Exercises Present Perfect

Put the verbs in the brackets into their correct form

1. I ___________________ the book you gave me, so you can have it back now. (READ)
2. You look tired. You _______________________________ too hard lately. (PROBABLY WORK)
3. Rachel ________________________ around Europe for two months now. At the moment, she’s in
Barcelona. She ___________________ six countries so far. (TRAVEL, VISIT)
4. Is it still raining? – No, it ________________________ but the streets are still wet. (ALREADY
STOP)
5. I ________________________ at your report for some time, but I must say I can’t agree with you
on a few things. (LOOK)
6. James ________________________ the new Harry Potter novel for hours now. He simply can’t let
it go. (READ)
7. I ________________________ this few times, but I’ll say it again. (ALREADY SAY)
8. The two brothers ________________________ films since they left high school. (MAKE)
9. Look! Someone ________________________ that window! (BREAK)
10.I ________________________ to him, but he ________________________ me an answer yet. (ALREADY
WRITE, NOT GIVE)
11.You are too late. The patient ________________________ . (JUST DIE)
12.The manager isn’t here. He’s away on holiday. – Where ________________________ ? (HE GO)
13. They ________________________ from New York. (JUST ARRIVE) 14._____________________________
in the rain the whole time? Why ________________________ you in? (YOU STAND, ANYONE NOT
LET)
15.Mr Benson ________________________ the whole morning. So far, he _____________________ three
fish. (FISH, CATCH)
16.The company ________________________ money with this product for ages. It’s time to stop
producing it. (LOSE)
17.She ________________________ Charles since she was 17. They ________________________ in the
same town for over 20 years. (KNOW, LIVE)
18.John ________________________ off his bike again. It’s the third time now! (FALL)
Choose the present perfect or past simple:
I ___________________ (never / go) to Vienna.
My great great grandfather ___________________ (have) five sisters
He ___________________ (live) in Manila for a year when he was a student.
Oh no! I ___________________ (lose) my wallet!
___________________ (you / see) Julie today?
At the weekend, they ___________________ (play) football, then they ___________________ (go) to a
restaurant.
I ___________________ (read) six books this week.
Amy ___________________ (live) in Portugal when she was young.
She ___________________ (visit) her grandmother last month.
The Vandals ___________________ (invade) Rome in the year 455.
She ___________________ (live) in seven different countries, so she knows a lot about different
cultures.
I ___________________ (go) to the cinema last night.
Ow! I ___________________ (cut) my finger!
___________________ (you / see) ‘The King’s Speech’?
John ___________________ (never / understand) the present perfect.
She ___________________ (break) her leg the day before her exam.
We ___________________ (see) Oliver yesterday.
He ___________________ (be) here all morning.
They ___________________ (live) here for many years (and they still do).
King Henry the Eighth of England ___________________ (have) six wives.

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) ________________ that movie.

2. Sam (arrive)  ________________ in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I (know)  ________________ each other for over fifteen years. We still get
together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write)  ________________ ten very creative short stories in

the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.
5. I (have, not)  ________________ this much fun since I (be)  ________________ a kid.

6. Things (change)  ________________ a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first

(start)  ________________ working here three years ago, the company (have,
only)  ________________ six employees. Since then, we (expand)  ________________ to include more
than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I (tell)  ________________ him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he

(wander)  ________________ off into the forest and (be)  ________________ bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss)  ________________ the bus this morning. You
(be)  ________________ late to work too many times. You are fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see,
never)  ________________ the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George (dream)  ________________ of going to California before he died, but he
didn't make it. He (see, never)  ________________ the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become)  ________________ much easier and very
comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take)  ________________ two or three months to cross
North America by covered wagon. The trip (be)  ________________ very rough and often
dangerous. Things (change)  ________________ a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years.
Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change)  ________________ since the last time I
(see)  ________________ you. You (grow)  ________________ at least a foot!

13. This tree (be)  ________________ planted by the settlers who (found)  ________________ our city
over four hundred years ago.

14. This mountain (be, never)  ________________ climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers

(try)  ________________ to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever)  ________________ . The climb
is extremely difficult and many people (die)  ________________ trying to reach the summit.

15. I (visit, never)  ________________ Africa, but I (travel)  ________________ to South America

several times. The last time I (go)  ________________ to South America, I (visit)  ________________
Brazil and Peru. I (spend)  ________________ two weeks in the Amazon, (hike)  ________________
for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly)  ________________ over the Nazca Lines.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets . Use PRESENT
PERFECT TENSE simple or PAST TENSE simple .
There's no milk left. ________________ all of it ? (PETER DRINK)
George ________________in Tokyo for five years but he left in 2006. (LIVE)
Somebody ________________my bicycle , so now I have to walk home (STEAL).
Mardy ________________from university last July (GRADUATE).
He ________________down a lot since the birth of his child last year (SLOW)
She ________________her Christmas shopping (ALREADY DO)
The Americans ________________a new space shuttle a few years ago (LAUNCH)
Who ________________the graffiti on the wall yesterday ? (WRITE)
My uncle________________karaoke at yesterday's party (SING)
Our soldiers ________________to Africa yet (NOT BE)
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses
Top of Form
1. Judy: How long (be) ________________ in Canada?
Claude: I (study) ________________ here for more than three years.

