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French plus-que-parfait test for French 3 (free PDF download)

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The Pluperfect: Before the Past – French 3 test with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

Quick answer: The plus-que-parfait is the French pluperfect, equivalent to had plus a past participle in English. This French 3 test on plus-que-parfait has 9 questions worth 20 points, to do in 45 minutes: form the tense, two past events and negatives. The scoring guide is on a separate page; free printable PDF.

This test has nine questions worth 20 points in total. It covers the formation of the plus-que-parfait, the sequence of past events, reported speech, si clauses of regret, one reading question and one short writing task. Work alone and write complete answers in French where requested.

Level: French 3 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Low) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Low, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational

Time: 45 minutes · 9 questions · Total: 20 points · No dictionary

Question 1 Form the tense (2 points)

Write the plus-que-parfait. (½ point each)

  1. tu / vendre
  2. elle / sortir
  3. nous (deux filles) / se lever
  4. ils / voir

Question 2 Two past events (2 points)

Complete with the passé composé and the plus-que-parfait. (½ point per verb)

  1. Quand Maya (arriver) ___ au gymnase, l’entraînement (déjà commencer) ___.
  2. Nous (rater) ___ le train parce que nous (se tromper) ___ d’heure.

Question 3 Negatives (2 points)

Write the plus-que-parfait in the negative. (½ point each)

  1. je / ne pas comprendre
  2. elles / ne jamais aller à Tahiti
  3. il / ne pas encore finir
  4. nous (des garçons) / ne pas se voir

Question 4 Reported speech (2 points)

Rewrite each sentence in reported speech. (1 point each)

  1. Elle a dit : « J’ai oublié mes clés. »
  2. Ils ont annoncé : « Nous sommes arrivés. »

Question 5 Regrets with si (2 points)

Complete with the correct tense. (½ point per verb)

  1. Si tu (venir, une fille) ___, tu (voir) ___ le spectacle.
  2. Si nous (prendre) ___ un taxi, nous (arriver) ___ à l’heure.

Question 6 Correct the mistakes (2 points)

Rewrite each sentence correctly. (½ point each)

  1. Quand il est entré, nous avons déjà dîné.
  2. Elle avait allée à la piscine.
  3. Si j’aurais su, je serais venu.
  4. Mes sœurs étaient parti tôt.

Question 7 Translate into French (2 points)

Translate into French. (1 point each)

  1. He had already eaten when I arrived.
  2. If she had studied, she would have passed.

Question 8 Read the diary (3 points)

A diary entry by Samira: she arrived at Lausanne station and the 8:15 train had already left, because she had not set her alarmJournal de Samira — mardiQuand je suis arrivée à la gare de Lausanne, le trainde 8 h 15 était déjà parti. Je n’avais pas mis mon réveilla veille, et mon père était déjà au travail. Si j’avaismis mon réveil, j’aurais pris ce train.
A short diary entry.

Read the diary and answer in English. (1 point each)

  1. What had already left when Samira arrived?
  2. Why did she miss it?
  3. What regret does she express?

Question 9 Short writing (3 points)

Write three sentences in French about a day when you arrived late. Use the plus-que-parfait in the first, the passé composé with the plus-que-parfait in the second, and a regret with si in the third. (1 point per correct sentence)

See the French Plus-que-parfait test answer key with scoring

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