CURSO

VERB TENSES 2022/23

PRESENT TIME

The Present simple generally refers to:

* Facts that are always true. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The earth goes round the sun.
Nurses look after patients in hospitals.

* Habits. British people drink a lot of tea.

In Britain, most of the shops close at 5 p.m.
In summer Tom usually plays tennis twice a
week.

* States. I don’t like gangster films.

Some verbs are used only in simple tenses: Do you like London? (not “are you liking”)
Want, need, prefer, like, love, hate, He doesn’t understand. (not “he isn’t
belong, see, hear, know, realise, believe, understanding)
suppose, mean, understand, remember, These shoes belong to me. (not “are
forget, seem. belonging”)
Have (when the meaning is “possess”) What do you think Tom will do? (= What do
Think (when the meaning is “believe”) you believe he will do?)
But… What are you thinking about? (=
You can find this information here: What is going on in your mind?)
Page 44. New English Grammar for Bach.

Other uses of present simple:

a) Headlines. Ship sinks in midnight collision.

b) Instructions and itineraries. First you roll out the pastry.

On day three we visit Stratford-upon-Avon.

c) Summaries of events: Plots of

stories, films, etc, and summaries of
historical events also.
In informal speech, we use the present E.g. : … So then the second man asks the
to describe past events, like funny first one why he has a banana in his ear and
stories, etc. the first says…
 d) Present Simple with a future What time does the film begin?
meaning. We use the present The train leaves Plymouth at 10.30 and
simple when we are talking about arrives in London at 13.45.
timetables, programmes, etc. (for The football match starts at 8 o’clock.
example, for public transport, Tomorrow is Wednesday.
cinemas).

The Present continuous generally refers to

actions which are in progress at the moment
or something which is happening at the time
of speaking.

*These can be temporary: I’m staying in a hotel until I find a flat.

*They can be actually in progress: The dog is sleeping on our bed!

Please don’t make so much noise. I’m
studying.
“Where is Margaret?” “She’s having a
bath.”

*Or they can be generally in progress but I’m learning to drive.

not actually happening at the moment: Tom and Ann are talking and drinking in a
café. Tom says: “I’m reading an interesting
book at the moment. I’ll lend it to you when
I’ve finished it.”
Silvia is learning English at the moment.
Have you heard about Tom? He is building
his own house.

*Other uses of the present continuous: My car has broken down, so I am walking to
a) Temporary or repeated actions work these days.
(this use emphasises a temporary I’m staying in a hotel because we are
or repeated habitual action). repairing the floor of the house.
b) Complaints about bad habits.
We can see adverbs like: You are always complaining about my
constantly, continually, forever. cooking!

ACTIVITIES

1. Choose the most appropriate words underlined.

a) I haven’t decided yet about whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But I think about
it/I’m thinking about it.
b) All right, you try to fix the television! But I hope/I’m hoping you know what you’re doing!
c) Every year I visit/I’m visiting Britain to improve my English.
d) It’s time we turned on the central heating. It gets/It is getting colder every day.
e) Of course, you’re Mary, aren’t you! I recognise/I am recognising you now.
f) What’s the matter? Why do you look/are you looking at me like that?
g) The film of War and Peace is very long. It lasts/It is lasting over four hours.
h) I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do you do/are you
doing in the afternoon?
i) I’m going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn’t fit/isn’t fitting any more.
j) That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens now/is happening
now?

2. Put each verb in brackets into the most suitable present tense.
a) I _________ (hear) that you have been promoted. Congratulations!
b) British people _________ (drink) more and more wine, apparently.
c) I hope Sarah will be here soon. I _________ (depend) on her.
d) Please be quiet! You _________ (continually, interrupt).
e) Hey, you! What _________ (you think) you’re doing?
f) Could you come here please? I _________ (want) to talk to you now.
g) Jane is away on holiday so Linda _________ (handle) her work.
h) To be honest, I _________ (doubt) whether Jim will be here next week.
i) You’ve only just started the job, haven’t you? How _________ (you get on)?
j) Pay no attention to Graham. He _________ (just be) sarcastic again.

3. Put each verb in brackets into the most suitable present tense.
I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I _________ (know) quite well.
We _________ (spend) most of the day together, so we have all become friends. In fact, most of my
colleagues are so interesting, that I _________ (think) of writing a book about them! __________
(take) Helen Watson, for example. Helen _________ (run) the accounts department. At the
moment, she __________ (go out) with Keith Ballantine, one of the sales representatives, and they
___________ (seem) very happy together. But everyone (except Helen apparently) __________
(know) that Keith ___________ (always make) eyes at Susan Porter. But I __________ (happen) to
know that Susan _________ (dislike) Keith. “I can’t stand people who _________ (apologise) all the
time!” she told me. “And besides, I know he _________ (deceive) poor Helen. He _________ (see)
Betty Wills from the overseas department. “And plenty of other interesting things _________ (go
on). For instance, every week money _________ (disappear) from the petty cash box. When you
__________ (realise) that someone in your office is a thief, it __________ (upset) you at first. But I
_________ (also try) to catch whoever it is before the police are called in. I’m not going to tell you
who I _________ (suspect). Well, not yet any way!

4. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.
a) What’s your opinion of Ted’s new books?
What do …
b) Nigel keeps interrupting me.
Nigel is…
c) What is the meaning of this word?
What does…
d) The number of people who own bicycles is increasing.
More and more people…
e) What about going to that new film at the Rex tonight?
How do…
f) What is the weight of that piece of meat?
How much…
g) Never mind about the price, just buy it!
The price ….
h) there’s smell of onions in this room.
This room…
i) What is inside the box?
What does…
j) Paul has flu.
Paul is…
 FUTURE TIME
WILL is normally known as the predictive I’ll be late home this evening.
future, and describes known facts or what The company will make a profit next year.
we suppose is true.

WILL is also used to express an immediate I’ll take this one.

decision, when we decide to do something Oh, I’ve left the door open. I’ll go and shut
at the time of speaking. it.
“Did you phone Ann?” “Oh no, I forgot. I’ll do
Decisions expressed with going to refer to it now.”
a more distant point in the future. I’m too tired to walk home. I think I’ll get a
taxi.

We often use I think I’ll… or I don’t I think I’ll stay at home this evening.
think I’ll… when we decide to do I don’t think I’ll go out tonight. I’m too
something. tired.

We often use will in these situations:

a) Offering to do something: That bag looks heavy. I’ll help you with it.
“I need some money.” “Don’t worry. I’ll lend
you some.”

b) Agreeing or refusing to do “You know that book I lent you? Can I have it
something: back?” “Of course. I’ll bring it back this
afternoon.”

c) Promising to do something: Thank you for lending me the money. I’ll pay
you back on Friday.
I won’t tell Tom what you said. I promise.
I promise I’ll phone you as soon as I arrive.

d) Asking someone to do something: Will you shut the door, please?

Will you please be quiet? I’m trying to
concentrate.

Be going to describes intentions or plans. I’m going to wait here until Carol gets back.
What we have already decided to do, what “There’s a film on television tonight. Are you
we intend to do in the future. At the going to watch it?” “No, I’m too tired. I’m
moment of speaking the plans have already going to have an early night.”
been made. “I hear Ann has won a lot of money. What is
he going to do with it?” “I’ve heard she’s
going to travel round the world.”
“Have you make coffee yet?” “No, but I’m
going to make it.”
Going to is also used to describe an Look at that tree! It’s going to fall.
evident event. Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.
Oh, I feel terrible. I think I’m going to be
sick.

Present continuous describes fixed What time are you meeting Ann? (or “are you
arrangements, especially social and travel going to meet”)
arrangements. A time reference is usually I’m travelling to Scotland on Monday. (or “I’m
included. going to travel”)
“What are you doing tomorrow evening?” “I’m
going to the theatre.”
“Are you playing football tomorrow?” “Yes,
but Tom isn’t playing. He has hurt his leg.”
“Ann is coming tomorrow.” “Oh, is she? What
time is she arriving?” “At 10.15.” “Are you
meeting her at the station?” “I can’t. I’m
working tomorrow morning.”

We use the Present Simple when we are What time does the film begin?
talking about timetables, schedules, The train leaves Plymouth at 10.30 and
programmes, etc. arrives in London at 13.45.
Can you look after the children while I am
AFTER while, after, before, until/till, out?
as soon as, when. Before you leave, you must visit the museum.
Wait until I come back.

Or…
When I read / I’ve read this book, you can
have it.
I’ll come as soon as I finish / I’ve finished.
You’ll feel terrible after you have / you’ve
had something to eat.

Future continuous describes an event Come round in the morning. I’ll be painting
which will be happening at a future point, the kitchen.
to say that we will be in the middle of The football match begins at 7.30 and ends
doing something at a certain time in the at 9.15. At 8.30 Tom will be watching the
future. match.
You’ll recognise her when you see her. She’ll
be wearing a yellow hat.
This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I’ll
 probably be lying on a beautiful beach.

