Past indefinite vs present perfect

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. Use Present Perfect or

Past Simple.

1. Have you ever been in Europe? - Yes, I … I …(be) in Europe several times. In fact, I …(be) in Europe last year.

2. Have you ever eaten at Al’s Steak House? - Yes, I …. I …(eat) there many times. In fact, my wife and I …(eat) there last night.

3. Have you ever talked to Professor Alston about your grades? - Yes, I …. I …(talk) to him about my grades a couple of times. In fact, I …(talk) to him after class yesterday about the F I got on the last test.

4. What European countries … (you, visit)? - I … (visit) Hungary, Germany and Switzerland. I … (visit) Hungary in 1988. I … (be) in Germany and Switzerland in 1990.

5. …Bob (have, ever) a job? - Yes, he …. He …(have) lots of part-time jobs. Last summer he …(have) a job at his uncle’s waterbed store.

6. Carol and I are old friends. I …(know) her since I …(be) a freshman in high school.

7. Maria … (have) a lot of problems since she …(come) to this country.

8. I … (have, not) any problems since I …(come) here.

9. Since the semester … (begin) we … (have) four tests.

10. Mike …(be) in school since he …(be) six years old.

11. My mother …(not, be) in school since she …(graduate) from college in 1968.

12. Since we …(start) doing this exercise, we …(complete) six sentences.

13. My name is Surasuk Jutukanyaprateep. I’m from Thailand. Right now I’m studying English at this school. I …(be) at school since the beginning of January. I … (arrive) here January 2, and my classes …(begin) January 6. Since I …(come) here, I …(do) many things, and I …(meet) many people. I …(go) to several parties. Last Saturday I … (go) to a party at my friends house. I …(meet) some of the other students from Thailand at the party. Of course, we …(speak) Thai, so I …(practice, not) my English that night. There …(be) only people from Thailand at that party. However, since I …(come) here, I …(meet) a lot of other people. I …(meet) students from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. I enjoy meeting people from other countries.

14. …(you/be) on holiday this year? - No, I …(can/not) go, because I …(break) my leg in August and …(have) to stay in hospital.

15. …(you/visit) the National Museum yet? - Yes, I …(be) there three times, but I …(not/see) everything yet.

16. I’m ever so sorry, Jim, but I …(burn) your dinner. Maria …(phone) and I …(forget) about the food. - That’s OK. I …(already/eat).

17. I …(buy) a new dress yesterday, but when I …(arrive) home, I …(find) a hole in a seam. - What …(you/do)? … (you/take) it back to the shop? - No, I …(not/be) in the town yet. I’ll do it this afternoon.

18. Your hair …(grow) a lot since last I …(see) you. - Yes. I …(want) to get cut it yesterday but I …(be) too busy.

19. I …(never/fly) before and I’m very nervous about it. - I …(feel) like that the first I …(fly), but thoroughly …(enjoy) it.

20. I …(lose) my glasses. …. (you/see) them anywhere? - No, where …(you/put) them? - I …(put) them on the table a minute ago, but they’re not there now.

21. ……(you/ever/meet) anyone famous? - Yes, I …(speak) to Paul McCartney and I …(see) John Lennon before he was killed.

22. Where …(you/go) on holiday? - To Rhodes. …(you/be) there? - Yes, I … (go) there last year. We …(swim) every day. It was great!

23. How’s your job, Mike? - I …(just/start) a new one. I …(leave) the old one because they (not/pay) me enough money.

24. When …(you/leave) school? - I …(leave) in 1980, and I …(finish) university in 1984 and I (have) three jobs since then.

25. .. …(you/see) “Barabas” on TV last night? - No, I … (see) it so many times already that I (not/want) to watch it again.

26. What …(you/learn) since you …(come) here? How many new friends …you (make)? I hope you …(meet) a lot of interesting people.

27. Since classes …(begin), I …(not/have) much free time. I …(have) several big tests to study for.

28. Last night my roommate and I …(have) some free time, so we …(go) to a show.

29. I admit that I …(get) older since I last …(see) you, but with any luck at all, I …(get) also wiser.

30. The science of medicine …(advance) a great deal in the 19th century.

31. Since the beginning of the 20th century, medical scientists …(make) many important discoveries.

32. Are you taking Chemistry 101 this semester? - No, I …(take) already it. I …(take) it last semester. This semester I’m in 102.

33. Hi, Judy. Welcome to the party. …(meet/ever) you my cousin? - No, I …

34. Do you like lobster? - I don’t know. I …(eat/never) it.

35. Do you do much traveling? - Yes, I like to travel. - What countries …(visit) you? - Well, I …(be) in India, Turkey, Afganistan, and Nepal, among others. - I …(be) never in any of those countries. When …(be) you in India? - Two years ago. I …(visit) also many of the countries in Central America. I …(take) a tour of Central America about six years ago.

