starting
16. He __________ (never/see) such a beautiful view before that trip.
a) never saw
b) had never seen
c) was never seeing
d) had never been seeing
17. While the team __________ (discuss) the plan, the CEO entered the room.
a) was discussing
b) had discussed
c) discussed
d) had been discussing
18. The train __________ (leave) the station when I arrived.
a) left
b) was leaving
c) had left
d) had been leaving
19. She __________ (paint) the house for three days before she finished.
a) had painted
b) was painting
c) had been painting
d) painted
20. When I got to the restaurant, my friends __________ (already/eat).
a) already ate
b) had already eaten
c) were already eating
d) had been eating
21. He __________ (fix) the car when he found a serious problem.
a) was fixing
b) had fixed
c) fixed
d) had been fixing
22. We __________ (talk) for a while before we noticed the time.
a) had talked
b) were talking
c) talked
d) had been talking
23. The company __________ (operate) for ten years before it closed down.
a) operated
b) was operating
c) had been operating
d) had operated
24. She __________ (cry) when I saw her.
a) cried
b) had cried
c) was crying
d) had been crying
25. I __________ (watch) TV when the phone rang.
a) watched
b) was watching
c) had watched
d) had been watching
26. He __________ (wait) at the bus stop for 30 minutes before the bus arrived.
a) waited
b) was waiting
c) had waited
d) had been waiting
27. The scientist __________ (conduct) research for several years before making the
discovery.
a) was conducting
b) conducted
c) had conducted
d) had been conducting
28. While I __________ (look) for my keys, my brother found them.
a) looked
b) was looking
c) had looked
d) had been looking
29. The children __________ (already/sleep) when their parents came home.
a) already slept
b) had already slept
c) were already sleeping
d) had already been sleeping
30. She __________ (travel) around Europe for six months before she returned home.
a) traveled
b) was traveling
c) had traveled
d) had been traveling
31. The thief __________ (escape) before the police arrived.
a) escaped
b) was escaping
c) had escaped
d) had been escaping
32. The students __________ (write) their essays when the fire alarm rang.
a) wrote
b) were writing
c) had written
d) had been writing
33. He __________ (not see) his friend for years before he met him again.
a) didn’t see
b) wasn’t seeing
c) hadn’t seen
d) had not been seeing
34. She __________ (dance) when she twisted her ankle.
a) danced
b) had danced
c) was dancing
d) had been dancing
35. By the time they arrived, we __________ (wait) for an hour.
a) waited
b) had waited
c) were waiting
d) had been waiting
36. He __________ (not hear) the news before I told him.
a) didn’t hear
b) wasn’t hearing
c) hadn’t heard
d) had not been hearing
37. We __________ (talk) about our plans when the manager interrupted us.
a) talked
b) were talking
c) had talked
d) had been talking
38. He __________ (study) hard before the final exam.
a) studied
b) had studied
c) was studying
d) had been studying
39. She __________ (already/finish) her homework when her mother called her.
a) already finished
b) had already finished
c) was already finishing
d) had been finishing
40. While they __________ (swim), the storm began.
a) swam
b) were swimming
c) had swum
d) had been swimming