1. Insert ‘have’ / ‘has’ according to the person given.

1. She ………. been asking questions all day long.

2. They ………. been climbing the mountain.

3. We ………. been washing the dishes.

4. You ………. been repairing your computer.

5. I ………. been working.

6. It ………. been snowing.

7. The boy ………. been playing.

8. Cathy ………. been dreaming.

9. The men ………. been digging a hole.

10. Cindy and Bob ………. been studying English.

2. Supply the Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing) tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. I’m tired. I have been digging in my garden all day. (to dig)

2. How long ……………….. here? (you / to wait)

3. I ……………….. here since 6 o’clock. (to stand)

4. How long ……………….. Chinese? (you / to learn)

5. She ……………….. English for five years. (to study)

6. You’re out of breath .………………..? (you / to run)

7. We ………………..here for twelve years. (to live)

8. Your eyes are red. I think …………… (you / to cry)

9. How long ………………..? (the children / to sleep)

10. What ……………….. all afternoon? (you / to do)

2. Use ‘since’ / ‘for’ in the offered sentences.

1. I have been waiting ………. 4 o’clock.

2. Sue has only been waiting ………. 20 minutes.

3. Tim and Tina have been learning English ………. six years.

4. Fred and Frida have been learning French ………. 1998.

5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together ………. Valentine’s Day.

6. I haven’t been on holiday………. last July.

7. Mary has been saving her money ………. many years.

8. I haven’t been eating anything ………. breakfast.

9. You have been watching TV ………. hours.

10. We have been living here ………. 2 months.

2. Fill in the correct tense Present Simple (I do) / Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing).

1. Marvin and Joe ………. (to play) in a football club for two years.

2. They ………. (to practice) four times a week.

3. Marvin ………. (to be) a popular forwarder.

4. He often ………. (to score) goals for his team.

5. At the moment, the training ………. (to be) very hard.

6. For six weeks now, the team ………. (to prepare) for an important match taking place on Sunday.

7. Today, the boys ………. (to do) strength training for forty minutes already.

8. Joe ………. (to like / not) that very much – he ………. (to want) to play football.

9. However, the strength training exercises ………. (to be) also very important for the young players.

10. She ………. (to sing) in the school’s choir for five years.

2. Put the verbs in brackets into Present Perfect (I have done) / Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing).

Robin:I think the waiter (forget) us. We (wait) here for over half an hour and nobody (take) our order yet.

Michele:I think you’re right. He (walk) by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already) .

Robin:Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele:He must realize we (order, not) yet! We (sit) here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don’t know if he (notice, even) us. He (run) from table to table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That’s true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.

2. Use Present Continuous (I’m doing) / Present Perfect Continuous (I’ve been doing) in the following sentences.

1. It (rain) all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the beach. 2. Sid: Where is Gary? Sarah: He (study, at the library) for his German test on Wednesday. In fact, he (review) for the test every day for the last week. 3. You look really great! (You, exercise) at the fitness center ? 4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) for you since 1 p.m. 5. Tim: What is that sound? Nancy: A car alarm (ring) somewhere down the street. It (drive) me crazy – I wish it would stop! It (ring) for more than twenty minutes. 6. Joseph’s English (improve, really), isn’t it? He (watch) American television programs and (study) his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent. 7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) enough sleep lately? Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) relatively well. I just look tired because I (feel) a little sick for the last week. Dan: I hope you feel better soon. Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) some medicine, so I should feel better in a couple of days.

Revision Test on Present Perfect Continuous

Choose the most appropriate sentence out of two.

1. a) I’ve worked in the garden all day and now I’m tired.

b) I’ve been working in the garden all day and now I’m tired.

2. a) What have you done? You’re all wet.

b) What have you been doing? You’re all wet.

3. a) I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.

b) I’ve been finishing my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.

4. a) What have you done with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.

b) What have you been doing with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.

5. a) She’s worked in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.

b) She’s been working in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.

6. a) Why are you sweating? – I’ve cut the grass.

b) Why are you sweating? – I’ve been cutting the grass.

7. a) How many biscuits have you eaten?

b) How many biscuits have you been eating?

8. a) How long have you known her?

b) How long have you been knowing her?

9. a) I’ve had this computer for over 10 years.

b) I’ve been having this computer for over 10 years.

10. a) I’ve had piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.

b) I’ve been having piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Put the verbs into the correct form Past Perfect Continuous (I had been doing).

