Grammar Practice

Before starting, have a look to the presentation made by your classmates.

PAST PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Grammar

1 Complete the sentences with a suitable verb. Use a simple or continuous perfect tense.

1. There will be good skiing at the weekend. It …………………… for days.

2. We …………………… for over an hour when we realised we were going in the wrong direction.

3. I can see you don’t understand. Obviously you …………………… to anything I’ve said all morning.

4. They are very worried. They …………………… from their son since he arrived in South America.

5. It’s too bad you didn’t arrive a few minutes earlier. Jean …………………… just …………………… the office.

6. By the time the shop opened, they …………………… in the queue for over an hour.

2 Complete the mini-dialogues with the verbs in brackets. Use the Perfect Simple or Continuous tenses.

1. A: ^1. ……………………………… you ……………………………… (speak) to your boyfriend since you broke up.

B: No. And I ^2. ……………………………… (try) not to think about him.

2. A: Come and see my sister. She ^3. ……………………………… just ……………………………… (return) from her trip to China.

B: How long ^4. ……………………………… she ……………………………… (travel)?

A: Almost a year. And until yesterday, we ^5. ……………………………… (not see) each other.

3. A: My flight was delayed twice. By the time I got home, I ^6. ……………………………… (be) awake for 48 hours.

B: Sounds exhausting! That ^7. ……………………………… never ……………………………… (happen) to me before.

4. A: It’s ten o’clock. We ^8. ……………………………… (wait) for the bus for over an hour.

B: Obviously, you ^9. ……………………………… (not hear) that there’s a bus strike this week.

3 Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Use a suitable perfect tense.

Do not change the original meaning.

4 Complete the sentences with a logical continuation. Pay attention to the verbs in bold.

1. She has just left the room. Perhaps she .....................................

.

2. They have been practicing really hard. I’m sure ........................

.

3. We had been driving for hours when ........................................

.

4. I hadn’t realised they were brothers until ...................................

.

5 Complete the sentences with a logical continuation. Use the Perfect Simple or Continuous tenses.

1. What’s it like in Japan? I ............................................................

.

2. I finally found a job. I ................................................................

.

3. I’m going to the doctor today. I ...................................................

.

4. This will be their first time abroad. They ......................................

.

5. The house was empty when we got home. Everyone ..................

.

6. We complained to the manager of the restaurant after we ................

.

Grammar

1 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Perfect Simple or Past Perfect Simple.

Add extra words.

1. By the time we got home, everyone ………………………………………… . (go)

2. Since I was a child, I ………………………………………… . (dream)

3. I didn’t recognise him. I ………………………………………… . (not see)

4. I don’t know what I’m going to wear. I ………………………………………… . (not decide)

2 Complete the sentences with a suitable verb. Use a perfect continuous tense.

1. Call her. She ………………………………………… about you all day.

2. I finally found what I ………………………………………… all day yesterday.

3. I won’t forget about the meeting. You ………………………………………… about it all week.

4. It’s OK. I ………………………………………… in the queue for long.

3 Match the sentences in A to the continuations in B.

A B

1. We have been studying for the test for over a week. ...... a. We only started yesterday.

2. We had been studying for the test for a week. ...... b. That’s why we didn’t do well.

3. We haven’t been studying for the test for very long. ...... c. We’re going to start today.

4. We haven’t studied for the test yet. ...... d. We were very well prepared for it.

5. We hadn’t studied for the test. ...... e. I’m sure we’ll do well.

4 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use a suitable simple or continuous perfect tense.

1. They ……………………………… (be) in Los Angeles for a week. They’re having a great time.

2. ……………………………… you ……………………………… (finish) your homework yet?

3. We ……………………………… (walk) around for hours, but we’re still not tired.

4. How long ……………………………… they ……………………………… (wait) outside by the time you arrived?

5. By the time you returned my call, I ……………………………… (take care) of the problem.

6. I’m surprised he ……………………………… (not call) me all week. Maybe something is wrong.

7. What ……………………………… you ……………………………… (do) all day? You look exhausted.

8. It was no surprise that she cancelled the meeting. She ……………………………… (not feel) well all week.

5 Write a logical sentence to continue the first sentence. Use the words in brackets and a suitable

simple or continuous perfect tense.

1. They finally had enough money to buy a car. (save / all year)

2. My mother was surprised when she got home. (bake / a cake)

3. What’s it like in London? (never / be there)

4. The ground is wet. (rain / all day)

5. I was very upset when you saw me. (boyfriend / break up)

6. I wonder how Paul is. (not see / in ages)

1. We spoke to Ellen a few minutes ago. (just)

2. We met each other when we were children. (known)

3. They started out six hours ago. (driving)

4. Everyone arrived at the meeting. Then we told them the news. (after)

5. We went home after 24 hours of work. (working)