Narrative tenses
Phrasal verbs
CAE
100

Sally hasn't contacted us for over six weeks.

HEARD

We _______________________ over six weeks ago.

last heard from her

100

The thieves of the painting escaped without punishment because of a technicality. 

AWAY 

On account of a technicality the thieves _______________ the painting.

got away with stealing

100

This manual is too difficult for me. 

CONCERNED
As ... , this manual is too difficult.

FAR AS I AM CONCERNED/FAR AS I'M CONCERNED

200

None of the phones were left when we got to the shop.


time


... the shop, all the phones had been sold.

by the time we got to

200

My boss suggested that I shouldn´t stand for disrespectful clients. 

UP 

My boss told _______________ disrespectful clients.

me not to put up with

200

We were late arriving at the conference and so we missed the opening ceremony.

BY

The opening ceremony ... we arrived at the conference.

had finished/was over by the time

300

The shop was closed for a week while they decorated it.


done


While it ... , the shop was closed for a week.

was being done up

300

I failed the exam as I hadn’t gone over the vocabulary enough. 

HAD

If only _______________, I would have passed the exam.

I had reviewed the vocabulary more

300

The committee will reach its decision after considering all the facts.

TAKEN

 All the facts ......................the committee reaches its decision.

will be taken into consideration before

400

This is your third warning from me this week about being late for work.

NOT

This is the third time this week I ... be late for work.

have warned/told you not to

400

We decided we wouldn't go with him to the airport after all.
SEE
We decided not to .......... the airport after all.

see him off at

400

It hasn't snowed quite as much this year as it did last year.

SLIGHTLY

This year, there has ... than there was last year.

been slightly less snow

500

Immediately after Emi quit her job, she booked a package tour around Europe.

HAD

As ... in her notice Emi booked a package tour around Europe.

soon as she had handed

500

Jane said she was at home at the time of the murder, but police didn't believe her.

 up

Jane said she was at home at the time of the murder, but police...

said her story didn't add up.

500

We missed the train because we arrived at the station late.

BY

The train ... we arrived at the station.

had left/gone/departed by the time