Времена английского глагола в сравнении = English Tenses Compared. Пособие
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Present Perfect and Present tenses
To say how long something has continued, we can use the Present Perfect, but not the Present Continuous or Present Simple.
She has been waiting for an hour. (not: She is waiting for an hour.). I’ve lived here since last year. (not: 1 live here since last year.).
PRACTICE
1. Match the sentences with the meaning of the tense used in each of them.
I.He has written to the Prime Minister.
2.My mother is cooking dinner.
3.He’s been watching TV since 6 o’clock.
4.Spencer opens the door and sees the murderer.
5.She took out a pen, wrote down her new address and gave it to her sister.
6.Did your mother collect you from school when you were young?
7.She was giving an interview when the fire broke out.
8.Light travels faster than
sound.
2. Choose the correct form.
a.action happening at/around the moment of speaking
b.past action at an unstated time connected with the present
c.dramatic narrative
d.action started in the past and continuing up to the present
e.actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past
f.law of nature
g.past habit or state which is now finished
h.action which was in progress when another action interrupted it
A. Lynne Carter, the manager of the Timeways Travel company, is interviewing a young man called Paul Morris for a job.
Lynne: Your present company is Sun Travel, isn’t it? How long have you worked / did you work there?
Paul: I’ve worked / I worked for them for two years. Lynne: I see. And what were you doing before that?
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Paul: I’ve worked / I worked for a student travel company in Spain. Lynne: Oh, really? How long have you been / were you in Spain?
Paul: For nearly a year. I’ve moved / I moved back to London from Spain two years ago to join Sun Travel.
Lynne: I see. And do you drive, Paul?
Paul: Yes, I do. I’ve had / I had a driving license for five years. Lynne: And have you got your own car?
Paul: No, not at the moment. I’ve had / I had a car in Spain, but I’ve sold / I sold it before I’ve come / I came back to Britain.
B.1. We’ve been working / We’re working since 9 o’clock. 2. I’ve been cleaning / I’m cleaning my flat for the past two hours. 3. Look. Can you see Simon over there? He’s been sitting / He’s sitting in the corner. 4. ‘How long have you been / are you ill?’ ‘Since yesterday.’ 5. Have you known Sarah / Do you know Sarah for very long? 6. I’ve been learning English / I’m learning English since last year. 7. They’ve lived / They live in London now. They’ve been / They’re there for the last six months.
C.1. ‘Can I have a look at your newspaper?’ ‘Certainly. You can keep it if you like. I’ve been reading / I’ve read it.’ 2. They’ve been repairing / They’ve repaired the road all this week, but they haven’t finished it yet. 3. I’m very sorry, but I’ve been breaking / I’ve broken this chair. 4. Sally has been saving/has saved nearly two thousand pounds so far this year. 5. What’s the matter? Have you been losing / Have you lost something? 6. I’ve always been working / I’ve always worked in the music industry. 7. Someone has been eating / has eaten my chocolates. There aren’t many left.
3. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.
1. Where (you / go) for your holidays last year? 2. I can’t play any more. I (just / hurt) my foot. 3. Jane is a famous writer and she (write) over fifty books. 4. We (plant) an apple tree in the garden. Unfortunately it (die). 5. ‘We (have) a great party last week!’ ‘Who (you / invite)?’ 6. Peter (not / play) basketball for a month. 7. Paul (have) a bad car accident three years ago. 8. What (you / do) last night? 9. I (arrive) here in 2001. 10. (you / see) ‘Men in Black’? It’s a great film. 11. What time (you/get up) this morning? 12. Sam (not / finish) his project yet. 13. I (wait) at the bus
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stop for an hour but he (not / turn up). 14. I last (go) to the cinema a long time ago. I (not / be) to the cinema for a long time. 15. ‘I (go) to Turkey last year.’ ‘How long (you / stay) in Turkey?’ 16. This is the first time I (be) on a plane. 17. (you / ever / eat) Spanish food? It’s great! 18. I (have) an umbrella but I (leave) it on a bus. 19. I (live) in Prague in the nineties. 20. I (live) in Prague since the nineties. 21. A young couple (buy) the house next door. But they didn’t live there long.