36. …(you/see) the Bruce Lee film on TV last night? - No. But I …(see) all of his films on video already this month.

37. I …(live) in Germany for five years now. I …(move) here in 1989. - I …(live) in Portugal for a time, but I live in Rome now.

38. My uncle Tom …(meet) Winston Churchill. - That’s nothing! My mum … (meet) Prince Charles.

39. Where’s Jane? - She …(go) to America. She …(leave) last week. - Really? Why …(she/go) there?

40. My father …(work) in that shop for twelve years. Then he … (get) a job in a bank. - He … (work) at the bank for quite a few years now, hasn’t he?

PAST TENSES

Exercise 1. Use Present Perfect or Past Perfect.

1. I am not hungry. I (eat/already).

2. I was not hungry. I (eat/already).

3. It’s ten o’clock. I (finish/already) my homework, so I’m going to go to bed.

4. Last night I went to bed at ten o’clock. I (finish/already) my homework.

5. By the time I went to bed last night, I (finish/already) my homework.

6. I was late. The party (start/already) by the time I got there.

7. We’re late. The party (start/already).

8. Carol missed her train yesterday because of a traffic jam on her way to the airport. By the time she got to the airport, her plane (already/leave).

9. (you, enjoy) … the concert last night? - Very much. I (go, not) …to a concert for a long time.

10. (you, see) … John yesterday? - Yes, I did. It (be) … good to see him again. I (see, not) …him for a long time.

11. Hi, Jim! It’s good to see you again. I (see, not) … you in weeks. - Hi, Sue! It (be) … good to see you again, too. I (see, not) … you since the end of last semester. How’s everything going?

12. ..(you, get) …to class on time yesterday morning? - No. By the time I (get) …there, it (begin) already.

13. (you, go) … out to eat last night? - No. By the time I (get) … home, my husband (make, already) dinner for us. - How (be)… it? - Terrific. We (have) …chicken, rice, and a salad. While we (eat) …, George Drake (stop) … by to visit us, so we (invite)… him to join us for dinner. But he (eat, already)… his dinner, so he (be, not) …hungry. - What (you, do) …after dinner? - I wanted to go to a movie – Galaxy Invaders. But George and my husband (see, already) … it, so we (go) … to Ghost Ship instead. It (be) … pretty good.

Exercise 2. Use Present Perfect Progressive or Past Perfect Progressive.

It is midnight. I (study) for five straight hours already. No wonder I’m getting tired.

It was midnight. I (study) for five straight hours. No wonder I was getting tired.

Jack suddenly realised that a teacher was asking him a question. he couldn’t answer because he (daydream) for the last ten minutes.

Wake up! You (sleep) long enough. It’s time to get up.

At least two hundred people were waiting in line to buy tickets to the game. Some of them (stand) in line for more than ten hours. We decided not to try to get tickets for ourselves.

Exercise 3. Use Simple Past or Past Perfect.

1. Class (begin) already by the time I (get) there, so I (take) quietly a seat in the back.

2. Millions of years ago, dinosaurs (roam) the earth, but they (become) extinct by the time humankind first (appear).

3. I (see) never any of Picasso’s paintings before I (visit) the art museum.

4. I almost missed my plane. All of the other passengers (board) already by the time I (get) there.

5. Yesterday at a restaurant, I (see) Pam Donnelly, an old friend of mine. I (see, not) her because she (lose) at least fifty pounds.

Exercise 4. Fill in with Past Continuous or Past Indefinite.

Last night I (be) alone at home. I (lie) on my bed and I (watch) TV when I (hear) a strange noise. The noise (come) from the kitchen. I (go) downstairs, (pick up) a heavy vase from the table and (head for) the kitchen. I (open) the door very slowly. Then I (see) someone. He (search) in the fridge. I (be) so frightened that I (drop) the vase I (carry) and it crash onto the floor. The man (turn) towards the door and I (see) his face. It was my husband!

Exercise 5. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct past form.

I remember when I (go) on holiday abroad for the first time. I (just/leave) school. I (study) very hard for my final exams and I (feel) that I needed a holiday. A friend of mine (want) to come as well so we (look) at some brochures form the travel agent’s. We (read) for about an hour when my friend (find) the perfect holiday – two weeks in Hawaii. We (be) very excited about it. Finally the day of our holiday (arrive). We (just/leave) the house when the phone (ring). I (run) back into the house, but the phone (stop) by the time I (reach) it. When we (arrive) at the airport we (sit) in the cafeteria. The airline (just/make) an announcement. Our flight was delayed for eight hours. We (get up) very early and rushed to the airport, all for nothing.

