Present Perfect Tense – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are recommending a fantastic new movie to your friend. Read the sentences carefully and choose the best option (a, b, c, or d) to complete your recommendation.
1 “You really need to watch ‘Galactic Wars’. I ______ it three times!”
(a) saw
(b) have see
(c) never saw
(d) have seen
2 “The new action movie is amazing. ______ it yet?”
(a) Have you watched
(b) Do you watch
(c) Did you watch
(d) You have watched
3 “Trust me, it is the most exciting film I ______!”
(a) ever saw
(b) have never seen
(c) have ever seen
(d) have ever see
4 “The movie is very popular. It has been in the cinema ______ last Friday.”
(a) for
(b) since
(c) from
(d) in
5 “I know you love sci-fi. We haven’t had a good sci-fi movie ______ a long time.”
(a) during
(b) since
(c) in
(d) for
6 “Don’t read the internet comments. They ______ the ending!”
(a) already ruin
(b) already ruined
(c) has already ruined
(d) have already ruined
7 “My brother ______ to the cinema twice this week to watch it again!”
(a) has gone
(b) went
(c) goes
(d) have gone
8 “I promise you won’t be bored. I ______ a boring moment in this film.”
(a) didn’t find
(b) haven’t found
(c) don’t find
(d) hasn’t found
9 “This director is a genius. He ______ three Oscar-winning movies so far.”
(a) has made
(b) made
(c) have made
(d) makes
10 “You should buy tickets now. The evening show ______.”
(a) just sold out
(b) have just sold out
(c) has just sold out
(d) just sells out
11 “Trust me, you need to see this. I haven’t cried at a movie ______ I was a child.”
(a) for
(b) since
(c) when
(d) from
12 “Sarah ______ the movie yet, so I am going with her tonight. Join us!”
(a) hasn’t seen
(b) didn’t see
(c) doesn’t see
(d) haven’t seen
13 “The soundtrack is incredible. I ______ the CD to play in my car.”
(a) buy just
(b) just bought
(c) have just buy
(d) have just bought
14 “I know you are busy, but this movie has been number one ______ three weeks!”
(a) since
(b) for
(c) during
(d) until
15 “______ the reviews? Everyone gives it five stars!”
(a) Do you read
(b) Have you read
(c) Have you readed
(d) Did you read
16 “I am a big fan of the main actor. I ______ all of his films.”
(a) am watching
(b) has watched
(c) have watched
(d) watched
17 “Let’s go to the ‘Star Cinema’. I ______ there many times and the sound system is perfect.”
(a) have gone
(b) have be
(c) went
(d) have been
18 “You must see this comedy. I ______ so hard in my life!”
(a) never laughed
(b) have ever laughed
(c) have never laughed
(d) haven’t never laughed
19 “We should hurry! The doors are open and the movie ______.”
(a) starts already
(b) already started
(c) have already started
(d) has already started
20 “I highly recommend it. I haven’t seen a story this good ______ 2019”
(a) for
(b) in
(c) since
(d) from
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Key: (d) have seen
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Using Present Perfect to count experiences up to now (“three times”) provides strong evidence for your recommendation.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple cuts off the connection to your current recommendation). (b) is a Structural Error (missing V3 “seen”). (c) is a Meaning Trap (“never saw” contradicts the fact that you are recommending it).
2 Key: (a) Have you watched
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Asking about an experience up to the present moment using “yet”.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple is generally incorrect with “yet” for experiences). (d) is a Structural Error (statement word order instead of question). (b) is a Meaning Trap (asks about a general habit, not this specific movie).
3 Key: (c) have ever seen
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Ever” + Present Perfect is required after a superlative adjective (“the most exciting”).
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (using Past Simple after a superlative). (b) is a Meaning Trap (“never” makes the sentence illogical: “It is the most exciting film I have never seen”). (d) is a Structural Error (V1 instead of V3).
4 Key: (b) since
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Last Friday” is a specific starting point in time.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (confusing “for” with “since”). (c) is a Structural Error (“from” is generally not used as a Present Perfect time marker). (d) is a Meaning Trap (“in” is for Past Simple, like “in 2020”).
5 Key: (d) for
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “A long time” is a duration/length of time, requiring “for”.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (using “since” with a duration). (a) is a Meaning Trap (“during” must be followed by an event, not a length of time). (c) is a Structural Error (wrong preposition).
6 Key: (d) have already ruined
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “They” (the comments) takes “have”. “Already” emphasizes that the damage is done before you even watch it.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple breaks the connection to the present warning). (c) is a Structural Error (“has” is wrong for plural “They”). (a) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple means it’s a routine).