We also use will be doing in another way: I’ll be going to the city centre. Can I get you
to talk about things which are already anything? (= I’m going to the city centre.)
planned or decided. Will you be using your bicycle this evening?
Will you be passing the post office when you
go out?
Tonight, they will be eating dinner,
discussing their plans, and having a good time.
At midnight tonight, we will still be driving
through the desert.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS WITH “BE I will be watching TV when she arrives
GOING TO” tonight.
am/is/are + going to be + -ING
I am going to be staying at the Madison
You are going to be waiting for her when Hotel, if anything happens and you need to
her plane arrives tonight. contact me.
Are you going to be waiting for her when Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating
her plane arrives tonight? dinner.
You are not going to be waiting for her
when her plane arrives tonight. When I arrive at the party, everybody is
going to be celebrating. Some will be
dancing. Others are going to be talking. A
few people will be eating pizza, and several
people are going to be drinking beer. They
always do the same thing.

We use the Future Perfect to say that In two years’ time I’ll have finished this
something will already have happened book.
before a certain time in the future. It has Next year it’s our anniversary. We will have
both simple and continuous forms and been married for 25 years.
refers to time which we look back at from We are late. The film will have already
a future point. started by the time we get to the cinema.
By the end of the month, I’ll have been
working for this firm for a year.
When we get to the station, the train will
have already arrived.
Before John arrives home, Bill will have gone
to bed.

OTHER WAYS OF REFERRING TO THE FUTURE

a) Is / are to be. All students are to assemble in the hall at
This is used to describe formal 9.00.
arrangements (estar previsto que), The Queen is to visit Japan next year.
obligations, orders or rules (deber…). The principal is to meet the students on
Friday.
TO BE {AM TO, IS TO, ARE TO + VERB} You are to get those reports written before
Friday!
The factory is to open in July.
The ceremony is to take place in the palace
grounds.
Two men are to appear in court on charges
of armed robbery.

We can also use it to give orders (usually You’re to do your homework before you
parents often tell children to do things in watch TV.
this way). Tell her she’s not to be back late.
You are to stay here until I send for you.

b) Be about to and Be on the point of. I think the play is about to start now. (is on
Both refer to the next moment: the point of starting)
To be going to do something very soon. Mary is on the point of resigning. (is about
To be close to doing something very to resign)
soon. I’m on the point of buying / about to buy a
new car, mine is broken down.
We are about to set off for a walk. Do you
want to come?
She was on the point of staying something,
but she changed her mind.
ON THE POINT OF + NOUN
She looked on the point of tears.
The country’s economy is on the point of
collapse.

c) Be on the verge of.

I was on the verge of calling the doctor
To be very close to experiencing
when he suddenly got better.
something.
-This country is on the verge of becoming
prosperous and successful.
ON THE VERGE OF + NOUN
This economy is on the verge of collapse.
The child was on the verge of tears when he
heard the news.
We were on the verge of divorce.

d) Be on the brink of.

She was on the brink of committing suicide
To have some imminent even happen,
when she called the crisis hotline.
especially that which is bad or disastrous.
The company is on the brink of closing
down.
 ON THE BRINK OF + NOUN
In October 1962, the world seemed on the
brink of nuclear war.
Due to the debts, the company is on the
brink of disaster.
e) Be due to refers to scheduled times.
The play is due to start in five times.
The train is due to leave at 2 o’clock.
Ann’s flight is due (to take off) at 6.20.
The train is due to arrive at Glasgow Central
at 12:12.
What time is the next bus due? (=due to
arrive or to leave)
The next meeting is due to be held in three
months' time.
Their first baby is due in January. (=due to
be born)
When is the first payment due? (=due to be
It is used to talk about things that are made)
expected or planned to happen, be done, The parliamentary session is due to end on
or arrive at a certain time. May 27.
We often use it with a time expression. Jason is currently in Britain to finish
We usually use it for social arrangements. recording his second album which is due out
Synonyms: expected, scheduled, awaited). in May.

f) Hope, think, believe, expect, doubt. I hope it doesn’t rain.

I hope it won’t rain.
I expect the train will be late.
I doubt whether United will win.

ACTIVITIES

1. Choose the most appropriate words underlined.

a) Jack is / is going to be sixty – five next month so he retires / will be retiring.
b) Quick, here comes a police car! What will we say / are we going to say about the broken window?
c) Helen and Andrew are due to separate / are on the point of separating.
d) Don’t be so impatient! I’ll just come / I’m just coming.
e) I have to be back at 3.30 so I’m leaving / I leave before lunch.
f) What do you think you’ll be doing / you’ll do in five years’ time?
g) Come on, get a move on, or we’ll miss / we’ll have missed the plane!
h) Will you be working / Will you work the week after Christmas? I was thinking of visiting you.
i) By the time Jean gets back, it’ll be / it will have been too late.
j) Don’t phone after 11.00. I’ll be / I’ll have been asleep.