Exercise 6. Fill in with Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous.

When I entered the house something smelt awful. Someone (cook) and (burn) the meal. I (visit) the house once before and (meet) the family but I didn’t know what (happen) since then. The house was a mess. The children (play) in the living-room and (leave) their toys all over the floor. Someone (leave) all the windows open. It (rain) for hours and the curtains (get) wet and dirty. I asked the children where their parents were. They told that their mother (be) in hospital for the past two weeks. Their father (look after) them since then. Obviously he (do) his best, but he couldn’t do any better since he worked all morning and had to leave them alone most of the day. I had to do something to help them.

Exercise 7. Fill in with Past Simple or Past Perfect.

The biggest event in Tom’s life (happen) by chance. He (be) 22 and he (just/leave) college. He (get) his degree and he was looking for a job. He (want) to be a journalist but he (know) he (not/have) enough experience. You see, as a student, he (spend0 most of his time in the university theatre. He (write) to all the newspapers, but he (not/receive) any replies. Then one day the phone (ring). It was a woman who (offer) him a job as an actor. She (see) him in a play at the university and (enjoy) the performance. He (take) the job and since then he’s been very successful. Last night he (discover) he (win) an award for his performance in the play.

Exercise 8. Complete the sentences using any appropriate past form.

1. She _____and bought some vegetables.

2. What _____ when the fire started?

3. I could tell she _____ because her eyes were red.

4. She _____ when she slipped and landed on the ice.

5. My arm _____ for two weeks before I went to the doctor.

6. She got on the motorbike and _____ away.

7. He _____ the road when a flower pot fell on his head.

8. While Sally dinner Steve was laying the table.

9. The patient _____ in hospital for two weeks before he fully recovered.

10. He was upset because he _____ the exam.

11. Nobody knew where Jane _____ the front door key.

12. Tom _____ tennis every day for months before entering his first tournament.

FUTURE TENSES

Exercise 1. Combine the ideas of the two sentences into one sentence by using a time clause.

1. (after) First: I’m going to finish my homework. - Then: I’m going to go to bed.

2. (after) First: I’m going to write a letter. - Then: I’m going to go to bed.

3. (when) First: I’m going to go to Chicago next week. - Then: I’m going to visit the art museum.

4. (after) First: I’ll go to the drug-store. - Then: I’ll go to the post-office.

5. (before) First: Ann will finish her homework. - Then: She will watch TV tonight.

6. (after) First: Jim will get home this evening. - Then: He’s going to read newspaper.

7. (when) First: I’ll call John tomorrow. - Then: I’ll ask him to my party.

8. (as soon as) First: The rain will stop. - Then: The children are going to go outside and play.

9. (as soon as) First: The teacher will get here. - hen: Class will begin

10. (before) First: The Robertsons will get some travelers’ checks. - Then: They will leave on vacation.

Exercise 2. Combine the ideas of the two sentences into one sentence by using ‘if-clause’

1. Maybe it will rain tomorrow. I’m going to stay at home.

2. Maybe it will be hot tomorrow. I’m going to go swimming.

3. Maybe it will snow tomorrow. Betsy isn’t going to ride her bike to school.

4. Maybe Adam will have enough time. He’ll finish his composition tonight.

5. Maybe I won’t get a letter tomorrow. I’ll call my parents.

Exercise 3. Use the present simple of the verb in parentheses if possible. Otherwise

use be going to.

1. (start) The game … at one tomorrow afternoon.

2. (have) We … chicken and pasta for dinner tonight.

3. (walk) I … to school tomorrow morning. I need the exercise.

4. (leave) The bus … at 8:15 tomorrow morning.

5. (begin, end) The exam … at 9:00 tomorrow morning and … at 11:00.

6. (open, close) Tomorrow the museum … at 10:00 and … at 5:00. Let's go around 2:30, O’K?

7. (get) Have you heard the news? Laura and Jason … married in August.

8. (watch) I … the championship game on TV at Jim’s house tomorrow.

9. (arrive, take) Alex’s plane … at 10:14 tomorrow morning. I can’t pick him up. So he …the airport bus into the city center.

10. (be ) There … a flight to Dallas at 7: 02 tomorrow morning.

Exercise 4. Use the Future Progressive or the Simple Present.

1. Right now I am attending class. Yesterday at this time, I was attending class. Tomorrow at this time, I … (attend) class.