1. We ….. (to sleep) for 12 hours when he woke us up.

2. They ….. (to wait) at the station for 90 minutes when the train finally arrived.

3. We ….. (to look for) her ring for two hours and then we found it in the bathroom.

4. I ….. (not / to walk) for a long time, when it suddenly began to rain.

5. How long ….. (to learn / she) English before she went to London?

6. Frank Sinatra caught the flu because he ….. (to sing) in the rain too long.

7. He ….. (to drive) less than an hour when he ran out of petrol.

8. They were very tired in the evening because they ….. (to dig) on the farm all day.

9. I ….. (not / to work) all day, so I wasn’t tired and went to the disco at night.

10. They ….. (to cycle) all day so their legs were sore in the evening.

2. Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the Past Perfect (I had done) / Past Perfect Continuous (I had been doing).

I’m sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at 8:00. I ….. (to try) to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn’t want to miss it. By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I ….. (to have) five cups of coffee and I ….. (to wait) over an hour. I had to leave because I ….. (to arrange) to meet Kathy in front of the theater.

When I arrived at the theater, Kathy ….. (to pick up) already the tickets and she was waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she ….. (to wait) for more than half an hour. She said she ….. (to give) almost up and ….. (to go) into the theater without us.

Kathy told me you ….. (to be) late several times in the past and that she would not make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she ….. (to miss) several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be on time!

3. Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using the Past Continuous (I was doing) / Past Perfect Continuous (I had been doing).

1. When I asked Carlos if he wanted to go out, he said he couldn’t because he …………… an assignment. (to finish)

2. Scarlet came into the room panting. She ………….. round the park. (to jog)

3. Scarlet wasn’t in. She …………… round the park. (to jog)

4. I ………. a bath when I suddenly had a great idea. (to have)

5. He told me he …………..seriously ……………about finding another job soon. (to think)

6. He …………… about finding a new job for about a year before he finally got round to it. He’s happy now. (to think)

7. It was obvious from his outrageous behavior that he …………… . (to drink)

8. I ……………. a latte in the Café New York, when I saw a famous actor walk past the window. (to drink)

4. Using the words in parentheses, complete the sentences below with the Present Perfect (I have done) / Past Perfect (I had done) / Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing) / Past Perfect Continuous (I had been doing).

1. It is already 9.30 p.m. and I ..... (to wait) here for over an hour. If John does not get here in the next five minutes, I am going to leave.

2. I was really angry with John yesterday. By the time he finally arrived, I ….. (to wait) for over an hour. I almost left without him.

3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He ….. (to work) for that import company for more than ten years and he ….. (to work) in almost every department. Nobody knew the company like he did.

4. I ….. (to see) many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

5. Sarah ….. (to climb) the Matterhorn, ….. (to sail) around the world, and ….. (to go) on safari in Kenya. She is such an adventurous person.

6. Sarah ….. (to climb) the Matterhorn, ….. (to sail) around the world and ….. (to go) on safari in Kenya by the time she turned twenty-five. She ….. (to experience) more by that age than most people do in their entire lives.

7. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were red and watery. I think she ….. (to cry).

5. Read the story putting the verbs in brackets into Present Continuous (I’m doing) / Past Simple (I did) / Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing) / Past Perfect Continuous (I had been doing).

My English is really getting better. I (try) to learn the language since 1985, but only recently have I been able to make some real progress. By the time I started high school in 1988, I (study) the language for almost three years; however, I was only able to introduce myself and utter a few memorized sentences. For a couple more years, I (struggle) through grammar and vocabulary lessons, which made absolutely no difference. Nothing worked, so I decided to study abroad.

I found an exchange program in England that sounded like the perfect answer. I (stay) with a host family for one month. It was a huge disappointment! I (sit) there the whole time staring at the host mother and father hoping that there would be some breakthrough. Nothing.

When I returned, I mentioned to a friend that I (have) problems with the language for years. He recommended that I spend a year in an English speaking country. I decided to go abroad again. I (research) exchange programs for a couple of weeks and finally decided on a school in the United States.

Well, it worked. I (live) and (study) in the U.S. for more than two years. I (stay) here for at least another year before I return home. By then, I should be completely fluent.

Revision Test on Past Perfect Continuous

Write each form of the verb using the phrase ‘to eat paste.’ The first one is done for you.

1. Present Simple: I eat paste.

2. Past Simple: I ………………………………………………………………………………

3. Future Simple: I ……………………………………………………………………………

4. Present Continuous: I ………………………………………………………………………

6. Past Continuous: I ………………………………………………………………………….

7. Future Continuous: I …………………………………………………………………….....

5. Present Perfect: I …………………………………………………………………………...

6. Past Perfect: I ………………………………………………………………………………

8. Future Perfect: I …………………………………………………………………………....

9. Present Perfect Continuous: I ……………………………………………………………...

10. Past Perfect Continuous: I ………………………………………………………………....

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Put the verbs into the correct form Future Perfect Continuous (I will have been doing).