2. I (have) ________________ the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a
new one.

3. I (love) ________________ chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah (have) ________________ some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they
(go) ________________ to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John (work) ________________ for the government since he graduated from Harvard

University. Until recently, he (enjoy) ________________ his work, but now he is talking about
retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) ________________ about changing my career because I (become) v dissatisfied

with the conditions at my company.

7. I (see) ________________ Judy for more than five years and during that time I have
(see) ________________ many changes in her personality.
Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous
1. ___________________ (they / arrive) already?
2. Lucy ___________________ (run) 2000 metres today.
3. I ___________________ (clean) all morning – I’m fed up!
4. How long ___________________ (you / know) Simon?
5. I ___________________ (drink) more water lately, and I feel better.
6. Sorry about the mess! I ___________________ (bake).
7. How many times ___________________ (you / take) this exam?
8. He ___________________ (eat) six bars of chocolate today!
9. Julie ___________________ (cook) dinner. Let’s go and eat!
10. The students ___________________ (finish) their exams. They’re very happy.
11. The baby’s face is really dirty! What ___________________ (he / eat)?
12. Iona is exhausted these days. She ___________________ (work) too hard recently.
13. Luke ___________________ (never / be) abroad.
14. I ___________________ (wait) for three hours already!
15. ___________________ (you / finish) your homework yet?
16. How long ___________________ (you / be) a lawyer?
17. I ___________________ (read) your book all day. It’s very interesting, but I’m only on
chapter2.
18. She ___________________ (drink) ten glasses of water!
19. I ___________________ (have) my dog for sixteen years.
20. Help, I ___________________ (lose) my wallet! How can I get home?
Choose the most logical options:

Q1. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve worked in the garden all day and now I’m tired.

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

Q2. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
What have you done? You’re all wet.

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

Q3. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.

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

Q4. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
What have you done with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.

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

Q5. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
She’s worked in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.

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

Q6. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Why are you sweating? - I’ve cut the grass.

Why are you sweating? - I’ve been cutting the grass.

Q7. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
How many biscuits have you eaten?

How many biscuits have you been eating?

Q8. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
How long have you known her?

How long have you been knowing her?

Q9. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve had this computer for over 10 years.

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

Q10. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve had piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.

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

Q11. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
How long has he seen her? - Not long, but they’re getting married next
month.
How long has he been seeing her? - Not long, but they’re getting
married next month.

Q12. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I have cooked for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re not
hungry!
I have been cooking for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re
not hungry!

Q13. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
He’s put on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.

He’s been putting on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.

Q14. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
 Why are you crying? - I’ve cut onions.

Why are you crying? - I’ve been cutting onions.

Q15. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Has the film started yet?

Has the film been starting yet?

Q16. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
They have built the new road around the school for more than a year.

They have been building the new road around the school for more
than a year.

Q17. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Teacher to student: Have you done your homework?

Teacher to student: Have you been doing your homework?

Q18. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Someone has taken my dictionary!

Someone has been taking my dictionary!

Q19. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Has John told you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him
today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t
seen him today.

Q20. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
Has John told you about the party next week? - No, we were talking
about last weekend.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, we were
talking about last weekend.
Present Perfect Simple or Progressive

Fill in the present perfect simple or the present perfect progressive.

1. Jane ______________ (write) a letter to a magazine. She  ______________ (not finish) it yet.

2. Ben  ______________ (look) for his penknife, but he  ______________ (not find) it yet.
3. Jenny  ______________ (wait) for the bus for half an hour, but it  ______________ (not arrive)
yet.
4. Nick  ______________ (play) a computer game for two hours and he is still playing.
5. Mike  ______________ (not finished) painting his car yet. He  ______________ (work) on it for
two weeks.
6. Amanda  ______________ (not come) home yet. She  ______________ (shop) in town since 10
o'clock.
7. Mike's car  ______________ (make) strange noises. Nick and Jane  ______________ (clean) all
the parts.
8. Ben  ______________ (draw) cartoons for two hours. He  ______________ (not finish) yet.
9. Greg  ______________ (wait) for Jenny in town. Jenny  ______________ (not arrive) yet.
10. Jane  ______________ (knit) a pullover. She  ______________ (not finish) yet.
11. It  ______________ (rain) all day and it  ______________ (not stop) yet.
12. Mr Blake  ______________ (make) tests all evening, but he  ______________ (not find) a
perfect one yet.