Note: Some of the sentences in this exercise provide practice using the negative in
past perfect progressive tense.
Example: The forest (burn) had been burning for a week before the fire was put out.
Example: The firefighters (not, sleep) had not been sleeping at all until more help
arrived.

They (race) ______ ______ ______ cars at that track for twenty
years before it closed.
 He (drive) ______ ______ ______ too fast all afternoon before the
accident happened.
 After she died, it was discovered that she (make) ______ ______
______ secret donations to the shelter for years.
 We (grow) ______ ______ ______ grapes for twelve years before we
decided to open a winery
 The villagers (normally, carry) ______ ______ ______ ______ water
for miles before the new well was dug.
 The gymnastics team (still, practice) ______ ______ ______ ______
hard at nine o'clock p.m.
 When Mrs. Stein awoke at six o'clock a.m., her husband
(already,milk) ______ ______ ______ ______ the cows for an hour.
 The cat (always, scratch) ______ ______ ______ _____ holes in the
furniture before Jody bought him a scratching board.
 Natalie (often, find) _______ ______ ______ ______ small shells on
the beach, which she was using to make jewelry.
 The children (seldom, read) ______ ______ ______ ______ books
before the nanny began taking them to the library.
 Trina (never, ski) ______ ______ ______ ______ before her family
moved to the mountains.
 John and Carrie (happily, prepare) ______ ______ ______ ______ a
room for a baby boy before they discovered that they would have a
girl.
 Our mail carrier (faithfully, bring) ______ ______ ______ ______ our
mail for over 30 years before he retired.
 The dog next door (persistently bark) ______ ______ ______ ______
each night that summer, keeping us awake