Unit 3. Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive
A. Present Perfect
Exercise 1. Complete the dialogues using the present perfect form and one or more of the time expressions from the box. Do it according to the following scheme:
| ever, never, often, before, (three / several) times, this year, in the last few days, the first time |
Student A: Student B:
1. A: Do you often come to this disco?
B: No, this is …
2. A: How do you know you way around the town so well?
B: Oh, I …
3. A: Do you think it’s warm enough to swim in the sea yet?
B: Oh yes. I …
4. A: Does your brother drive carefully?
B: No, not at all! He … !
5. A: Does it normally rain here in summer?
B: Not usually, but …
6. A: You’re a very good darts player. Do you play a lot?
B: No, … ! It’s just beginner’s luck, I suppose.
7. A: How many times … to a pop concert?
B: … ! My parents won’t let me. But I … classical music concerts.
Exercise 2. Write sentences using the Present Perfect and a superlative degree of an adjective. The words in the box will help you.
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Student A:
1. His exam marks are terrible. They … .
2. This book is really boring. It’s … .
3. That basketball player is enormous! He’s … .
4. Of course I think you’re beautiful, my darling! You … .
5. My new pullover only cost $5! It … .
6. The children are really enjoying the holiday. It … .
7. The temperature today is 38º. It … .
Exercise 3.Use the notes below to write dialogues. Make up the last few dialogues yourself. Do it according to the following scheme:
Student A: (hold snake?)
Student B: (yes-two)
Student A: (where?)
Student B: (pet shop-garden)
1. A: (helicopter?)
B: (no)
A: (aeroplane?)
B: (yes)
A: (where?)
B: (Australia)
A: (what do?)
B: (uncle)
2. A: (read “Murder on the Orient Express”?)
B: (yes)
A: (like?)
B: (super)
A: (see film?)
B: (yes)
A: (like?)
B: (boring)
3. (find any money?)
4. (pop concert?)
5. (bitten by dog?)
Exercise 4.Paraphrase the statements below using the Present Perfect. The words in the box will help you:
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Their house is now pink! They … .
1. They haven’t got a car any more. They … .
2. His dog is missing! It … .
3. They now own their own house. They … .
4. Your spelling of “accommodation” isn’t right. You … .
5. I have to go and have an injection. A dog … .
6. I haven’t any money left! I … .
Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect (affirmative, negative or interrogative). Use your imagination:
Student A: Student B:
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1. A: Go and have a wash.
B: … !
A: Well, your face is still dirty.
2. A: What did your parents say about your exam results?
B: I … yet. I’m too frightened!
3. A: Can I copy your geography homework?
B: Wait a few minutes. I … .
4. A: … ?
B: No, the shops aren’t open yet. I’ll buy some later.
5. A: I’m sorry. I … !
B: It doesn’t matter. I don’t like cake anyway.
6. A: … ?
B: Of course not! I never take your things without asking!
7. A: … bath?
B: She couldn’t. There wasn’t any hot water.
Exercise 6. Expand the following notes into dialogues. Do it according to the following scheme:
Student A: (shopping?) Student B: (forget list)
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1. A: (eat all sandwiches!)
B: (sorry, hungry)
2. A: (why not buy present for Lucy?)
B: (not enough money)
3. A: (paint bedroom black!)
B: (sale in paint shop-paint very cheap)
4. A: (why no haircut?)
B: (shop closed)
5. A: (not finish homework!)
B: (boyfriend phone)
6. A: (someone take new cassette!)
B: (not me!)
7. A: (why not go on holiday?)
B: (dad lose plane tickets)
8. A: (find pen?)
B: (yes, in pocket)
Exercise 7. Use a verb and a time expression from the box and add a second sentence:
| know have be able to be want been allowed to | for since | ages a long time a short time a few days was a boy / baby was 2 / 12 / years old |
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1. He’s a good friend of my father’s. Dad … .
2. At last mum and dad are going to America. They … .
3. Sue hasn’t got used to the school yet. She (only) … .
4. She … . In fact, I think she could ski before she could walk!
5. Marjorie is 18 but she isn’t allowed to go to a disco! I … !
6. I don’t really know how the computer works. I (only) … .
7. My little sister has only just discovered that Santa Claus does not exist but my little brother … .
Exercise 8. Make up sentences using the Present Perfect:
Student A: mum not drive car – since have accident
1. Dad much healthier – since buy bicycle.
2. William not eat meat – since work on farm last summer.
3. Not go out with other girls – since know my girlfriend.
4. My brother much nicer to me – since become priest.
5. Since Derek buy computer – not go out with friends.
6. My sister live in Wales – since get married.
7. We very sad – since dog die.
8. My English teacher much better teacher – since go to America.
Exercise 9. Use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple:
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1. I originally (to study) physics at University and I (to graduate) with a first-class degree.