2. Tomorrow I’m going to leave for home. When I … (arrive) at the airport, my whole family … (wait) for me.

3. When I … (get) up tomorrow morning, the sun … (shine), the birds … (sing), and my roommate (lie, still) in bed fast asleep.

4. When do you leave for Florida? - Tomorrow. Just think. Two days from now I … (lie) on the beach in the sun. - Sounds great! I … (think) about you.

5. How can I get in touch with you while you’re out of town? - I … (stay) at the Pilgrim Hotel. You can reach me there.

6. Next year at this time, I … (do) exactly what I am doing now. I … (attend) school and … (study) hard next year.

7. Look at those dark clouds. When class … (be) over, it … (rain, probably).

8. Are you going to be in town next Saturday? - No. I … (visit) my aunt in Chicago.

Exercise 5. Use any appropriate tense.

1. Ann and Andy got married on June 1st. Today is June 14th. Ann and Andy …(be) married for two weeks. By June 7th, they … (be) married for one week. By June 28th, they … (be) married for four weeks.

2. This traffic is terrible. We’re going to be late. By the time we …(get) to the airport, Bob’s plane … (arrive, already), and he’ll be wondering where we are.

3. The traffic was very heavy. By the time we … (get) to the airport, Bob’s plane … (arrive, already).

4. This morning I came to the class at 9:00. Right now it is 10:00 and I’m in class. I … (sit) at this desk for an hour. By 9:30, I … (sit) here for a half an hour. By 11:00, I … (sit) here for two hours.

5. I’m getting tired of sitting in the car. Do you realize that by the time we arrive in Phoenix, we … (drive) for twenty straight hours?

6. Margaret was born in 1950. By the year 2010, she … (live) on this earth for 60 years.

7. Go ahead and leave on your vacation. Don’t worry about this work. By the time you … (get) back, we … (take) care of everything.

8. I don’t understand how those marathon runners do it! The race began over an hour ago. By the time they reach the finish line, they … (run) steadily for more than two hours. I don’t think I can run more than two minutes!

9. What? He got married again? At this rate, he … (have) a dozen wives by the time he … (die).

10. We have been married for a long time. By our next anniversary, we … (be) married for forty-three years.

Exercise 6. Put the verbs in brackets into Future Perfect or Future Perfect Continuous.

1. By 7:00 p.m. ________ (play) cricket for eight hours.

2. I ________ (finish) painting your room by the time you get home.

3. By the end of the next month I ________ (live) in London for exactly three years.

1. Tom ________ (write) his third novel by the end of this year.

2. By the time he arrives in London, John ________ (drive) for five hours.

3. This film ________ (probably/not/finish) until midnight.

4. How long ________ (you/study) English by the end of this term?

5. Don’t worry! You ________ (forget) all about it by this time next year.

6. By Friday I ________ (work) on this project for two weeks.

7. Hopefully, he ________ (cook) dinner for us by the time we get home.

8. I ________ (read) this book by tomorrow night.

9. He hopes he ________ (make) a million pounds by the time he is thirty.

Exercise 7. Fill in the correct future or present form.

Dear Mum,

By the time you receive this letter I … (finish) my final exams and, whether they went well or not, I … (celebrate). I … (start) looking for a job at the end of the summer because I … (go) on holiday around Europe for a month, starting next week. Sue … (probably/come) with me, although she is not sure yet. If she does, I’m sure we … (have) a great time. I … (see) her this evening, as usual, so I expect she … (tell) me her decision then. Anyway, my first exam … (start) at 9 o’clock tomorrow so I … (drive) down the library to do some last-minute revision. Even though I …(study) Russian for four years by the time these exams are over, I feel I’ve still got a lot to learn about the language. Give my love to Sam and Rover.

Yours, Jason

Exercise 8. Fill in the correct future or present form.

If you … (want) to travel long distances on your bicycle, you must learn how to mend a puncture. As soon as your tyre … (become) flat, get off the bike or you …(damage) the wheel. Then turn the bicycle upside down. Once it … (be) in position, remove the tyre using tyrelevers or, if you … (have) nothing else, use spoons. When the tyre …(be) off, pump up the inner-tube. Put it in some water and turn it until you … (see) bubbles coming from it. This is your puncture. Before you … (apply) the patch, you must clean and dry the area around the hole. After this you … (put) glue around the hole and wait until it … (dry) a little. Then select a suitably sized patch. Stick the patch over the hole and don’t forget to put some chalk over it. Unless you do this, the inner-tube … (stick) to the inside of the tyre. Replace the tube, pump up the tyre and ride away. I don’t know if you … (be able to) remember all this, but it’s worth trying because you never know when it … (be) useful to you