Past Simple vs. Past Perfect

By the time the project manager arrived at the office, the assistant ___ all the necessary reports.

When the presentation finally started, I realized that I ___ my laptop charger at home.

During the interview, Sarah told the board members that she ___ the market research the previous month.

The retail company ___ three new international branches before they finally decided to go public.

The lead scientist concluded that the previous study ___ several critical variables in the original experiment.

We were unable to enter the laboratory because the security team ___ the building for emergency maintenance.

The journalist asked the CEO if the spokesperson ___ the official statement to the press yet.

He barely recognized the department because the design team ___ the entire layout over the weekend.

Before the software update was officially released, the developers ___ the code for over six months.

I was absolutely certain that I ___ that specific candidate's resume somewhere in the database before.

The intern admitted to the supervisor that he ___ the safety instructions properly before starting the project.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient civilization ___ complex irrigation systems before the drought.

After the auditors ___ the financial records for discrepancies, they found no evidence of fraud.

She mentioned in her speech that she ___ for the promotion twice before she was finally successful.

Hardly ___ the conference room when the fire alarm started ringing loudly.