2. Put the verb in brackets into a suitable tense.

a) In twenty four hours’ time _________ (I relax) on my yacht.
b) “There’s someone at the door.”
“That _________ (be) the postman.”
c) By the time you get back Harry _________ (leave).
d) It’s only a short trip. I _________ (be) back in an hour.
e) What _________ (you do) this Saturday evening? Would you like to go out?
f) By the end of the week we _________ (decide) what to do.
g) It _________ (not be) long before Doctor Smith is here.
h) I’ve pressed the red button. Now what _________ (I do)?
i) It’s very hot in here. I think I _________ (faint).
j) What _________ (you give) Ann for her birthday? Have you decided yet?

3. Choose the most appropriate continuation for each sentence.

a) Paula’s flight is bound to be late although
A) it arrives at 6.00. B) it’s due at 6.00. C) it’s arriving at six.
b) It’s no use phoning Bob at the office, he
A) will be leaving. B) is leaving. C) will have left.
c) Everyone says that this year City
A) are going to win the Cup. B) are winning the Cup. C) win the Cup.
d) I don’t feel like visiting my relatives this year so
A) I won’t go. B) I’m not going. C) I don’t go.
e) According to the latest forecast, the tunnel
A) will be finished next year. B) will have been finished next year.
C) is finishing next year.
f) You can borrow this calculator, I
A) am not going to need it. B) won’t have been needing it. C) am not needing it.
g) I’m sorry dinner isn’t ready yet, but it
A) is going to be ready in a minute. B) will have been ready in a minute.
C) will be ready in a minute.
h) Can you send me the results as soon as you…
A) hear anything? B) are hearing anything? C) will have heard anything?
i) You can try asking Martin for help but
A) it won’t do you any good. B) it’s not doing you any good. C) it won’t be doing you any
good.
j) Don’t worry about the mistake you made, nobody
A) will notice. B) is noticing. C) will be noticing.

PAST TIME
Past simple generally refers to:

*Completed actions I got up, switched off the radio, and sat
down again.
*Habits Every day I went to the park.

*States In those days, I didn’t like reading.

Past continuous (progressive) generally

refers to:

*Action in progress (often interrupted by I was drinking my coffee at the time.

events) While I was opening the letter; the phone
rang.

*Background description in narrative I entered the office and looked around. Most
people were working at their desks, but Jane
was staring out the window and pretending to
write something at the same time.
*Repeated actions – criticism When Jane was at school, she was always
With a frequency adverb, this use is losing things.
similar to the use of present continuous to
express annoyance.

Past perfect simple and continuous.

Past perfect tenses in general refer to:

*An event in the past which happens By the time I got to the station, the train
before another event in the past, where had left.
there is no time expression to make this But The train left five minute before I got
clear. to the station.

* Past perfect continuous (progressive). I had been living in a bed – sitter up to then.
While I had been talking on the phone,
Jimmy had escaped.
The whole place was deserted, but it was
obvious that someone had been living there.
They’d been cooking in the kitchen for a
start, and they hadn’t bothered to clear up
the mess.

*Past perfect is also common in indirect He said: “If I had a spanner, I could fix this.”
speech. He said that if he had had a spanner he could
have fixed it.

Used to

This often contrasts with the present. I used to go swimming a lot (but I don’t now).
The contrast may be stated or When I was a child, I used to live in this
understood. neighbourhood.
He used to like pizza, but now he doesn’t eat
The negative form is either: any.
My father used to buy the newspaper every
There is no present time reference Sunday.
possible. It is a mistake to say: The teachers used to give us a lot of
homework every Friday.
I use to wake up early every morning. !!!
I didn’t use to or I used not to (rare for
We say: some speakers):
I didn’t use to work as much as now.
I usually wake up early every morning. I used not to work as much as now.

Would

This is used to describe repeated actions, Every week he’d buy his mother a bunch of
not states. It describes a habitual activity flowers. (or… he used to buy…)
which was typical of a person. My father would buy the newspaper every
Sunday. (or… my father used to buy…)
Used to would also be possible here. I would play tennis with my friends twice a
Compare: week. (of… I used to play)
I used to like cowboy films.
I would like cowboy films. !!!

He used to live in this neighbourhood.

He would live in this neighbourhood. !!!

ACTIVITIES

1. Choose the most suitable words underlined.

a) When you passed the town hall clock, did you notice / were you noticing what time it was?
b) Last night my neighbours were shouting / would shout for hours and I couldn’t get to sleep.
c) When you lived in London, did you use to travel / were you travelling by bus?
d) Everyone was having a good time, although not many people danced / were dancing.
e) – Excuse me, but this seat is mine.
- I’m sorry, I didn’t realise / hadn’t realised that you were sitting here.
f) Jill didn’t eat / hadn’t eaten all day, so she was really hungry at this point.
g) – Paul has forgotten to book the tickets I’m afraid.
- He was always doing / would do something like that!
h) It took a while for me to notice, but then I did. Everyone stared / was staring at me. What
had I done wrong?
i) Nobody bothered to tell me that the school decided / had decided to have a special holiday
that Friday.
j) I was trying / tried to get in touch with you all day yesterday. Where were you?

2. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense. All sentences refer to past time.
Suggest alternative tenses is necessary where the past perfect or another tense might
be possible.
a) I realised that someone _________ (steal) my wallet when I _________ (feel) their
hand in my jacket pocket.
b) When I _________ (phone) Helen last night she _________ (wash) her hair and she
_________ (not finish) when I finally _________ (get to) her house.
c) Peter __________ (offer) me another drink but I decided I __________ (drink)
enough.
d) Nobody __________ (watch), so the little boy __________ (take) the packet of
sweets from the shelf and _________ (put) it in his pocket.
e) I __________ (not realise) that I _________ (leave) my umbrella on the bus until it
_________ (start) to rain.
f) At school, I _________ (dislike) the maths teacher because he _________ (always
pick) on me.
g) Wherever Marion _________ (find) a job, there was someone who _________ (know)
that she _________ (go) to prison.
h) It was only much later I _________ (find out) that during all the time I _________
(write) to my pen-friend, my mother _________ (open) and reading the replies!
 i) I _________ (not understand) what _________ (go on). Several people _________
(shout) at me, and one __________ (wave) a newspaper in front of my face.
j) I _________ (know) I _________ (do) well in my exams even before I _________
(receive) the official results.

3. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past tense. Only use the part perfect where
this is absolutely necessary.
This time last year I _________ (cycle) in the rain along a country road in France with a
friend of mine. We _________ (decide) to go on a cycling holiday in Normandy. Neither of us
_________ (go) to France before, but we _________ (know) some French from our time at
school and we _________ (manage) to brush up on the basics. Now we _________ (wonder)
if we _________ (make) the right decision. We _________ (plan) our route carefully in
advance, but we _________ (forget) one important thing, the weather. It __________ (rain)
solidly since our arrival and that night we _________ (end up) sleeping in the waiting room at
a railway station. Then the next morning as we _________ (ride) down a steep hill my bike
_________ (skid) on the wet road and I _________ (fall off). I _________ (realise)
immediately that I _________ (break) my arm, and after a visit to the local hospital I
_________ (catch) the next train to Calais for the ferry home. Unfortunately, my parents
_________ (not expect) me home for a fortnight, and _________ (go) away on holiday. So, I
_________ (spend) a miserable couple of weeks alone, reading Teach Yourself French.

4. In each sentence decide whether one or both of the alternative tenses given are
appropriate.
a) In those days, I always used to get up / got up early in the morning.
b) When I got to the cinema Jack had been waiting / was waiting for me.
c) We would always have / were always having breakfast in bed on Sundays.
d) Mary was always falling / always fell ill before important examinations.
e) My sister used to own / would own a motorcycle and sidecar.
f) Pay no attention do Dave’s remarks. He wasn’t meaning / didn’t mean it.
g) I felt awful after lunch. I ate / had eaten too much.
h) Brenda left / had left before I had time to talk to her.
i) The explanation was simple. In 1718 HMS Sovereign on her way back from India had
sighted / sighted an empty boat drifting off the African coast.
j) Pauline has changed a lot. She didn’t always use to look / wasn’t always looking like
that.

5. Rewrite each sentence so that is contains the word or words in capitals. Do not
change the words in any way.
a) I intended to call you yesterday, but I forgot. GOING

b) We used to spend Sunday afternoons working in the garden. WOULD

c) Paul had the irritating habit of making trouble. ALWAYS

d) Diana wasn’t always as rude as that. BE

e) I felt happy about the improvement in Jean’s condition. BETTER

f) I wasn’t very keen on sport in those days. USE

g) I might possibly go to the theatre tonight. WAS

h) I had to go past your house so I decided to drop in. PASSING

i) Susan booked out before we got to her hotel. BY THE TIME

j) What did you do at the moment of the explosion? WHEN

6. Put each verb in bracket s into a suitable past tense. Only use the past perfect
where this is absolutely necessary.
Harry went back to the camp the following morning, but it was in some confusion. Soldiers
_________ (wander) around carrying equipment from one place to another, but there
_________ (not seem) to be any purpose to what they _________ (do). Harry __________
(never be) in an army camp before, but it _________ (not take) a genius to realise that most
of the officers _________ (take) the first opportunity to abandon the men and head for
safety. He _________ (try) to phone the newspaper, but something _________ (happen) to
the telephone lines. He _________ (try) to find out what exactly __________ (go on), when
the first plane __________ (fly) low over the camp. A wooden building a few hundred yards
away suddenly _________ (disappear) all around him, and then everything _________ (go)
quiet. The planes _________ (vanish) as suddenly as they _________ (appear). Smoke
_________ (rise) from burning buildings. A dead man __________ (lie) next to Harry, the
first dead person he ___________ (ever see). And suddenly it _________ (begin) to rain.
 PRESENT PERFECT