4. Put the verb in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous.
1. Joe (be) in Paris for two weeks. 2. Mary has a stomach ache. She (eat) chocolate all morning. 3. Jane (take) pictures all day. She (take) fifty pictures. 4. The Taylors (buy) a sailing boat. 5. Tom (talk) on the telephone for half an hour. 6. (you / not finish) that book yet? You (read) it for more than a week. 7. My brother is an actor. He (appear) in several films. 8. Hello! I (clean) the windows. So far I (clean) five of them and there are two more to do. 9. ‘Sorry! I’m late.’ ‘That’s all right. I (not / wait) long.’ 10. ‘(you / do) your homework, Steve?’ ‘No, I’m still doing it. I (be) busy since morning.’ 11. (you / be) to Scotland before? 12. Your jacket is torn again! You (fight)! 13. ‘You look hot.’ ‘I (run) all the way.’ 14. I remember meeting your brother last summer, but I (not / see) him this year. What (he / do) since then? 15. My parents (have) this car for about ten years.
5. Put the verb in brackets into the Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Present Simple or Present Continuous.
1. Sam (work) for a computer company. He (work) for the same company for three years. 2. Mr Woods (not / feel) well for over a month.
3.They (be) in London now. They (live) there for the last six months.
4.It (rain). It (rain) for two hours. 5. Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it! 6. How many driving lessons (you / have) lately? 7. ‘Your mum is still in the kitchen. She (cook) all morning.’ ‘Yes. We (expect) guests tonight.’ 8. My daughter (study) English at London University. She (be) there for two years already. 9. It (get) harder and harder to find time. 10. I (read) some of your poetry. It’s not bad. 11. Sorry about the mess. I (paint) the house. I (already / paint) the front.
12.You (be) depressed since Christmas. 13. ‘You (look) tired.’ ‘Yes, I
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(work) non-stop all day.’ 14. We (build) this garage ourselves and hope to finish it within the next two months. 15. I (borrow) books from this library since we moved here. 16. He (always / argue) or (fight). 17. I (be) interested in football since my childhood. 18. ‘(you / know) Peter Dobson?’ ‘Yes. I (know) him for five years.’ 19. He (never / believe) in the importance of women’s education. 20. I (study) hard lately. I’ve got exams next week. 21. Jimmy (always / have) cold and chest problems. 22. I can smell something nice. What (you / cook)? 23. Hello, Tom. I (look) for you. Where (you / be)? 24. ‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’ ‘No, he (work).’ 25. I (often / wonder) what happened to him.
6. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
1. I (buy) a new house last year, but I (not / sell) my old house yet, so at the moment I have two houses. 2. When Ann (be) on her way to the station it (begin) to rain. Ann (run) back to her flat for her umbrella, but this (make) her late for her train. 3. I’m sorry I’m late, (you / wait) long? 4. At 7 a.m. Charles (ring) Peter and (say), ‘I’m going fishing, Peter. Would you like to come?’ ‘But it’s so early,’ (say) Peter. ‘I (not / have) breakfast yet. Why (you / not / tell) me last night?’ 5. Tom (meet) Paul at lunch time and (say), ‘I (not / see) you at the bus stop this morning. (you / miss) the bus?’ ‘I (not / miss) it,’ (reply) Paul. ‘I (not / miss) a bus for years. But this morning George (give) me a lift.’ 6. Those two men (stand) outside the house for over two hours. Do you think we should call the police? 7. Ann (go) to Canada six months ago. She (work) in Canada for a while and then (go) to the United States. 8. You look tired. I think you (work) too hard lately and you (not / get) enough fresh air and exercise. 9. Peter (try) to come in quietly but his mother (hear) him and (call) out, ‘Where (you / be)? Your supper (be) in the oven for an hour.’ 10. ‘Annie’s clothes are very dirty. What (she / do)?’ ‘She (play) in the garden.’ 11. Mary (be) in Japan for two years. She is working there and likes it very much. — How (she / go)? — She (go) by air. 12. Bill usually has breakfast at 8.00. Yesterday at 8.30 Peter (meet) Bill and (offer) him an apple. ‘No, thanks,’ (say) Bill. ‘I (just / have) breakfast.’ 13. I (read) his books when I was at school. I (enjoy) them very much. 14. The clock is slow. — It isn’t slow, it (stop). 15. He (not / smoke) for two weeks. He is trying to give it up. 16. The actors (arrive) yesterday and (start) rehearsals early this morning. 17. It (be) cold this year. I wonder when it is going
