Present continuous.

Estructura del Present Continuous:

La estructura básica del Present Continuous se forma utilizando el verbo auxiliar "to be"
(am, is, are) seguido del verbo principal en su forma de gerundio (-ing).

 Afirmativa: Sujeto + am/is/are + verbo en forma de gerundio (-ing).

 I am watching TV. (Estoy viendo la televisión.)

 Negativa: Sujeto + am/is/are + not + verbo en forma de gerundio (-ing).

 I am not watching TV. (No estoy viendo la televisión.)

 Interrogativa: Am/Is/Are + sujeto + verbo en forma de gerundio (-ing)?

 Are you watching TV? (¿Estás viendo la televisión?)

Usos del Present Continuous:

1. Acciones en curso: Se utiliza para describir acciones que están ocurriendo en el

momento presente o alrededor de este. Por ejemplo: "I am reading a book"
(Estoy leyendo un libro).

2. Acciones temporales: También se usa para hablar de acciones temporales que

pueden no estar ocurriendo en este momento, pero que están relacionadas con un
período de tiempo específico. Por ejemplo: "They are staying at a hotel this
week" (Ellos están alojándose en un hotel esta semana).

3. Planes futuros próximos: El Present Continuous se utiliza para hablar de

planes o arreglos que están programados para el futuro cercano. Por ejemplo: "I
am meeting my friend tomorrow" (Voy a encontrarme con mi amigo mañana).

4. Situaciones cambiantes: Puede usarse para describir situaciones que están

cambiando o evolucionando. Por ejemplo: "The weather is getting colder" (El
clima se está volviendo más frío).
¿Cuándo se usa el present continuous y cuando el presente simple?

Pres. Simple Pres. Continuous

Hábitos Acciones en progreso ahora

He goes to school everyday He is going to school (now)

Hechos o situaciones permanentes Acciones o estados temporales

He lives in Santiago He is living in Santiago for a few months

Con verbos estativos1 Para acciones que están cambiando o
desarrollándose
Where were you? You smell bad He is improving in his piano lessons

Reglas para formar el gerundio

Si el verbo acaba en “-e”, ésta desaparece y se le añade “-ing”.

Ejemplo: take -> taking
Si el verbo acaba en “-ic”, se le añade una “-k” seguido de “-ing”.
Ejemplo: picnic-> picnicking
Si el verbo acaba en “-ie”, estas dos letras desaparecen y se añade “-y” seguido de “-
ing”.
Ejemplo: die-> dying
Si el verbo acaba en “-l”, ésta se duplica y se le añade “-ing”.
Ejemplo: travel-> travelling
Si el verbo tiene una sola sílaba y acaba en consonante seguida de vocal seguida ésta de
consonante, la última consonante se duplica y se añade “-ing”.
Ejemplo: Run-> running
Si el verbo tiene dos sílabas, el acento recae en la segunda sílaba y acaba en consonante
seguida de vocal seguida ésta de consonante, la última consonante se duplica y se le
añade “-ing”.
Ejemplo: admit-> admitting

