4 1. By the time we all returned from holiday father and Bob (to fin-
ish) decorating the kitchen.
2.
When we entered the room, Nora already (to lay) the table and
put flowers into the vase.
3.
Susan (to be) ill for a week already. She (to catch) a cold last
Saturday, and I don't know when she (to recover).
4. Tom (not to stay) there even for 5 minutes when he was told the
latest news.
5. He phoned to say he (to leave) his briefcase on the lane and was
going to come to the left luggage office the following day.
6. Would you please give her this note the moment she (to arrive).
7. He (to do) exercises since five o'clock and has done only ten so far.
8. The inspector showed Bob a few more photographs. Bob (to take) a
quick look at them and (to be) quite certain he (to see) the man.

​

1. By the time we all returned from holiday, father and Bob had finished decorating the kitchen.

Explanation: The sentence indicates that the action of finishing decorating the kitchen happened before the time the speaker and others returned from holiday. The use of "had finished" in the past perfect tense implies that the action was completed before a specific point in the past (the time of their return).

2. When we entered the room, Nora had already laid the table and put flowers into the vase.

Explanation: The sentence suggests that the action of laying the table and putting flowers into the vase happened before the time the speaker and others entered the room. The use of "had already laid" in the past perfect tense indicates that the action was completed prior to a specific point in the past (the time of their entry).

3. Susan had been ill for a week already. She had caught a cold last Saturday, and I don't know when she will recover.

Explanation: The sentence states that Susan's illness had been ongoing for a week. The use of "had caught" in the past perfect tense indicates that catching a cold happened before a specific point in the past (the start of her illness). The speaker also mentions that they don't know when Susan will recover, indicating a future event.

4. Tom had not stayed there even for 5 minutes when he was told the latest news.

Explanation: The sentence implies that Tom's stay at the location was very short. The use of "had not stayed" in the past perfect tense indicates that the action of not staying for 5 minutes happened before a specific point in the past (the time he was told the news).

5. He phoned to say he had left his briefcase on the lane and was going to come to the left luggage office the following day.

Explanation: The sentence mentions a phone call where the person informed about leaving their briefcase on the lane. The use of "had left" in the past perfect tense indicates that the action of leaving the briefcase happened before a specific point in the past (the time of the phone call). The person also mentions their intention to come to the left luggage office the following day, indicating a future event.

6. Would you please give her this note the moment she arrives.

Explanation: The sentence is a polite request to give someone a note as soon as they arrive. The use of "she arrives" in the simple present tense indicates that the arrival is a future event.

7. He had been doing exercises since five o'clock and has done only ten so far.

Explanation: The sentence states that the person has been doing exercises from five o'clock and has completed only ten exercises until now. The use of "had been doing" in the past perfect continuous tense indicates the ongoing action of doing exercises before a specific point in the past (the time of speaking) and is still continuing in the present.

8. The inspector showed Bob a few more photographs. Bob took a quick look at them and was quite certain he had seen the man.

Explanation: The sentence describes a situation where the inspector showed Bob some photographs, and after a quick look, Bob became certain that he had seen the man before. The use of "had seen" in the past perfect tense indicates that seeing the man happened before a specific point in the past (the time of looking at the photographs).