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to get warmer. 18. (you / lock) the door before you (leave) the house? 19. (you / wear) your hair long when you were at school? — Yes, my mother (insist) on it. But when I (leave) school I (cut) my hair and (wear) it short ever since. 20. Sally and her boyfriend Peter (go out) together since last winter. 21. The concert (begin) at 2.30 and (last) for two hours. Everyone (enjoy) it very much. 22. We (miss) the bus. Now we’ll have to walk. 23. He (break) his leg in a skiing accident last year. 24. Mr Count (work) as a cashier for twenty-five years. Then he (retire) and (go) to live in the country. 25. (you / be) here before? — Yes, I (spend) my holidays here last year. — (you / have) a good time? — No, it never (stop) raining. 26. Where is Tom? — I (not / see) him today, but he (tell) Mary that he’d be in for dinner. 27. Where (you / find) this knife? — I (find) it in the garden. — Why (you / not leave) it there? 28. I (lose) my black gloves. (you / see) them anywhere? — I’m afraid I ... . When (you / last / wear) them? — I (wear) them at the theatre. — Perhaps you (leave) them at the theatre. 29. He (leave) the house at 8.00. — Where (he /go)? — I (not / see) where he (go). 30. Why you (not / bring) me the letters for signature? (you / not type) them yet?
31.Tom: (you / sunbathe)? Mary: Don’t be ridiculous! It (rain) all day.
32.(you / finish) checking the accounts? — No, not quite. I (do) about half so far. 33. How (you / get) that scar? — I (get) it in a car accident a year ago. 34. I (make) cakes. That is why my hands are all covered with flour. 35. I (not / know) that you (know) Mrs Pitt. How long (you / know) her? — I (know) her for ten years. 36. (you / hear) his speech on the radio last night? — Yes, I... — What (you / think) of it? 37. I (not / know) that you (be) here. (you / be) here long? — Yes, I (be) here two months. — (you / be) to the Cathedral? — Yes, I (go) there last Sunday.
38.(you / ever / try) to give up smoking? — Yes, I (try) last year, but then I (find) that I was getting fat so I (start) again. 39. Peter: You (telephone) for ages. (you / not / nearly / finish)? Jack: I (not / get) through yet. I (try) to get our Paris office but the line (be) engaged all morning.
40.(you / see) today’s paper? — No, (anything interesting / happen)? — Yes, two convicted murderers (escape) from the prison down the road.
41.(Mary / feed) the cat? — Yes, she (feed) him before lunch. — What (she / give) him? — She (give) him some fish. 42. How long (you / know) your new assistant? — I (know) him for two years. — What (he / do) before he (come) here? — I think he (be) in prison. 43. Ann (fail)
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her driving test three times because she’s so bad at reversing. But she (practise) reversing for the last week and I think she (get) a bit better at it. 44. I (not / see) your aunt recently. — No. She (not / be) out of her house since she (buy) her new TV. 45. How long (that horrible monument / be) there? — It (be) there six months. Lots of people (write) to the Town Council asking them to take it away but so far nothing (be) done. 46. Tom is convinced that there is gold in these hills but we (search) for six months and (not / see) any sign of it. 47. How long (you / be) out of work? — I’m not out of work now. I (just / start) a new job. — How (you / find) the job? — I (answer) an advertisement in the paper. 48. Peter (be) a junior clerk for three years, lately he (look) for a better post but so far he (not / find) anything. 49. He (lose) his job last month and since then he (be) out of work. — Why (he / lose) his job? — He (be) rude to Mr Pitt. 50. Her phone (ring) for ten minutes. I wonder why she doesn’t answer it. 51. I (just / be) to the film ‘War and Peace’. (you / see) it? — No, I ... .