1. Present perfect simple refers to:

Recent events, without a definite time given. The recentness may be indicated by
just.
We’ve missed the turning.
I’ve just seen a ghost!
Indefinite events, which happened at an unknown time in the past. No definite
time is given.
Jim has had three car accidents. (up to the present)
Indefinite events which may have an obvious result in the present.
I’ve twisted my ankle. (that’s why I’m limping)
With state verbs, a state which lasts up to the present.
I’ve lived here for the past ten years.
2. Contrast with past simple.
Past simple is used with time expressions which refer to definite times. Compare:
I’ve bought a new car. (indefinite)
I bought a new car last week. (definite)
I bought the car after all. (implied definite: the car we talked about)
Choice between past simple and present perfect for recent events may depend on
the mental attitude of the speaker. This in turn may depend on whether the
speaker feels distant in time or place from the event.
I’ve left my wallet in the car. I’m going back to get it.
Here the speaker may be about to return, and feels that the event is connected
with the present.
I left my wallet in the car. I’m going back to get it.
Here the speaker may feel separated in time from the event, or be further away.

3. Present perfect continuous (progressive) can refer to a range of meaning,

depending on the time expression used and the context.
a) A state which lasts up to the present moment.
I’ve been waiting for you for three hours!
b) An incomplete activity.
I’ve been cleaning the house but I still haven’t finished.
c) To emphasise duration.
I’ve been writing letters all morning.
d) A recently finished activity.
I’ve been running. That’s why I look hot.
e) A repeated activity.
I’ve been taking French lessons this year.

4. Contrast with present perfect simple

There may be little contrast when some state verbs are used.
How long have you lived here?
 How long have you been living here?
Come verbs (especially sit, lie, wait and stay) prefer the continuous form.
There may be a contrast between completion and incompletion, especially if the
number of items completed is mentioned.
Completed: emphasis on achievement.
I’ve ironed five shirts this morning.
Incomplete, or recently completed: emphasis on duration.
I’ve been ironing my shirts this morning.

ACTIVITIES

1. Choose the most appropriate tense underlined.

a) I can’t believe it, inspector. You mean that Smith stole / has stolen / has been stealing
money from the till all this time!
b) You three boys look very guilty! What did you do / have you done / have you been doing
since I left / have left the room?
c) Why on earth didn’t you tell / haven’t you told me about that loose floorboard?
d) It’s a long time since I saw / have seen / have been seeing your brother Paul. What did
he do / has he done / has he been doing lately?
e) I can’t believe that you ate / have eaten / have been eating three pizzas already! I only
brought / have only brought them in fifteen minutes ago!
f) Don’t forget that you didn’t see / haven’t seen Mrs Dawson. She has waited / has been
waiting outside since 10.30.
g) What did you think / have you thought of Brighton? Did you stay / Have you stayed there
long?
h) I feel really tired. I weeded / have weeded / have been weeding the garden for the last
three hours and I didn’t rest / haven’t rested for a single moment.
i) I’m having problems with David. He has called / has been calling me up in the middle of
the night and told / telling me his troubles.
j) How long did you have / have you taken / have you been taking your test yet?

2. Put each verb in brackets into the most appropriate perfect or past tense.
a) I’m sorry I _________ (not come) to class lately.
I _________ (work) late in the evening for the past fortnight.
b) So far, we _________ (not notice) anything unusual, but we _________ (not pay) very
close attention.
c) I wonder if Mary _________ (reach) home yet? She _________ (leave) too late to catch
the bus.
d) Here is the new. The Home Office _________ (announce) that the two prisoners who
_________ (escape) from Dartmoor prison earlier this morning _________ (give themselves
up) to local police.
e) _________ (you make up) your minds? What _________ (you decide) to do?
f) Harry _________ (leave) home rather suddenly and we _________ (not hear) from him
since.
g) Recent research _________ (show) that Columbus _________ (not discover) America,
but that Vikings _________ (land) there five hundred years before him.
h) I think that people _________ (become) tired of the poor quality of television
programmes, though they _________ (improve) lately.
i) _________ (something/happen) to the lines? I _________ (try) to get through to
Glasgow for the past hour.
j) Bill _________ (get) that new job, but he _________ (complain) about it ever since.