1
Los verbos estativos, también llamados "verbos de estado" en inglés, describen estados o condiciones
en lugar de acciones. Son verbos que expresan emociones, estados mentales, posesión, percepción,
identidad y otros estados o condiciones. Algunos de estos verbos son: be, seem, appear, become, feel,
taste, smell, hear, see, look, sound, belong, own, possess, exist, include, prefer, know, understand,
realize, think, believe, doubt, forget, remember, hate, like, love, prefer, trust, want, need, matter, cost,
weigh, measure. Normalmente no se usan con el present continuous, pero puede haber excepciones.
El Past Perfect
El Past Perfect es un tiempo verbal que se utiliza para describir una acción que ocurrió
en el pasado antes de otra acción también en el pasado. Se usa para indicar cuál de las
dos acciones sucedió primero. Este tiempo verbal sería el equivalente del
“pluscuamperfecto” del español.
Estructura del Past Perfect:
La estructura básica del Past Perfect se forma utilizando el verbo auxiliar "had" seguido
del participio pasado del verbo principal.
 Afirmativa: Sujeto + had + participio pasado del verbo.
"She had already finished her work before I arrived." (Ella ya había terminado su
trabajo antes de que yo llegara.)
 Negativa: Sujeto + hadn't (contracción de "had not") + participio pasado del
verbo.
"They hadn't met each other until last year." (No se habían conocido hasta el año
pasado.)
 Interrogativa: Had + sujeto + participio pasado del verbo?
"Had you ever been to Paris before this trip?" (¿Habías estado alguna vez en París antes
de este viaje?)
Usos del Past Perfect:
1. Secuencia de acciones pasadas: El Past Perfect se utiliza para indicar cuál de
dos acciones ocurrió primero en el pasado. La acción en Past Perfect es la que
ocurrió antes.
"He had already left when I called." (Él ya se había ido cuando llamé.)
2. Acción pasada antes de un punto en el pasado: Se usa para describir una
acción que ocurrió antes de un punto específico en el pasado, como "before,"
"by the time," "when," "until," etc.
"By the time they arrived, we had finished dinner." (Cuando llegaron, ya habíamos
terminado de cenar.)
3. Antes de narrar una historia en el pasado: A menudo se utiliza al comenzar
una narración en el pasado para establecer eventos que ocurrieron antes del
marco temporal principal de la historia.
"She had always dreamed of becoming a pilot. One day, her dream came true."
Present perfect
El "present perfect" de cualquier verbo está compuesto por dos elementos: la forma
apropiada del verbo auxiliar to have (en presente) y el "past participle" del verbo
principal.

Esta forma verbal se emplea para señalar un vínculo entre el presente y el pasado. El
tiempo en que transcurre la acción es anterior al presente pero inespecífico y, a menudo,
recae un mayor interés sobre el resultado que sobre la propia acción.

Usos del present perfect:

 Una acción o situación iniciada en el pasado y que continúa en el presente. I

have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= todavía vivo allí.)
 Una acción realizada durante un periodo de tiempo aún no concluido. She hasn
been to the cinema twice this week (= la semana todavía no ha terminado.)
 Una acción repetida en un periodo temporal inespecífico situado entre el pasado
y el presente. We have visited Portugal several times.
 Una acción que ha concluido en un pasado muy reciente, lo que se indica
mediante 'just'. I have just finished my work.
 Una acción para la cual no es importante el momento preciso en que aconteció.
He has read 'War and Peace'. (= lo relevante es el resultado de la acción)
Present Perfect o Past Simple

Utilizamos el "present perfect" siempre que el tiempo en que se desarrolla la acción no

es relevante o no se especifica. En cambio, empleamos el "simple past" siempre que se
solicitan o especifican datos sobre el momento o el lugar de la acción.

Pres. Perfect Past simple

Acciones sin acabar que empiezan en el Acciones terminadas
pasado y continúan en el presente.

I have practised dance for four years (and I practised dance four year (and now I
I still do) don’t)
Una acción terminada en la vida de Una acción terminada en la vida de
alguien (si la persona sigue viva) alguien (si la persona ha muerto)

My sister has traveled to London several Napoleon ruled in France for fifteen years
times
Una acción terminada que tiene Una acción terminada sin repercusiones
repercusiones en el presente en el presente

I have have redecorated my house (so now I redecorated my house (does not focus in
my house looks very different how the house looks like now)
Cuando el verbo se acompaña de Cuando el verbo se acompaña de
marcadores temporales que no son finitos marcadores temporales finitos (yesterday,
(this week, this year, this month, today, last year, last month, etc).2
etc)

This week I’ve been very busy Yesterday I was very busy

Just, already, yet, for y since + present perfect.

1. Just: "Just" se utiliza para indicar que una acción ocurrió muy recientemente o
en un momento muy cercano al presente. Se coloca generalmente entre el
auxiliar "have" (have/has) y el participio pasado del verbo.