Is it like the book? — I (not / read) the book. — I (read) it when I (be) at school. — When (Tolstoy / write) it? — He (write) it in 1868. — (he / write) anything else? 52. He (move) to a new flat in September and (not / call) me since. 53. (you / book) your hotel room yet? — Well, I (write) to the hotel last week but they (not / answer) yet. 54. (Mary / cry)? — No, she (not / cry), she (peel) onions. 55. He walked very unsteadily up the stairs and his wife said, ‘You (drink)!’ 56. Peter: (you / see) any good films lately? Ann: Yes, I (go) to the National Film Theatre last week and (sec) a Japanese film. Peter: (you / like) it? Ann: Yes, I (love) it, but of course I (not / understand) a word. 57. Father: Tom (not / come) back yet? Mother: Yes, he (come) in an hour ago. He (go) straight to bed. Father: Funny. I (not / hear) him. 58. (you / be) to Cornwall? — Yes, I (be) there last Easter. — (you / go) by train? — No, I (hitch-hike). 59. When I (be) seventeen I (start) my university course. — When (you / get) your degree? — Oh, I (not get) my degree yet; I’m still at the university. I (only / be) there for two years. 60. You look exhausted! — Yes, I (play) tennis and I (not / play) for years, so I’m not used to it. 61. The man (stand) at the bus stop for half an hour. Shall I tell him that the last bus (already / go)? 62. I wonder if anything (happen) to Tom. I (wait) an hour now. He often (keep) me waiting but he (never / be) quite so late as this. 63. I hope you’re enjoying your visit to England. (you / meet) any Englishmen yet? — Yes, I (meet) a man called Smith at a party last night. — What (you / talk) about? — We (talk) about the weather. 64. I love this film. I think
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it’s the fourth time I (see) it. 65. How long ago (you / buy) it? 66. It (be) on TV not so long ago. 67. She (have) a baby boy this morning. It (be) a difficult birth. 68. You (never / give) me flowers before. 69. This is the only place she (be) to. 70. I (speak) to her just now, but she (not / tell / me) anything about it. 71. Our team (not / do) very well lately. 72. That’s the most beautiful necklace I (ever / see). 73. Sue (not / phone) for ages. 74. Your shoes are dirty. (you / walk) in the forest? 75. Who (drink) my orange juice?
7. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
1.
My best friend is called Alison. We (know) each other since we (be) five years old. We (always / share) our problems and our troubles, but we (also / enjoy) good times together and (spend) many hours laughing together. We (live) next door to each other before Alison (move) to London. I (visit) her many times since then. She (just / buy) a new house but I (not / see) it yet.
2. |
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Pam: |
What are you doing, Ben? |
Ben: |
I (look through) my old toy box all morning. It brings back lots |
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of memories. Look, I (find) my old train set! |
Pam: |
You (play) with those trains for over an hour. I (watch) you. |
Ben: |
They’re great! I (not / have) so much fun for years. Look at this |
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one! |
Pam: |
Yes, Ben – it’s a very nice train. But (you / see) what time it is? |
Ben: |
No... Why? |
Pam: |
It’s 10.30. Your boss (just / phone) from the office. |
Ben: |
Why? |
Pam: |
He (wait) for you all morning. You have an important meeting. |
Ben: |
Oh no! I thought it was Sunday. |
3. |
|
Ann: |
Hello, Jack! I (not / see) you for ages! Where (you / be)? |
Jack: |
I (be) in Switzerland. I (mean) to send you a postcard but I (not / |
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have) your address with me. |
Ann: |
Never mind. (you / have) a good time in Switzerland? How long |
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you (stay) there? |
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Jack: |
I (just / get) back. Yes, I (enjoy) it thoroughly. I (ski) all day and |
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(dance) all night. |
Ann: |
I (ski) when I (be) at the university, but I (break) a leg five years |
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ago and since then I (not / do) any. |
4. |
|
Kate: |
(you / be) to Hampton Court? |
Jane: |
Yes, I (go) there last week. The tulips (be) wonderful. |
Kate: |
(you / go) by car? |
Jane: |
No, I (go) with my English class. We (hire) a coach. |
Kate: |
Where else (you / be) since you (come) to England? |
Jane: |
Oh, I (be) to Stratford and Coventry and Oxford. |
Kate: |
You (see) a lot. When (you / go) to Stratford? |
Jane: |
I (go) last week. The people I work for (take) me. |
Kate: |
(you / see) a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre when you |
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(be) at Stratford? |
Jane: |
Yes, we (see) Macbeth. We were very lucky. We just (walk) in and |
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(ask) if they (have) any returned tickets, and the girl at the box |
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office (say), ‘Yes, a man (just / return) three stalls.’ |
Kate: |
(you / be) to Wales? |
Jane: |
No, I (be) to Scotland but I (not / be) to Wales. I’d like to go. |
5.