2. I can’t believe that you (to eat) three pizzas already! I only (to bring) them in fifteen minutes ago!
3. I (not to apply) for a job with your company before.
4. I’m writing in connection with the advertisement which (to appear) on December 3.
5. The package (to arrive) safely yesterday?
6. We still hold meetings in the old house, which (to stand) on the same spot for over two hundred years.
Exercise 10. Use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple in questions in the following dialogue:
A: Are you a soldier by profession?
B: Yes.
A: How long you (to be) in the army?
B: Twenty-five years.
A: When you (to join) the army?
B: In 1932.
A: Where you (to serve) during the war?
B: First on the territory of the Ukraine, then in the Far East.
A: You (to see) much fighting in the Ukraine?
B: A good deal.
A: How long you (to remain) there?
B: For over a year.
A: Why you (to be) sent to the Far East?
B: I (to be) wounded.
A: What sort of wound it (to be)?
B: A bullet through the shoulder.
A: How many times you (to be) wounded during the war?
B: Three times.
A: They (to be) serious wounds?
B: Rather.
A: When you (to be) wounded last time?
B: In 1945.
Exercise 11. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English:
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1. У меня закончился бензин. Давай заедем на заправочную станцию.
2. Роберт всегда был моим хорошим другом. Это самая легкая работа, которую я когда-либо выполнял.
3. Я не был в этом городке целую вечность. Как все изменилось!
4. Я уже напечатал вашу статью. Возьмите, пожалуйста.
5. Он два года служил в армии, затем переехал в Минск и поступил в университет.
6. Когда ты закончил университет? И чем ты занимался все это время?
7. Сколько лет вы женаты? – Пять. Я женился сразу после окончания университета.
8. А где остальные чашки? – Я уже их вымыла.
9. Ты был когда-нибудь в Австрии? – Да, я был в Вене несколько раз.
B. Present Perfect Progressive
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect Progressive and a suitable time expression:
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1. Where on earth have you been? I’ve been waiting for ages!
2. My brother isn’t very good at languages. He ......... and he can’t speak a word!
3. Children! Turn the television off! You ......... !
4. I wonder when the new house will be finished. They ......... !
5. I wonder why Susie doesn’t answer the phone. I ......... !
6. It’s our turn to use the tennis table now. You ......... !
7. The weather is really awful. It ......... !
8. Mum, tell Paul to give me back my walkman! He ......... .
Exercise 2. What do you think they have / it has been doing? Complete the dialogues:
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1. A: Hey, look out of the window! It ......... ! B: Fantastic, we can go sledging!
2. A: Your breath smells terrible! B: I ......... .
3. A: Dad’s been very bad-tempered recently because he ......... hard.
B: Well, he should try to relax and spend more time with his family!
4. A: I feel really tired. I ......... !
B: You poor thing. You should make your husband help you!
5. A: I think I can smell smoke on Debbie’s clothes.
B: Perhaps ......... .
6. A: I’m very worried about my son, doctor. I think he ......... .
B: Do you know what kind of drugs?
7. A: Your eyes look very red.
B: I ......... .
Exercise 3. There are eight children in the Murphy family. They are always arguing and blaming each other for things that are missing or broken. Use the notes below to write their dialogues. You must think of your own excuse or reason (line B)!
Student A Student B
1. A: jeans; tear! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
2. A: Listen to my CDs; not put away! B: It was me. Sorry, but ....... .
3. A: use computer; damage disk! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
4. A: feed goldfish; too much food! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
5. A: play with chess set; lose piece! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
6. A: dad’s whisky; whole bottle! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
7. A: do washing up; break four glasses. B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
8. A: mow lawn; cut down flowers! B: It was me. Sorry, but ......... .
Exercise 4. Put each verb in brackets into either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive.