2
En ocasiones, para saber si un marcador temporal es finito o no hay que prestar atención al contexto.
Por ejemplo, si dices “this morning” probablemente la frase se esté refiriendo a un momento ya pasado
aunque tenga la misma estructura que “this week”.
  "I have just finished my homework." (Acabo de terminar mi tarea.)
 "She has just left for work." (Ella acaba de irse al trabajo.)
2. Already: "Already" se usa para indicar que una acción ha ocurrido antes de un
momento específico en el pasado o antes de lo esperado. Se coloca en
afirmaciones y preguntas afirmativas.
 "I have already eaten breakfast." (Ya he desayunado.)
 "Have you already visited that museum?" (¿Ya has visitado ese museo?)
3. Yet: "Yet" se utiliza en preguntas y negaciones para indicar que una acción aún
no ha ocurrido, pero se espera que suceda en algún momento en el futuro. Se
coloca al final de la oración interrogativa o negativa.
 "Have you finished your homework yet?" (¿Has terminado tu tarea
todavía?)
 "I haven't seen that movie yet." (Todavía no he visto esa película.)
4. For: "For" se utiliza para indicar la duración de una acción o situación que ha
estado ocurriendo hasta el presente. Se usa para expresar cuánto tiempo ha
pasado desde que comenzó la acción. Se combina con una cantidad de tiempo.
 "I have lived here for five years." (He vivido aquí durante cinco años.)
 "They have been studying English for two hours." (Han estado
estudiando inglés durante dos horas.)
5. Since: "Since" se utiliza para indicar el punto específico en el tiempo en el que
comenzó una acción o situación que continúa hasta el presente. Se utiliza con
una fecha, un momento en el tiempo o una cláusula de tiempo.
Past Continuous
El Past Continuous es un tiempo verbal que se utiliza para describir acciones o
situaciones que estaban ocurriendo en el pasado en un momento específico o durante un
período de tiempo determinado. Se enfoca en el desarrollo o progreso de una acción en
un punto anterior en el tiempo.
Estructura del Past Continuous:
La estructura básica del Past Continuous se forma utilizando el verbo auxiliar "was"
(para la primera persona del singular y la tercera persona del singular) o "were" (para
las demás personas) seguido del verbo principal en su forma de gerundio ("-ing").
 Afirmativa: Sujeto + was/were + verbo en gerundio (-ing).
"I was studying when the phone rang." (Estaba estudiando cuando sonó el teléfono.)
 Negativa: Sujeto + was not (wasn't) / were not (weren't) + verbo en gerundio (-
ing).
"They weren't watching TV at that time." (No estaban viendo la televisión en ese
momento.)
 Interrogativa: Was/Were + sujeto + verbo en gerundio (-ing)?
"Were you playing soccer yesterday?" (¿Estabas jugando al fútbol ayer?)
Usos del Past Continuous:
1. Acciones en progreso en el pasado: El Past Continuous se utiliza para describir
acciones o situaciones que estaban ocurriendo en el pasado en un momento
específico o durante un período de tiempo.
"At 3 PM yesterday, I was working on my project." (A las 3 de la tarde de ayer, estaba
trabajando en mi proyecto.)
2. Acciones simultáneas en el pasado: Se usa para describir dos acciones que
estaban ocurriendo al mismo tiempo en el pasado.
"While she was cooking dinner, he was setting the table." (Mientras ella estaba
cocinando la cena, él estaba poniendo la mesa.)
3. Contexto en una narración: El Past Continuous se utiliza para establecer el
contexto en una narración o cuento en el pasado antes de introducir una acción
principal en el Past Simple.
"It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was howling, and the rain was pouring
down."
4. Interrogativas sobre acciones pasadas: Se utiliza en preguntas para preguntar
educadamente o con cortesía sobre lo que alguien estaba haciendo en un
momento específico en el pasado.
"What were you reading when I called you?"
Present perfect continuous.
El Present Perfect Continuous, también conocido como Present Perfect Progressive, es
un tiempo verbal en inglés que se utiliza para expresar acciones o situaciones que
comenzaron en el pasado y continúan en el presente, o bien, para resaltar la duración de
una acción que ha estado ocurriendo hasta el momento presente.
Estructura del Present Perfect Continuous:
La estructura básica del Present Perfect Continuous se forma utilizando el verbo auxiliar
"have" (have/has) en la forma del Present Perfect, seguido de "been," y luego el verbo
principal en su forma de gerundio ("-ing").
 Affirmative (Afirmativa): Sujeto + have/has + been + verbo en gerundio (-ing).
Ejemplo:
 "She has been studying all day." (Ella ha estado estudiando todo el día.)
 Negative (Negativa): Sujeto + have/has + not (haven't/hasn't) + been + verbo en
gerundio (-ing).
Ejemplo:
 "They haven't been working here for long." (Ellos no han estado
trabajando aquí por mucho tiempo.)
 Interrogative (Interrogativa): Have/Has + sujeto + been + verbo en gerundio
(-ing)?
Ejemplo:
 "Have you been practicing the piano?" (¿Has estado practicando el
piano?)
Usos del Present Perfect Continuous:
1. Acciones en progreso hasta el presente: El Present Perfect Continuous se
utiliza para destacar la duración de una acción que comenzó en el pasado y
continúa en el presente. Por ejemplo: "She has been working at the company for
five years".
2. Acciones temporales que afectan el presente: Se usa para expresar acciones o
situaciones que ocurrieron en algún momento del pasado y que aún tienen un
impacto o relevancia en el presente. Por ejemplo: "I have been studying Spanish,
so I can communicate with my colleagues"
3. Preguntar sobre la duración de una acción: Puede utilizarse en preguntas para
averiguar cuánto tiempo ha estado ocurriendo una acción. Por ejemplo: "How
long have you been waiting?"
 4. Con "for" y "since": Se utiliza junto con "for" (por) y "since" (desde) para
indicar la duración o el punto de inicio de una acción. Por ejemplo: "They have
been playing tennis for two hours", "She has been working here since 2010".

