1. Complete the sentences. Use the past simple or present perfect simple of the verbs below. Sometimes you need a passive verb.
be • be • change • come • invent • live • prove • rule • see • start • tell
1 Come quickly! The film …………………….!
2 She …………………… a lot since I last …………………… her. I hardly recognised her.
3 ‘…………………… paper …………………… by the Chinese or the Egyptians?’
‘By the Chinese.’
4 Queen Victoria …………………… for 63 years, until her death in 1901.
5 Tom …………………… very busy this week.
6 As a child I …………………… in Oxford for a number of years.
7 ‘When …………………… you first …………………… to the UK?’
‘In 2012, so I …………………… here for about five years.’
8 Ever since he was little he …………………… that he wasn’t very bright. Now he …………………… them wrong!
Answer
1 has started 2 has changed, saw
3 Was … invented 4 ruled 5 has been
6 lived 7 did … come, have been
8 was told, has proved
2. Choose the correct tense. Sometimes both answers are possible.
1 ‘What’s happened / been happening?’
‘I’ve cut / been cutting my finger.’
2 How long have you known / been knowing Jason?
3 Haven’t you finished / been finishing your essay yet?
You’ve worked / been working on it for days!
4 I wonder why we haven’t heard / been hearing from Kate.
I’ve expected / been expecting her to phone for a while now.
5 How long have you lived / been living in France?
6 Who’s used / been using my phone? The battery’s dead.
Answer
1 happened, cut 2 known
3 finished, been working
4 heard, been expecting
5 lived / been living 6 been using
3. Write suitable responses. Use the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.
1 Your hands are covered in mud!
Yes, I’ve been working in the garden.
2 I wonder why Ben hasn’t been at school lately.
I guess ……………………………………… .
3 The floor in the kitchen is slippery.
That’s because Dad ……………………………………… .
4 Harry and Jess aren’t speaking to each other.
I know ……………………………………… .
5 You’re looking very slim!
Thanks. ……………………………………… .
6 Why aren’t you going to the football match.
Didn’t you know? It ……………………………………… .
7 Why are you so tired?
……………………………………… .
8 Look outside. The road is all wet.
Yes, ……………………………………… .
Answer
Your own answers
4. Complete the email with the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple, present perfect simple and present perfect continuous.
To: sally@email.com
Hi Sally,
I’m so sorry I (1) ………………… (not be) in touch for a while. I (2) ………………… (try) phoning you a couple of times last week but you (3) ………………… (not pick up). Anyway, I (4) ………………… (hardly / have) a moment to myself these past few weeks - I (5) ………………… (revise) for my exams, which (6) ………………… (start) on Monday. I (7) ………………… (have) three already: French, maths and history. Maths and history (8) ………………… (be) awful, but French (9) ………………… (go) well, which was a bit of a surprise as I (10) ………………… (only / learn) it for two years.
As soon as I (11) ………………… (finish) my exams I plan to go to France. I (12) ………………… (apply) for quite a few jobs and I (13) ………………… (receive) a couple of offers. But I (14) ………………… (not hear) back yet from the one I really want - working as an au pair in Bordeaux.
Anyway, give me a ring when you have a spare moment.
Love, Hannah
Answer
1 haven’t been 2 tried
3 didn’t pick up 4 ’ve hardly had
5 have been revising 6 started
7 ’ve had 8 were 9 went
10 ’ve only been learning 11 ’ve finished
12 ’ve applied 13 ’ve received 14 haven’t heard