English Advanced Grammar Exercises – Present time exercise

A. Write the verb in brackets in the correct form, present simple or present continuous, in each gap.

1   My brother …………………….. (do) a degree at university so I …………………….. (see) him very often, unfortunately.

2   Darren …………………….. usually …………………….. (get) home until about eight o’clock.

3   I’m sorry to hear that your parents …………………….. (get) divorced.

4   You …………………….. (go) to the end of the street and …………………….. (turn) right.

5   Why …………………….. ice …………………….. (float)?

6   It’s lovely now the evenings …………………….. (get) longer, isn’t it?

7   My dad …………………….. (eat) meat at all – he’s a vegetarian.

8   Actually, we …………………….. (listen) to The Libertines at all – this is Pete Docherty’s second band, Babyshambles.

9   A man …………………….. (walk) into a bar. Ouch! Not a good idea to walk into an iron bar!

10   …………………….. you …………………….. (phone) me from your mobile? The line’s not very good.

11   …………………….. you often …………………….. (order) things online?

12   There’s an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman. They ……………………….. (walk) across the desert when one of them …………………….. (spot) a camel in the distance …

13   Beckham …………………….. (have) control of the ball … It’s Beckham … And he …………………….. (score)!

14   WOMAN …………………….. (give) €500 MILLION LOTTERY WIN TO CHARITY

15   My dad …………………….. (always/ tell) jokes! They’re usually rubbish, though.

16   ‘Phil …………………….. (wear) ties, does he?’

       ‘Actually, he …………………….. (wear) a tie to work most days.’

B. Write one word in each gap.

1   Why do you ……………………. leave the light on when you go out of the room? You wait till you start paying the electricity bill!

2   Fifteen teachers are teaching here full-time at ……………………. .

3   My sister’s revising for her GCSEs at the ……………………. .

4   I’m quite happy living at home for the time ……………………., but I guess I’ll have to get my own place eventually.

5   It’s true that Ralph calls us quite ……………………., but most students only call their parents when they need something, don’t they?

6   We go to the cinema ……………………. now and then, but only if there’s something good on.

7   I’m alone in my study bedroom reading ……………………. of the time.

8   Tim ……………………. goes out to play until he’s done all his homework. I just don’t allow it!

9   I see Lucinda from ……………………. to time, but not on a regular basis.

10   I’m sitting in the garden ……………………. now talking to you on my mobile.

11   That’s the last ……………………. we’re inviting Dave to one of our parties!

12   Do young people these ……………………. have more free time than they did in the past?

13   My mum fills up with petrol ……………………. she goes to the supermarket.

14   I’m staying in ……………………. now, but I might go out a bit later on.

15   ……………………. is the last time I ever order from that pizzeria. It was disgusting!

C. Write a verb from the box in the correct form, present simple or present continuous, in each gap. Use the words in brackets with the verb. Use contractions where possible. You can use the verbs more than once.

Sandy:   Hey, George! How’s things? What (1) (you) ……………………?

George:   Hi, Sandy! Fine! (2) (I/ just) …………………… some research for that history project.

Sandy:   (3) (how/ it) ……………………?

George:   Yeah, (4) (it/ well) ……………………, thanks. The website (5) (I) …………………… at now is very good. It’s got loads of useful information.

Sandy:   Great! Listen, the reason (6) (I) …………………… you is that my (7) (mum) …………………… past the library every morning on the way to work, and (8) (she) …………………… she can give you a lift tomorrow morning, if you like.

George:   Wow, that’s really kind of her, but actually (9) (it) …………………… long to walk there from here, so (10) (she) …………………… to worry. Can you thank her for me, though?

Sandy: Sure!

George:   (11) (what) …………………… with your project? (12) (you) …………………… a title yet?

Sandy:   No! (13) (I/ even) …………………… a topic yet! (14) (I/ really) …………………… on it at the moment, though. (15) (I) …………………… to finish my physics project first.

George:   Why (16) (you) …………………… something on the Second World War? That’s interesting.

Sandy:   No, (17) (I) …………………… wars! I’d rather do something (18) (that) …………………… more on social history.

George:   Like what?

Sandy:   Like the role of women in the Industrial Revolution.

George:   (19) (that) …………………… good.

Sandy:   (20) (you) …………………… so? Okay. Maybe I’ll do that, then.

D. Circle the correct word or phrase.

1   Could you explain what ‘antidisestablishmentarianism’ means / is meaning, please?

2   Each song only costs / is only costing 50 cents at the moment because they’re on special offer.

3   It doesn’t matter / isn’t mattering which of the books we’ve studied this term you do your essay on.

4   It’s only a quick call as I ring / I’m ringing from my mobile.

5   I think I recognise / I’m recognising that woman over there. Wasn’t she on that quiz show last night?

6   Excuse me, does the nut cake contain / is the nut cake containing walnuts? I’m allergic to them.

7   I really don’t agree / I’m really not agreeing that capital punishment deters people from committing murder.

8   Why don’t you play / aren’t you playing football, Mark? I thought you had a match this afternoon.

9   Stay out of this, Simon, it doesn’t concern / isn’t concerning you at all.

10   You really resemble / are resembling your father when you frown like that.

11   If you’re not watching / you don’t watch TV, turn it off!

12   The number you have dialled does not exist / is not existing. Please try again.

13   I want everyone to do exercise H, and that includes / is including you too, Anne!

14   We’re having / We have the living room repainted so it’s probably best if we go into the kitchen.

15   Right now, my job involves / is involving a huge amount of foreign travel.

E. Write a verb from the box in the correct form, present simple or present continuous, in each pair of sentences.

1 A   I …………………… for a book on fly fishing. Do you have any in stock?

   B   Stan …………………… like he’s in a bad mood this morning.