There (be) a very good programme on TV last night. (you / see) it? — No, I (take) my set back to the shop last week because there (be) so much distortion; and they (say) it (need) a new part. They (not / be able) to get the new part so far, so I (not watch) television for about ten days.
6.
A:Do you do much travelling?
B:Yes, I like to travel.
A:What countries (you / visit)?
B:Well, I (be) in India, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Nepal, among others.
A:I (be / never) in any of those countries. When (you / be) in India?
B:Two years ago. I (visit / also) many of the countries in Central America. I (take) a tour of Central America about six years ago.
A:Which countries (you / visit)?
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B:Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
A:I (want / always) to travel to other countries, but I (not / have) the opportunity to travel extensively. I (go) to England six years ago, but I (not / go) anywhere since then.
7.
Rachel: Hello, Bob.
Bob: Hello. I (not / see) you for a long time.
Rachel: I (see) you in town two or three weeks ago, but you (not / see)
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me. I (be) on a bus. |
Bob: |
Well, how are things? Are you still living over the shop? |
Rachel: No, I (move) now. I (find) a super flat just before I (go) on holi-
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day. I (be) there three months. |
Bob: |
(you / pass) your driving test yet? |
Rachel: Yes, I ... . I (pass) in October. I (not / buy) a car yet, though.
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But what about you, Bob? (anything exciting / happen) to you |
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lately? |
Bob: |
No, not really. My mother (not / be) very well for a few |
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months now. |
Rachel: Oh, dear. I’m sorry to hear that. |
|
Bob: |
And my brother’s out of work. |
Rachel: (he / leave) school in the summer, then? |
|
Bob: |
Yes. He (not / do) very well in his exams and he (not / find) |
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a job yet. |
Rachel: Are you still working at Scott’s? |
|
Bob: |
Yes. They (just / give) me a pay rise. |
Rachel: Well, that’s one piece of good news. |
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8. Jill phones Pam at the office. |
|
Jill: |
How long (you / work) for Barnett & Company? |
Pam: |
For three weeks, since the beginning of August. Jeff (know) |
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Graham Barnett since their college hours. |
Jill: |
Do you like the work? |
Pam: |
Yes, but it’s very hectic here. I (type) letters — three hours and |
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I (not / finish) yet. I (not / have) a cup of tea since breakfast at |
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7, and I (not / smoke) a cigarette since after breakfast. |
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Jill: |
Cigarettes? But you don’t smoke! (you / start) smoking again? |
Pam: |
Yes, unfortunately. |
Jill: |
And how long (you / smoke) again? |
Pam: |
For three weeks, since I (start) work in this hectic office. |
9. |
|
Carol: |
Do you want a magazine? |
Tom: |
No thanks I (read) them all. |
Carol: |
Oh, how long (you / wait)? |
Tom: |
I feel as if I (wait) for hours but I suppose I (only / be) here for |
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fifteen minutes. |
Carol: |
What time is your appointment? |
Tom: |
I (not / make) an appointment. I (just / drop in) on the off- |
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chance of seeing someone. |
Carol: |
Have you got bad toothache then? |
Tom: |
Yes, it (give) me trouble for over a week now. |
Carol: |
(you / be) to the dentist before? |
Tom: |
No, it’s the first time I (ever / be) here. |
Carol: |
Well, I (come) here for about five years. They’re very good. |
Tom: |
(you / just/come in) for a check-up? |
Carol: |
No, I (lose) a filling so it needs replacing. |
Woman: Mr Hill, the dentist will see you now. (you / fill in) the card
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yet? |
Tom: |
Yes, I (already / give) it to the receptionist. |
Woman: Thank you. Perhaps you could go to Surgery 2. Mr Sharp is ready for you.
Carol: Good luck.
10.
Ann Jones is one of the most interesting people 1 (meet): she is only twenty-five, but she (travel) to over fifty different countries. Five years ago, she (be) a typist in Birmingham, but she (decide) to give up her job and see the world. Since then her life (change) completely. The first time she (go) abroad was seven years ago, when she (be) just eighteen. She (take) a boat to France and then (hitch-hike) around Europe for five weeks. She (visit) Europe many times since that first trip, of course, but this holiday (be) the one which (make) her start travelling. She (never /
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