7 Key: (a) has gone
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “This week” is an unfinished time period, so we use Present Perfect to count how many times an action has happened. “My brother” takes “has”.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple implies the week is over). (d) is a Structural Error (“have” is wrong for “brother”). (c) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple implies a permanent habit).
8 Key: (b) haven’t found
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Negative Present Perfect shows your experience from the beginning of the movie until the end.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (d) is a Structural Error (“hasn’t” is wrong for “I”). (c) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple means you generally don’t find boring moments in life).
9 Key: (a) has made
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “So far” means up to now, which requires Present Perfect. It highlights the director’s accumulated achievements.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple implies the director is dead or retired). (c) is a Structural Error (“have” is wrong for “He”). (d) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple is for habits).
10 Key: (c) has just sold out
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “The evening show” (singular) takes “has”. “Just” indicates a very recent event causing a present problem (you need to buy tickets now).
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (b) is a Structural Error (“have” is plural). (d) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple means it sells out every day).
11 Key: (b) since
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “I was a child” is a clause that acts as a specific starting point in the past.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (using “for” with a starting point). (c) is a Meaning Trap (“when” changes the meaning to a specific past event, requiring Past Simple in the main clause). (d) is a Structural Error (wrong preposition).
12 Key: (a) hasn’t seen
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Sarah” takes “hasn’t”. “Yet” is used to show her experience is still incomplete, which is why you are taking her.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple with “yet”). (d) is a Structural Error (“haven’t” is plural). (c) is a Meaning Trap (implies she routinely refuses to see it).
13 Key: (d) have just bought
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The recent action of buying the CD has a present result (playing it in the car). V3 of buy is “bought”.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (c) is a Structural Error (using V1 instead of V3). (a) is a Meaning Trap (wrong word order and tense).
14 Key: (b) for
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Three weeks” is a duration of time.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (using “since” with a duration). (c) is a Structural Error (wrong preposition). (d) is a Meaning Trap (“until” means the action stopped, contradicting the present recommendation).
15 Key: (b) Have you read
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Asking about a past action that has present relevance (everyone giving it five stars). V3 of read is “read” (pronounced /red/).
- Distractor Analysis: (d) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (c) is a Structural Error (“readed” is not a word). (a) is a Meaning Trap (asks about a general habit).
16 Key: (c) have watched
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Describes a life experience up to now, providing proof that you are a true fan.
- Distractor Analysis: (d) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple breaks the connection to your present status as a fan). (b) is a Structural Error (“has” is wrong for “I”). (a) is a Meaning Trap (Present Continuous means you are watching all of them at this exact second).
17 Key: (d) have been
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Have been to/there” means you went there and came back (an experience). This proves you know the sound system is good.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (b) is a Structural Error (missing V3). (a) is a Meaning Trap (“have gone” means you are still at the cinema, so you couldn’t be talking to your friend right now).
18 Key: (c) have never laughed
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Expresses a lack of similar experience in your entire life up to now, emphasizing how funny the movie is.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (d) is a Meaning Trap (“have ever laughed” in a positive sentence is grammatically awkward and weak). (b) is a Structural Error (double negative).
19 Key: (d) has already started
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “The movie” takes “has”. “Already” shows the action happened earlier than expected, causing the current rush.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple). (c) is a Structural Error (“have” is plural). (a) is a Meaning Trap (Present Simple).
20 Key: (c) since
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “2019” is a specific year (a starting point in time).
- Distractor Analysis: (a) is a Common Mistake (using “for” with a year). (b) is a Meaning Trap (“in 2019” requires the Past Simple: “I didn’t see a story this good in 2019”). (d) is a Structural Error (wrong preposition).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The Form: Present Perfect uses Have / Has + Past Participle (V3/ed).
- Use has for He/She/It. Use have for I/You/We/They.
- Recommending Based on Experience:
- We use the Present Perfect to give evidence. Saying “I have seen it three times” or “It is the best movie I have ever watched” proves to your friend that your recommendation is reliable.
- Ever & Never:
- Ever: Used after superlatives (The best movie I have ever seen) or in questions (Have you ever watched it?).
- Never: Used to make a strong comparison (I have never laughed so hard! = This is the funniest movie).
- For vs. Since:
- Use For with a duration of time to show how long something has been popular (for three weeks, for a long time).
- Use Since with a specific starting point (since last Friday, since 2019, since I was a child).