3 GRAMMAR IN USE Complete the text with the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple or past perfect. Leyton stared at the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in front of him. He (0) come, (finally / come) to the end of his journey. Several months ago he (1) (not / know) whether the journey would really be possible. After all, he (2) (recover) from his illness only weeks before he (3) (make) the decision - well, it was because of the illness that he (4) (decide) to do this, to prove it was possible. Then, after a few weeks of planning and worrying, he (5) (set out), starting from the northernmost point of the country and walking, on his own, to the southernmost point. And here he was, at the end of his journey - he (6) (achieve) his aim. And he (7) (realise) now that it was the most exciting thing he (8) (ever / do) - and probably ever would do - in his life.
Explanation:
In the text, we are describing Leyton's journey and his thoughts about it after reaching the end.
1. "didn't know" - Leyton is talking about the past, so we use the past simple tense.
2. "had recovered" - This action happened before Leyton made the decision to go on the journey, so we use the past perfect tense to show an action that occurred before another past action.
3. "made" - Leyton is talking about the past, so we use the past simple tense.
4. "decided" - Leyton is talking about the past, so we use the past simple tense.
5. "set out" - Leyton is talking about the past, so we use the past simple tense.
6. "had achieved" - This action happened before Leyton realized it was the most exciting thing he had ever done, so we use the past perfect tense to show an action that occurred before another past action.
7. "realized" - Leyton is talking about the past, so we use the past simple tense.
8. "had ever done" - Leyton is talking about his past experiences, so we use the past perfect tense to show an action that occurred before another past action.