2 A   How …………………… you …………………… about inviting Jackie to come with us on Saturday?

   B   Britney …………………… very well, so I’ve told her she can go home.

3 A   Jan and I …………………… buying a new flat.

   B   Why …………………… you …………………… Ray Davis to be a better songwriter than Paul McCartney?

4 A   We …………………… a barbecue right now, so can I call you back this evening?

   B   …………………… the Deacons …………………… a swimming pool?

5 A   The idea of going to a Greek island really …………………… to me.

   B   Police …………………… for witnesses to the attack.

6 A   This chicken …………………… very fresh. I think I’ll throw it away just to be on the safe side.

   B   Why …………………… you …………………… that chicken, Mum?

7 A   I …………………… on you, James. Don’t let me down!

   B   Whether we get there by six …………………… on the traffic.

8 A   Julian …………………… a bit busy at the moment, actually.

   B   Guys, you …………………… too noisy! Can’t you keep it down, please?

9 A   …………………… you …………………… Bob would like a CD for his birthday?

   B   Oliver said he …………………… about moving out of the city.

10 A   I hear that Doug …………………… quite a lot of Katy these days. Is that true?

     B   I …………………… Manchester United lost again.

F. Each of the words or phrases in bold is incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.

1   Tammy been able to swim since she was one year old. …………………….

2   How many articles has Greg wrote for Newsweek? …………………….

3   Tina and Phil still not managed to sell their flat. …………………….

4   I’m never been to China – what’s it like? …………………….

5   Have you heard? Carol’s breaking her leg again. …………………….

6   You’re lucky you caught me – I’ve just came through the front door. …………………….

7   Why you haven’t tell Sue yet that you’re thinking of dropping out of the course? …………………….

8   Our family is living in this village for over two hundred years and we’re not leaving now! ……………………..

G. Circle the correct word or phrase. If both are correct, circle both.

1   They’ve filled / been filling over six bags with rubbish from the beach already.

2   Have you followed / been following that story in the papers about the elephant that escaped from the zoo? Apparently, they’ve just caught / been catching it.

3   We’ve seen / been seeing the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Oxford Street, and we’ve only been in London for three hours!

4   It’s the first time I’ve heard / been hearing The Editors play live.

5   Jake and I have thought / been thinking about where to go on holiday for weeks but we just can’t decide.

6   You can’t want to go to the toilet already – we’ve only driven / been driving for about ten minutes so far!

7   I’ve stood / been standing up all day and my feet are killing me!

8   Has Jan worked / been working for the company since it started?

H. Write the verb in brackets in the correct form, present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. Use contractions where possible.

1   ……………………. (I / send off) over 18 press releases this morning so far.

2   Is it the first time ……………………. (you / ever / eat) squid?

3   ……………………. (we / wait) for you for the past two hours. Where ……………………. (you / be)?

4   ……………………. (you / just / receive) an e-mail from Ruth?

5   I’m afraid ……………………. (we / get) any milk. ……………………. (we / expect) a delivery for the past four hours but ……………………. (they / show up) yet.

6   ……………………. (I / draw up) a list of people to invite to the wedding but …………………….

(I / get) very far so far ……………………. (you / have) any thoughts about it?

7   Oh, Clair, my ……………………. (mum / mean) to ask you for a while. Would you like to come with us to Wimbledon?

I. Write a word from the box in each gap. You can use each word more than once.

1   I’ve ……………………. realised what’s different! You’ve changed your hair.

2   My grandmother’s been quite ill ……………………., so she’s coming to stay with us for a week or two.

3   We’ve had broadband at home ……………………. about 2005.

4   Have you really finished your homework …………………….? Okay, you can watch TV, then.

5   We’ve won every match we’ve played ……………………. far this season.

6   I’ve always lived in a big house ……………………. now, so it’s taking some time to get used to being in a small flat.

7   We can’t cancel the party now – I’ve ……………………. invited everyone!

8   How long has Sue gone abroad …………………….?

9   Don’t get Matthew that game; I’m pretty sure he’s got it ……………………. .

10   Have you ……………………. thought of going into business on your own?

11   We haven’t started ……………………. so you can join in if you like.

12   We’ve never been to New York ……………………., so we’re both really looking forward to it.

13   Have they been living in the neighbourhood ……………………. you moved in?

14   I ……………………. haven’t found my sunglasses.

15   I’ve been looking for a website like this ……………………. ages!

16   It’s strange you should ring now. We’ve ……………………. been talking about you.

17   Michael, haven’t you done your homework …………………….? I think it’s time you started, isn’t it?

J. Write one word in each gap.

Humans and other life forms

Humans (1) ……………….. much in common with other life forms on Earth. (2) ……………….. the very first life forms appeared, all living things have (3) ……………….. desperately struggling to survive the harsh and changing conditions of our planet. This has (4) ……………….. adapting to new situations and, in many cases, has (5) ……………….. to either evolution or extinction. We are (6) ……………….. alone in making use of the world around us (birds use twigs to build nests, for example) or in being particularly skilful (spiders make intricate webs). Where we (7) ……………….. differ from other life forms, however, (8) ……………….. in our ability to record, and learn from, our collective history. In this, it (9) ……………….. that we (10) ……………….. unique. (11) ……………….. is still much mankind (12) ……………….. not know about the earliest humans, of course, but we are increasingly (13) ……………….. a species with detailed knowledge about our past. The more we learn, the better (14) ……………….. our chances of survival in the future. It must also be recognised, however, that we are also the only species on Earth which (15) ……………….. managed to create the means to destroy the planet we live on.