Present perfect simple vs present perfect continuous:

Pres. Perfect simple Pres. Perfect continuous

Se usa si la acción está completada para Se usa si la acción no está terminada y
poner el énfasis en el resultado de esta. quieres poner el énfasis en el resultado de
esta.

I have cleaned my room. I have been working all day.

Se utiliza para hablar de situaciones Se usa para hablar de situaciones
que prevalecen en el tiempo temporales

I have lived in Santiago the last four I have been living in Santiago for four
years. years.
Sirve para indicar que la acción tuvo Sirve para indicar que una acción es
lugar una vez o un número específico de repetitiva.
veces.

She has gone to the hospital twice this She has been going to the hospital a lot
month. lately.
Responde a “how much” o “how many” Responde a “how long”

She has seen two movies today She has been watching movies all day
Answer the questions:
How often do you walk to school?

What do you do after school?

What can you eat in an Italian restaurant?

Where does a doctor work?

What are you going to do next Saturday?

Fill in the blanks with present continuous or present simple:

1. The children ………………………….. (play) outside now.
2. She usually ………………………. (read) the newspaper in the morning.
3. I …………………………… (do) my homework now.
4. I ………………………… (eat) my dinner now.
5. ……………………………. (you / want) a pizza?
6. They …………………………….. (watch) TV now.
7. I ……………………………. (not / like) spaghetti.
8. The baby …………………………. (sleep) now.
9. My mother usually …………………. (cook) dinner in the evening.
10. He …………………….. (write) a letter to his pen-friend every month.
11. She ………………………. (not / like) football.
12. Mary ………………………….. (listen) to music now.
13. Tom usually ……………………(drink) coffee, but he …………………. (drink) tea
now.
14. We ………………………. (go) to the disco tonight.
15. ………………………… (he / go) to work by bus everyday.

