Thanksgiving Dinner (past perfect)

Last Thanksgiving my parents had a large family dinner at

their house. Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner takes a
lot of work.
The day started well and by late afternoon we had
completed most of the work. Everyone had helped to
make the meal a success. We had put the turkey in the
oven earlier that day so the house was starting to smell like
roast turkey. The grandchildren had finishedsetting the
table for Thanksgiving dinner. My aunt had made two pies
for dessert, a pumpkin pie and an apple pie. My brother
and I had peeled the carrots and the potatoes.
We had just turned on the stove to start cooking the
vegetables when the power went out! The oven stopped
working! We couldnt cook the vegetables! The turkey
wouldnt finish cooking! We waited. We talked. We went for
a walk.
We had waited two hours by the time the power came
back on. We had almost given up hope. Dinner was late
that night but it was a Thanksgiving dinner that we wont
forget.

Comprehension Check:
Did you understand the story? Are these sentences true?
1. The word had is used when making the past perfect verb tense.
Yes or no?
2. Use the past participle of the main verb when making the past
perfect. Yes or no?

3. My aunt made two apple pies for dessert. Yes or no?

4. When the power went out there was no electricity. Yes or no?
5. The turkey was finished cooking before the power went out. Yes
or no?

Fill in the Blanks:

6. It was two _______________ before the power came back on.
7. My brother and I had _____________ the vegetables for dinner.
8. Everyone had ______________ to make the meal a success.
9. By late afternoon we ____________ completed most of the work.
10. For Thanksgiving dinner we had _____________ and vegetables
and then we had pie for _______________.

A Cake was Made (past tense, passive voice)

Seven tablespoons of cocoa powder were measuredinto a
small bowl. Half a cup of boiling water was added. The
mixture was stirred until it was smooth. It was left to
cool down.
A half cup of softened butter was put in a large bowl. Two
cups of white sugar were added.
The mixture was stirred until it was smooth. Next, three
eggs were added and the mixture was stirredagain.

The dry ingredients were added next - two cups of flour, 1

teaspoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
The last additions that were made to the batter was a cup
of sour cream and all of the cocoa mixture. The batter was
mixed well.
The batter was poured into two cake tins. The cakeswere
baked in the oven for 45 minutes. After the cakes had
cooled, chocolate icing was spread over them and the
cakes were decorated. The best part was saved for
last.... the cakes were eaten!

Comprehension Check:
Did you understand the story? Are these sentences true?
1. It was a chocolate cake. Yes or no?
2. One cake was made. Yes or no?
3. The best part was eating the cake! Yes or no?
4. Two bowls were used to make the cake. Yes or no?

Fill in the Blanks:

5. The dry ingredients were _____________________, baking
powder and baking soda.
6. The cakes were in the _________________ for 45 minutes.
7. __________________ icing was spread over the cake.

8. ______________ a cup of boiling water was used to make the

cake.
9. The last things added to the batter were the cocoa
_______________ and the sour ________________.

An Evening Out (simple past, past continuous)

Last night I went to Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall in
Toronto. It was a beautiful summer evening. It was warm
and sunny. Lots of people were there because of the Pan
Am games celebrations. I stoodand watched the crowd.
Many people were sitting by the water. Some people were
talking with friends or family. Lots of peoplewere
taking pictures.
A band was playing music on the stage. People were
standing by the stage. They were listening to the music.
Others were watching the performance on large video
screens.
Everyone was enjoying the summer evening.

Comprehension Check:
Do these sentences have correct grammar? If the grammar is
wrong, can you correct it?
1. People were standing in front of the stage. Correct or wrong?
2. I were watching the crowd. Correct or wrong?

3. Everyone was celebrating the PanAm games. Correct or wrong?

4. The sun was shining. Correct or wrong?
5. Some people was watching the band. Correct or wrong?