1. By the end of the week I….. (to work) here for four months.

2. By the end of this month we ….. (to live) together for six years.

3. By the end of the term she ….. (to study) for nine years.

4. By midnight we ….. (to play) this computer game for 48 hours.

5. She ….. (to talk) on the phone for the last couple of hours.

6. They ….. (to look for) me all night long.

7. He ….. (to play) soccer all day long.

8. You ….. (to watch) TV all the time.

9. He ….. (not / to sleep) all morning.

10. ….. (to wait / they) for 2 hours?

2. Open the brackets using Future Perfect (I will have done) / Future Perfect Continuous (I will have been doing).

1. By the time we get to Chicago this evening, we (drive) … more than four hundred miles. We are going to be exhausted.

2. When Sarah goes on vacation next month, she (study) … German for over two years. She should be able to communicate fairly well while she is in Austria.

3. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) … the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

4. By the time you finish studying the verb tense tutorial, you (master) … all twelve tenses including their passive forms.

5. Drive faster! If you don’t hurry up, she (have) the baby by the time we get to the hospital.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to Australia, I (study) … for nine months and I (be) in England for exactly one year.

7. Margie just called and said she would be here at 8 o’clock. By the time she gets here, we (wait) … for her for two hours.

8. Frank just changed jobs again. If he keeps this up, he (change) … jobs at least four or five times by the end of the year.

9. Come over to my house around 9 o’clock. By then, I (complete) … my history essay and we can go see a movie.

10. In June, my grandmother and grandfather (be) … married for fifty years.

2. Read the dialogues opening the brackets in Future Continuous (I will be doing) / Future Perfect Continuous (I will have been doing).

1.

Simona:Margaret is really going to speak Spanish well when she gets back from that language school in Mexico.

Isabelle:Hopefully! She (take) … classes for more than six months.

Simona: She is going to be able to speak Spanish with some of our Latin American clients.

Isabelle:Good. Two clients from Peru (visit) … us next month when Margaret returns. We need someone to entertain them while they are here.

2.

Jason:I am leaving!

Nurse:If you would please wait, the doctor will be with you in ten minutes. The doctor is having some problems with a patient.

Jason:The doctor was having problems with that patient an hour ago. If I wait another ten minutes, I am sure he (have, still) … problems with her. By the time he’s finally ready to see me, I (wait) … for more than two hours.

3.

Frank:What are you going to be doing tomorrow at five?

Debbie:I (paint) … my living room walls.

Frank:Still? How long have you been working on your living room?

Debbie:Forever. By the time I finish, I (redecorate) … the living room for over a week.

Frank:Too bad. I was going to ask if you wanted to see a movie. What about the day after tomorrow?

Debbie:Sorry, I (move) … furniture and (put) … up drapes.

4.

Mr. Jones:What are you going to be doing next year at this time?

Mr. McIntyre:I (work) … for a big law firm in New Orleans.

Mr. Jones:I didn’t know you were leaving Baton Rouge.

Mr. McIntyre:I got a great job offer which I just can’t refuse. Besides, by the time I move, I (live) … in Baton Rouge for over twenty years. I think it’s about time for a change.

Revision Test on Future Perfect Continuous

Make the right choice.

1. I think I _______ this gorgeous car next year.

a) will buy b) will be buying c) will have bought

2. He ______ his house if he ______ abroad to earn enough money.

a) will fix / is going b) will be fixing / he was going c) will fix / goes

3. At this time tomorrow they _______ on the ocean beach.

a) will lie b) will be lying c) will have been lying

4. Don’t worry, I ______ everything by the next week.

a) will have arranged b) will be arranging c) will arrange

5. By the next month they ______ for this foreign company for 25 years.

a) will work b) will have been working c) will be working

6. There’s no sense to hurry. When we _______ at the station, the train ________ already.

a) arrives / will go b) will arrive / will be going c) arrive / will have gone

7. Don’t try to get to her. I’m sure all the evening tomorrow she ________ in the garden.

a) will dig b) will be digging c) will have dug

8. I’m convinced they _______ soon because they have been dating for 2 years already.

a) will be getting married b) will get married c) will have got married

9. This fat man is crazy over cookies. He probably ______ all of them before guests come.

a) will eat b) will have been eating c) will have eaten

10. When I come, she ________ for 5 hours in the local park. That’s her hobby.

a) will be jogging b) will jog c) will have been jogging

Passive Voice