3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the
meaning stays the same.
a) You have missed the beginning of the film. HAS
b) I can’t seem to stop sneezing lately. BEEN

c) Paul is different from what he used to be. HAS

d) This has been my home for thirty years. HAVE

e) Eating Chinese food is new to me. BEFORE

f) Is there any news? HAPPENED

g) I bought my car in 1985 and I’m still driving it. BEEN

h) I don’t know where my keys are. HAVE

i) Sue doesn’t have her dictionary with her; it’s at home. HAS

j) Tony hasn’t been to Paris before. FIRST

4. Choose the most appropriate phrase for each situation.

a) The price of petrol has risen / has been rising by 15% over the past year.
b) No wonder you are overweight! You have eaten / You have been eating chocolates all day
long!
c) I’ve read / I’ve been reading War and Peace this morning.
d) Doesn’t this room look better? I’ve put / I’ve been putting some posters up on the walls.
e) Don’t disappoint me! I’ve counted on you / I’ve been counting on you.
f) Don’t forget your pills today. Have you taken them / Have you been taking them?
g) Who has worn / has been wearing my scarf?
h) I think there’s something wrong with your motorbike. It’s made / it’s been making some
very funny noises.
i) Jack has asked / has been asking for a pay-rise three times this year.
j) I’ve been phoning / I’ve phoned Ann all evening, but there’s no reply.

5. Put each verb in brackets into either the past simple, present perfect simple or
present perfect continuous.
Ever since the day I ________ (decide) to move to London, I ________ (worry) whether the
decision I ________ (take) was the right one. As I ________ (already sell) my house and
________ (arrange) a new job, it is too late to change my mind. However, since then I
________ (hear) a lot of negative things about living in the capital, and lately some of them
small town and I _________ (spend) all of my life there. I _________ (always want) to live in
a big city and so when my company _________ (offer) me a job in their London office, I
________ (grab) at the chance. But according to a programme I ________ (just hear) on the
radio, more and more people _________ (stop) working in London recently, and a lot of large
companies _________ (choose) to move away from the centre. Of course, I _________ (tell)
my parents that I’m moving and they _________ (accept) my decision, but when I
_________ (tell) my friend they _________ (seem) rather chocked. Since then I _________
(hope) secretly that the company would tell me that the move was off!

PROGRESS TEST

1. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate tense.

Farmers, as we all _______ (know), ________ (have) a hard time of it in Britain lately, and
_________ (turn) to new ways of earning income from their land. This ________ (involve)
not only planting new kinds of crops, but some strange ways of making money, the most
unusual of which has got to be sheep racing. Yes, you _________ (hear) me correctly! A
farmer in the Welt of England now _________ (hold) sheep races on a regular basis, and
during the past year over 100 000 people _________ (turn up) to watch the proceedings. “I
_________ (pass) the farm on my way to the sea for a holiday”, one punter told me, “and I
_________ (think) I’d have a look. I _________ (not believe) it was serious, to tell you the
truth”. According to a regular visitor, betting on sheep is more interesting than betting on
horses. “At proper horse races, everyone _________ (already study) the form of the horses
in advance, and there are clear favourites. But nobody ________ (hear) anything about these
sheep! Most people ________ (find) it difficult to tell one from another in any case”. I
________ (stay) to watch the races, and I must admit that I ________ (find) it quite
exciting. In a typical race, half a dozen sheep ________ (race) downhill over a course of
about half a mile. Food __________ (wait) for them at the other end of the presumably they
_________ (not eat) for a while just to give them some motivation. At any rate, the crowd
around me _________ (obviously enjoy) their day out at the races, judging by their happy
faces and the sense of excitement.

2. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.
a) This bridge will take us three years to complete.
In three years’ time, we…
b) The dog keeps stealing my socks!
The dog is …
c) After taking the pills, I began to feel much better.
Since taking…
d) I haven’t seen Anne for years.
It’s years …
e) Patsy wasn’t always so unfriendly.
Patsy didn’t…
f) Harry left before we reached the hotel.
By the time…
g) Is there such a place as Eldorado?
Does…

