Dear Lisa, Thanks for your letter. I (1) just left / had just left for school when I saw the postman...

Dear Lisa,

Thanks for your letter. I had just left for school when I saw the postman and he gave it to me. It was really funny! I read it during maths and it made me laugh. I almost got in trouble!

Anyway, I'm excited because I had my first judo lesson yesterday. I was late for the lesson because when I got there, I suddenly realised I had left my judo suit at home! So I went all the way home and when I got back, the lesson had already begun. The instructor was really nice, though, and I learned how to do some basic throws. Can't wait till next time!

What about you and your taekwondo? The last time I spoke to you, you had talked about giving it up. What did you decide?

I think that's all for now. My mum and I are going shopping shortly, so I'd better post this.

Speak to you soon.

Love, Charlotte

Sure, let's analyze each part of Charlotte's letter to Lisa and choose the correct verb forms.

1. "I (1) just left / had just left for school when I saw the postman and he (2) gave / had given it to me."

   • Here, the correct choice is "just left." When using "just" with a simple past action, it indicates that the event happened shortly before another past event. Charlotte had just left for school when she saw the postman.

2. "and he (2) gave / had given it to me."

   • The correct choice is "gave." The simple past is appropriate because the action of giving happened immediately after seeing the postman.

3. "I (3) read / had read it during maths and it (4) made / had made me laugh."

   • The correct choice is "read" and "made." Both actions occurred in the simple past. Charlotte read the letter during math class, and it made her laugh.

4. "I almost (5) got / had got in trouble!"

   • The correct choice is "got." This action also takes place in the simple past, indicating a potential consequence of her laughing.

5. "I'm excited because I (6) had / had had my first judo lesson yesterday."

   • The correct choice is "had." "Had" is the simple past, which is suitable as it refers to a completed action that occurred the day before.

6. "I (7) was / had been late for the lesson because when I (8) got / had got there, I suddenly realised I (9) left / had left my judo suit at home!"

   • The correct choices are "was," "got," and "had left." "Was" is used for a past state, "got" for the action of arriving, and "had left" for the earlier action of forgetting the judo suit at home.

7. "So I (10) went / had gone all the way home and when I (11) got / had got back, the lesson (12) already began / had already begun."

   • The correct choices are "went," "got," and "had already begun." "Went" and "got" are simple past actions, while "had already begun" indicates the lesson started before she returned.

8. "The instructor was really nice, though, and I (13) learned / had learned how to do some basic throws."

   • The correct choice is "learned." This is a simple past action, as it happened during the lesson.

9. "The last time I (14) spoke / had spoken to you, you (15) talked / had talked about giving it up."

   • The correct choices are "spoke" and "had talked." "Spoke" is simple past, indicating a specific past occasion, while "had talked" is past perfect, indicating that talking about giving up taekwondo happened before the last time they spoke.

10. "What (16) did you decide / had you decided?"

    • The correct choice is "did you decide." This is a simple past question about a decision made since their last conversation.

This analysis helps ensure the correct use of verb tenses, maintaining a clear timeline of events in Charlotte's narrative.

Dear Lisa,

Thanks for your letter. I just left for school when I saw the postman and he gave it to me. It was really funny! I read it during maths and it made me laugh. I almost got in trouble!

Anyway, I'm excited because I had my first judo lesson yesterday. I was late for the lesson because when I got there, I suddenly realised I had left my judo suit at home! So I went all the way home and when I got back, the lesson had already begun. The instructor was really nice, though, and I learned how to do some basic throws. Can't wait till next time!

What about you and your taekwondo? The last time I spoke to you, you talked about giving it up. What did you decide?

I think that's all for now. My mum and I are going shopping shortly, so I'd better post this.

Speak to you soon.

Love, Charlotte