Build up sentences:
1. He / like watching TV / but / he / not / watch / at the moment / because / he / sleep //
2. What / Wendy / do / at the moment / ? // She / clean / her teeth / bathroom //

3. mother / can ( - ) / help me / now / because / she / cook / kitchen //

5. Where / your cousin / live / ? // She / live / Sydney / Australia //

6. Why / you / eat / sandwich / now / ? // Because / I / be / hungry //

7. Tim / usually / go / work / bicycle //

8. children / play / games / everyday //

9. My brother / can ( - ) / play / tennis / because / he / not / have / racket //

10. How often / mother / cook / pizza / ? //

11. My parents / not / like / roller-skates / because / they / be / dangerous //

Supply a suitable SIMPLE PAST or PAST PERFECT TENSE:
1. I ………………………. (worry) a lot about her before I ………………………..
(hear) that she was safe.
2. I I didn’t like the flat. It …………………….. (be) much smaller than I
………………….. (think) at first.
3. He told us he ………………………….. (shoot) a big tiger.
4. They ……………………….. (drink) tea after they ……………………………….
(finish) dinner.
5. She ……………. just ……………….. (fold) the pink apron and placed it in a table
drawer when the door …………………………… (open) and Joe ……………….
(enter).
6. The police wanted to know why he …………………………….. (bring) a gun to
school.
7. After he ………………………………. (work) at the hospital for two years he
………….. (decide) to give up the job.
8. When I …………………………. (arrive) at the party John ……………. already
……….. (go) home.
9. We ………………………… (wait) until the match ……………………………..
(finish).
10. They …………………………… (leave) the room before the meeting
……………………(finish).
11. I ……………………………….. (buy) a new camera before I ………………….
(go) to London.
12. I ……………….. just ………………… (turn off) the lights when the telephone
…………(ring).

Combine the following sentences by using AFTER / BEFORE:

1. My mother took her umbrella. She went out.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Frank called me. I went to school.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
3. I washed the dishes. I watched TV.
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. She washed her hands. She had lunch.
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. The boys bought a ball. They played football.
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. My mother made a cake. The guests came.
………………………………………………………………………………………
7. He put sugar in his tea. He drank it.
………………………………………………………………………………………
8. I got up. I had breakfast.
………………………………………………………………………………………
9. The children ran away. They broke the window.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
10. I fastened my seat belt. The plane took off.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Fill in the blanks with a correct form, the past simple or the past continuous.
1. He ………………………………….. (talk) with Mary, when Mrs. Smith came in.
2. They ………………………………… (study) two hours last night.
3. Jane …………………………………. (sleep) when the telephone rang.
4. As I …………………………………. (walk) to the lab, I met my friend.
5. We ………………………………….. (watch) TV last night.
6. The customer ………………………… (pay) his cheque when he dropped his credit
card.
7. The barber …………………………………. (cut) my hair yesterday.
8. She ………………………………. (dance) when she hurt her ankle.
9. It …………………………………. (rain) hard when I got up.
10. It …………………………………. (rain) hard last night.
11. While they ……………………………… (travel) to China, Marco
……………………. (keep) a diary.
12. Mrs. White …………………………………. (drive) past a house in Main Street
when she ……………………… (see) the ground floor on fire.
13. While he ………………………………. (fly) off the Miami Coast, the pilot
…………….. (see) sharks approaching the swimmers.
14. The fireman ……………………………… (fight) the fire on a balcony below when
he ………………………… (hear) someone’s shouts.
15. She …………………… (die) while she ………………………….. (run) after a bus.
16. We ……………………………….. (have) dinner when the electricity
…………………… (go) off.
17. She ………………………………… (think) of something else while you
……………….. (talk) to her.
18. I ……………………….. (see) her while I …………………………………. (look)
out of the window.
19. While the teacher ………………………………….. (talk), the students
………………….. (look) at an insect on the ceiling
Put the verbs in the correct tense. Use the past simple or the present perfect:
1. ……………………….. Tim ………………………. (finish) his work yet?
2. ……………………….. he ………………………… (finish) it ywsterday?
3. They ……………………………………. (just / go) out.
4. They ……………………………… (go) out a minute ago.
5. …………………… Ann …………………………. (study) yesterday afternoon?
6. …………………… you …………………………. (send) the letters yet?
7. …………………… she ………………………….. (call) him a week ago?
8. They ………………………………………. (not / see) the film yet.
9. The train ……………………………………………… (just / arrive).
10. ………………………. you ……………………………. (ever / be) in a TV studio?
11. …………………… you and Tom ………………………… (enjoy) the party last
night?
12. …………………… you ………………………………. (not / finish) school last
year?
13. I ………………………………………. (lose) my dictionary. I can’t find it
anywhere.
14. His hair looks short. He ………………………………………….. (have) a haircut.
15. When ………………………………………………. (he / give up) smoking?
16. Jane …………………………………….. (buy) her car two weeks ago.
17. My bicycle isn’t here. Somebody ……………………………………………. (take)
it.
18. Why ……………………………………… (Jim / not want) to play tennis last
Friday?
19. The car looks clean. ……………………….. you ……………………….. (wash) it?
20. When we were on holiday, the weather …………………………… (be) terrible.