1. Someone (eat) ...has eaten... all the cakes. I’ll have to buy some more.
2. What (you buy) ......... your sister for her birthday?
3. My throat is really sore. I (sing) ......... all evening.
4. Brenda (learn) ......... Belarusian, but she finds it difficult.
5. How many people (you invite) ......... to your party?
6. Those two cats (sit) ......... on that branch for the last hour.
7. It (rain) ......... all day! Why can’t it stop!
8. Diana (wear) ......... twelve different dresses in the past week!
9. I (do) ......... everything you asked. What should I do now?
10. Graham and Pauline (try) ......... to find a house for ages, but they can’t find one they can afford.
Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps. Complete the dialogues using either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive.
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1. A: How long ......... your boyfriend?
B: About three months.
2. A: How long ......... in York?
B: About three months.
3. A: There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!
B: I ......... my homework.
4. A: There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!
B: I ......... in the garden.
5. A: How have you spent the afternoon?
B: I ......... some magazines.
6. A: Do you like reading?
B: Yes, I ......... three books this week!
7. A: Where has dad been this morning?
B: He ......... the shopping.
Exercise 6. Put each verb in brackets into the Past Simple, the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive.
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It was announced in London this morning that the British Oil Corporation (1) ......... (discover) oil under the sea near the Welsh coast. The company, which (2) ......... (drill) for oil in the area since 1990, (3) ......... (find) small amount of oil in Swansea last month, and since then (4) ......... (discover) larger amounts under the seabed nearby. Last year the government (5) ......... (lend) over ₤ 50,000,000 to BOC, and (6) ......... (give) permission for the company to build an oil refinery and other facilities in South Wales.
The reaction of local people to today’s news (7) ......... (be) mixed so far. Local MPs (8) ......... (already welcome) the news, pointing out that the oil industry will bring badly needed jobs to the area. But local residents are worried about the danger of pollution. “Nobody (9) ......... (ask) us yet what we want,” said Ann Griffiths, leader of the Keep Out The Oil Campaign. “Look what (10) ......... (happen) when they (11) ......... (find) oil in Scotland in the 1960s. The oil companies (12) ......... (get) rich, not the local people. BOC (13) ......... (not tell) us the truth about what this is going to mean for our people.” A BOC spokesman later (14) ......... (refuse) to comment. Meanwhile local campaigners (15) ......... (ask) the government to hold an inquiry.
Exercise 7. Choose the most suitable tense.
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1. Did you see / Have you seen my bag anywhere? I can’t find it.
2. Larry is writing / has been writing / has written his novel for the last two years without getting further than Chapter One.
3. From the minute he got up this morning Gary asked / has asked / has been asking silly questions.
4. Have you given / Did you give Helen my message when you have seen / saw her.
5. Sorry, could you say that again? I didn’t listen / haven’t listened / haven’t been listening to you.
6. The police think that they found / have found your missing wallet, so call this number.
7. I don’t think we’ll go swimming after all because the weather changed / has changed / has been changing.
8. How was your holiday in Italy? Did you visit / Have you visited lots of interesting places?
9. Did you two meet / Have you two met before? Eric, this is Amanda.
10. Did you meet / Have you met anyone interesting at the reception?
Exercise 8. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense.
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1. I’m sorry about not coming last week. I (have) ...had... a cold and so I (stay) ......... at home.
2. Wait a minute. I (have) ......... an idea. Let’s go and see Roger. We last (see) ......... him a long time ago.
3. It’s nice to be back here in Minsk. This is the second time I (come) ......... here.
4. I’m phoning about your advertisment for a bycicle for sale, which I (see) ......... in the local paper. (you sell) ......... it? Or is it still available?
5. This place is in a terrible mess! What on earth (you do) ......... ?
6. And now for an item of local news. Hampshire police (find) ......... the dangerous snake which (go) ......... missing earlier in the week.
7. This tooth (kill) ......... me lately! So I (make) ......... an appointment with a dentist for Tuesday.
8. I can’t give you the report I (promise) ......... for today because I (not finish)......... .
9. Harry (not look) ......... well since he (go) ......... on a diet.
10. It says in the paper that they (discover) ......... oil in Wales. They (look for) ......... it for ages.
Exercise 9. Answer the following questions.
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1. What are you reading now? How long have you been reading it?
2. Is your daughter learning to play the piano? How long has she been learning?
3. When did you buy your suit? How long have you been wearing it?
4. Is Natalie a friend of yours? How long have you known her?
5. When did your brother graduate from his University? Where has he been working since then?
6. How long had the Smiths been living together before Nick decided to leave his wife?
7. How long have you been learning English?
8. Can you skate? How long have you been skating?
9. Is Tim away on business now? How long has he been away?
Exercise 11. “What have you been zooing?” Complete the dialogues using the prompts.
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