English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Review: present perfect and used to

A. Complete the table with the missing forms.

B. Rewrite these sentences with used to, but only if it’s possible.

1   I had a red bike when I was little.

      I used to have a red bike when I was tittle.

2   Did you play computer games when you were a child?

      ………………………………………………

3   I played tennis three times on holiday.

      ………………………………………………

4   The Romans ate a lot of fish.

      ………………………………………………

5   She played the violin at university.

      ………………………………………………

6   He didn’t go to the doctor yesterday.

      ………………………………………………

7   Didn’t they work hard at their old school?

      ………………………………………………

8   This morning we made a cake for Grandma’s visit.

      ………………………………………………

C. Make present perfect questions from the words.

1   your sister / live in Australia / how long?

      How long has your sister lived in Australia?

2   ever / you / make a pizza?

      ………………………………………………

3   start / yet / the film?

      ………………………………………………

4   you / how many times / ride a horse?

      ………………………………………………

5   all seven Harry Potter books / you / read?

      ………………………………………………

6   be married / how long / Henry and Gloria?

      ………………………………………………

7   ever / you / have a party in your house?

      ………………………………………………

8   Tony / yet / say thank-you for the present?

      ………………………………………………

9   study English / you / before?

      ………………………………………………

10   clean her shoes / Maria / yet?

        ………………………………………………

D. Write present perfect or past simple answers to the questions in Exercise C, using the words given.

1   six months

      She’s lived in Australia for six months.

2   never

      ………………………………………………

3   just

      ………………………………………………

4   three times

      ………………………………………………

5   four of them already / the other three not yet

      ………………………………………………

6   two years

      ………………………………………………

7   last year

      ………………………………………………

8   already / four times

      ………………………………………………

9   never

      ………………………………………………

10   yesterday

        ………………………………………………

E. Complete these dialogues using the present perfect, past simple or used to.

1   come

      A: ……Has…… the taxi ……come…… yet?

      B: Yes, it ……came…… five minutes ago.

2   see

      A: …………… you ever …………… a UFO?

      B: Yes, I …………… one last year.

3   have

      A: How long …………… you …………… your cat?

      B: About a year. We …………… her since Christmas.

4   play

      A: …………… you …………… tennis every week?

      B: Yes, I ……………, but I hurt my leg.

5   write

      A: …………… you …………… a thank-you email to your aunt yet?

      B: Yes, I …………… to her this morning.

6   meet

      A: Lisa, …………… you …………… my cousin Alan before?

      B: Yes, we …………… at your birthday party last year.

7   decide

      A: …………… you …………… about your holiday yet?

      B: Well, we …………… to go skiing, but we …………… where yet.

8   want

      A: When you were young, …………… you …………… to be a train driver?

      B: Yes, when I was 12. Before that, I …………… to be a circus clown.

9   watch

      A: …………… you …………… Titanic on TV last night?

      B: No, I …………… already …………… it four times.

H. Underline the correct option.

Lee Gould is in the middle of a tour of Europe … on a bike. We spoke to him in Portugal.

Interviewer:   Hi Lee. Tell us about your tour of Europe.

Lee:   Well, I’ve (1) always / ever wanted to visit different countries, and (2) I was always / I’ve always been good at cycling. So about two years ago I (3) decided / have decided to cycle around Europe. My plan is to visit every country in the European Union.

Interviewer: And how many countries (4) did / have you visited so far?

Lee:   Only 11. I’ve (5) been / gone to all the countries in the south of Europe. I (6) started / have started in Cyprus last year, and then I (7) took / have taken a boat to Greece. Since then (8) I cycled / I’ve cycled about 5,000 km.

Interviewer:   Have you been to Ireland (9) still / yet?

Lee:   No, I (10) didn’t / haven’t. I haven’t been to any countries in the north of Europe (11) yet / already, but I’m going to take a boat from Spain to Ireland next week.

Interviewer:   Are you tired after cycling so far?

Lee:   Yes, I am. I (12) used / have to get really tired at the beginning but it has got easier (13) since / from I left Spain.

Interviewer:   (14) Did / Have you had any problems so far?

Lee:   Well, (15) I fell / I’ve fallen off my bike many times, but I (16) don’t / haven’t really hurt myself. I’ve also lost my bike three times, but I’ve (17) always / already found it again. It’s a very special bike for me – (18) I have / I’ve had it for six years, and it has been like a good friend for me.

Interviewer:   Have you (19) met / meet any interesting people?

Lee:   I (20) didn’t / haven’t had time to talk to people, but in every country the people have been very good to me. They have helped me a lot.

Interviewer:   One last question. Why are you doing this?

Lee:   I’m trying to collect money for a children’s hospital. So far (21) I collected / I’ve collected almost £5,000.