Exercise 1
By the time we ____ (reach) the station, the train ____ (leave). We ____ (run) because we ____ (know) we were late. I ____ (call) my brother to inform him, but his phone ____ (be) off. We ____ (decide) to wait for the next train, which ____ (arrive) in an hour. While we ____ (wait), we ____ (talk) about our plans for the trip.
By the time we reached the station, the train had left. We were running because we knew we were late. I had been calling my brother to inform him, but his phone was off. We decided to wait for the next train, which was arriving in an hour. While we were waiting, we talked about our plans for the trip.
Exercise 2
She ____ (work) at the company for five years before she ____ (decide) to resign. She ____ (feel) that she ____ (learn) everything she could there. Her colleagues ____ (be) surprised when they ____ (hear) the news. By the time her last day ____ (arrive), she ____ (already/find) a new job. She ____ (leave) the office feeling excited about her future.
She had been working at the company for five years before she decided to resign. She felt that she had learned everything she could there. Her colleagues were surprised when they heard the news. By the time her last day arrived, she had already found a new job. She left the office feeling excited about her future.
Exercise 3
I ____ (cook) dinner when the power ____ (go) out. I ____ (just/start) boiling the pasta. Since I ____ (crave) spaghetti all day, I ____ (be) disappointed. My roommate ____ (suggest) we ____ (go) out to eat instead. By the time we ____ (get) to the restaurant, the storm ____ (pass). We ____ (enjoy) a nice meal together after all.
I was cooking dinner when the power went out. I had just started boiling the pasta. Since I had been craving spaghetti all day, I was disappointed. My roommate suggested we go out to eat instead. By the time we got to the restaurant, the storm had passed. We enjoyed a nice meal together after all.
Exercise 4
They ____ (travel) across Europe for two months before they ____ (return) home. They ____ (visit) many countries and ____ (experience) different cultures. While they ____ (stay) in France, they ____ (meet) some interesting people. By the end of the trip, they ____ (take) hundreds of photos. They ____ (look) forward to sharing their adventures with friends and family.
They had been traveling across Europe for two months before they returned home. They visited many countries and experienced different cultures. While they were staying in France, they met some interesting people. By the end of the trip, they had taken hundreds of photos. They looked forward to sharing their adventures with friends and family.
Exercise 5
When I ____ (arrive) at the party, everyone ____ (already/leave). I ____ (wonder) why the place ____ (be) so quiet. I ____ (look forward) to seeing my friends. Before I ____ (can) call anyone, my phone battery ____ (die). I ____ (sit) alone for a while, thinking about what to do next.
When I arrived at the party, everyone had already left. I was wondering why the place was so quiet. I had been looking forward to seeing my friends. Before I could call anyone, my phone battery died. I sat alone for a while, thinking about what to do next.
Exercise 6
He ____ (practice) the piano for months before he finally ____ (master) the difficult piece. His teacher ____ (be) proud of his dedication. While he ____ (perform) on stage, he ____ (forget) all his previous worries. By the end of the concert, the audience ____ (give) him a standing ovation. He ____ (feel) that all his hard work ____ (pay off).
He had been practicing the piano for months before he finally mastered the difficult piece. His teacher was proud of his dedication. While he was performing on stage, he forgot all his previous worries. By the end of the concert, the audience had given him a standing ovation. He felt that all his hard work had paid off.
Exercise 7
By the time we ____ (find) the cabin, it ____ (start) to snow heavily. We ____ (hike) all day through the forest. I ____ (feel) exhausted and hungry. Before we ____ (can) settle in, we ____ (realize) we ____ (forget) the matches. We ____ (laugh) at our mistake and ____ (decide) to make the best of the situation.
By the time we found the cabin, it had started to snow heavily. We had been hiking all day through the forest. I was feeling exhausted and hungry. Before we could settle in, we realized we had forgotten the matches. We laughed at our mistake and decided to make the best of the situation.
Exercise 8
She ____ (read) a book when she ____ (hear) a strange noise outside. She ____ (be) home alone all evening. She ____ (go) to the window to see what ____ (happen). By the time she ____ (look) out, the street ____ (become) completely silent. She ____ (tell) herself it ____ (be) just her imagination and ____ (return) to her book.
She was reading a book when she heard a strange noise outside. She had been home alone all evening. She went to the window to see what was happening. By the time she looked out, the street had become completely silent. She told herself it was just her imagination and returned to her book.
Exercise 9
They ____ (plan) the surprise party for weeks before he ____ (find out). Someone ____ (accidentally/mention) it in a conversation. Even though the surprise ____ (be) ruined, he ____ (be) grateful for their efforts. On the day of the party, everyone ____ (enjoy) themselves. By the end of the night, they ____ (create) many happy memories.
They had been planning the surprise party for weeks before he found out. Someone had accidentally mentioned it in a conversation. Even though the surprise was ruined, he was grateful for their efforts. On the day of the party, everyone was enjoying themselves. By the end of the night, they had created many happy memories
Exercise 10
I ____ (wait) for the bus for over an hour when it finally ____ (arrive). It ____ (rain), and I ____ (get) cold. While I ____ (check) my watch, a car ____ (splash) water all over me. By the time I ____ (get) on the bus, I ____ (be) soaked. I ____ (sit) down, hoping the day ____ (improve) from there.
I had been waiting for the bus for over an hour when it finally arrived. It was raining, and I was getting cold. While I was checking my watch, a car splashed water all over me. By the time I got on the bus, I was soaked. I sat down, hoping the day would improve from there.