3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the
meaning stays the same.
a) When is the train due to arrive? GET

b) I shouldn’t think Paul knows the answer. DOUBT

c) I’ve had to wait all afternoon. BEEN

d) To get to work on time I have to get up at 6.00. MEANS

e) Today is Liz and John’s thirtieth wedding anniversary. FOR

f) By the end of the week, Harry was well again. GOT

g) Whose watch is this? BELONG

h) Cathy hasn’t been on holiday with her sister before. FIRST

i) My dentist’s appointment is for next Wednesday. TO

j) Brenda had no idea of her next move. WHAT

4. Choose the most appropriate word of phrase.

a) _________ we get to the theatre, the play will have started.
A) As soon as B) Until C) By the time D) Whenever
b) What’s the matter? Haven’t you started _________?
A) already B) yet C) by now D) soon
c) The trouble with you is that you’re _________ complaining.
A) forever B) often C) still D) each time
d) Can you remember what you were doing _________?
A) the time B) usually C) every day D) at the time
e) the new school opens _________.
A) now B) at once C) next week D) day by day
f) I haven’t been feeling very well ________.
A) of late B) not long ago C) currently D) by now
g) _________ we get to the top if this hill, we’ll be all right.
A) Eventually B) Once C) Now D) At the time
h) It’s ages __________ I last saw a decent comedy film on television.
A) that B) ago C) since D) when
i) I don’t go swimming very much _________.
A) nowadays B) in those days C) recently D) now and again
j) _________ we haven’t managed to find what we are looking for.
A) To now B) On and off C) Formerly D) So far

5. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense, in either continuous or simple
form, according to the context.
a) This is my new car. What _________ (you think) of it?
b) -Who are you?
-What do you mean? I _________ (live) here.
c) I can’t find the car keys. What _________ (you do) with them?
d) Sorry I haven’t fixed the plug. I __________ (mean) to get round to it, but I just haven’t
found the time.
e) What __________ (you do) on Saturdays?
f) I don’t know what time we’ll eat. It __________ (depend) when Helen gets here.
g) I supported you at the time because I _________ (feel) that you were right.
h) People couldn’t understand what had been decided because too many people _________
(talk) at once.
i) Jean, I’m so glad you’ve got here al last. I _________ (expect) you all day.
j) Please don’t let me down this time! I __________ (depend) on you.

6. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate tense.

a) Sam __________ (not receive) the parcel the last time I __________ (speak) to him.
b) I ___________ (consider) buying a house but now I _________ (change) my mind.
c) When you _________ (feel) hungry later, room service __________ (bring) you
whatever you ___________ (want).
d) I _________ (find) it difficult to convince the ticket inspector that I ___________ (lose)
my ticket.
e) Since I __________ (pay) for our lunch, I ___________ (try) to attract the waiter’s
attention.
f) As soon as I _________ (have) a good look at the designs, I __________ (send) them
back to you.
g) I _________ (hope) to meet you ever since I __________ (read) your first novel.
h) Whatever __________ (happen), I __________ (meet) you here in a week’s time.
i) By the time you __________ (finish) getting ready, we _________ (miss) the train!
j) Sally! I _________ (not expect) to see you here! What _________ (you do) in New York?

7. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same.
a) The last time I was in Prague was in 1986.
I haven’t…
b) This will be the team’s first match outside England.
This will be the first time…
c) Terry will get over his illness. Then his work will improve.
Once…
d) There will be someone to meet you on arrival.
When…
e) The number of people who attended the fair exceeded our expectations.
More people…
f) I didn’t receive the results of my test for a month.
It was…
g) My work won’t be finished by the end of the month.
I…
h) Go to the international ticket desk immediately on arrival.
As…
i) I didn’t know about John’s departure.
I didn’t know that…
j) Quite a few books are missing from the class library.
Several members of the class have not…

8. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate tense.

a) I _________ (not understand) what you _________ (wait) for.
b) __________ (anyone see) my pencil? I _________ (leave) it here somewhere.
c) When he _________ (not arrive) by 6.00, I _________ (know) he __________ (miss)
the bus.
d) _________ (you go away) this weekend? Or _________ (you run out) of money?
e) What _________ (you think) you _________ (do) in ten years’ time?
f) I __________ (really enjoy) myself at the moment.
g) _________ (you let) me know the minute you _________ (hear) any news?
h) Something __________ (tell) me that you __________ (not listen) to a single word I
__________ (say) in the past ten minutes!
i) What’s the matter? __________ (you hurt) your ankle? How __________ (you do) it?
j) That’s definitely the last time that I __________ (lend) you any money!

9. Complete each sentence with one appropriate word.

a) It’s __________ since I last had a good Chinese meal.
b) Funnily enough I was Bob quite __________ at the sports club.
c) I’ve loved you ever _________ the first day I set eyes on you!
d) How long __________ was it that you lived in Inverness?
e) I’ve ___________ to see anyone who can dance as well as Diana.
f) Could you phone me the ___________ you arrive at the hotel so I don’t worry?
g) I promise to get everything ready __________ eight o’clock at the latest.
h) Have you finished ___________ ? Wow, you are a fast worker, aren’t you!
i) I’m sorry you’ve been waiting so long, but it will be some time __________ Brian gets
back.
j) Just sit here, would you? The doctor will be with you __________.