Fill in the blanks with ALREADY or YET:

1. He hasn’t called us ……………………………… .
2. They have ………………………………… sent the letter.
3. John has ……………………………… bought the tickets for the football match.
4. We have ……………………………….. been to Mexico three times.
5. You haven’t visited Tokyo ………………………………… .
6. Has John bought a new car ………………………………….. ?
7. The plane has …………………………… left.
8. Has she done it …………………………….. ? No, not …………………………. .
9. A: Haven’t they arrived ………………………………. ?
B: Oh, yes. They have ………………………………… arrived.

Follow the example and do the same using JUST:

Example: he / go out
- He has JUST gone out.
1. She / leave the room
……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. they / watch the news
……………………………………………………………………………………………
3. I / finish homework
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4. he / put on the jacket
……………………………………………………………………………………………
5. she / catch a fish
……………………………………………………………………………………………
6. he / call a taxi
……………………………………………………………………………………………
7. you / write a letter
……………………………………………………………………………………………
8. the girl / burn the cake
……………………………………………………………………………………………
9. the teacher / walk out
……………………………………………………………………………………………
10. the dog / see the cat
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Ask questions with “how long”:
Example: I am married.
- HOW LONG have you been married?
1. I know Bob. ………………………………………………….
2. Sue and Alan are married. ………………………………………………….
3. George is unemployed. …………………………………………………
4. Those books are here. …………………………………………………
5. Mary is at the airport. ………………………………………………….
6. My sister is ill. …………………………………………………
7. She has got a bad cold. ………………………………………………….
8. Jan has long hair. …………………………………………………
Rewrite the following sentences twice, using SINCE and FOR:
Example: I haven’t seen you. (Christmas / 3 days)
a) I haven’t seen you SINCE Christmas.
b) I haven’t seen you FOR 3 days.
1. We’ve been here. (an hour / 4 o’clock)
a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………………………………………
2. She hasn’t spoken to me. (2 weeks / last week)
a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………………………………………
3. They’ve lived in this street. (1970 / a long time)
a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………………………………………
4. I haven’t had time to do it. (last Monday / a few days)
a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………………………………………
5. We haven’t bought a new one. (ages / many years)
a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………………………………………
Choose the correct option:
1. I’ve bought / have been buying a new pair of shoes.
2. Have you finished / Have you been finishing reading that book yet?
3. They’ve eaten / have been eating fruit all afternoon, ever since they came from
school.
4. I’ve been reading / have read this book now, so you can have it back.
5. I’ve been writing / have written eight pages already.
6. Your exam paper is completely blank! What have you been doing / have you done?
7. Oh, no! There’s nothing to eat. My sister has been eating / has eaten everything I left
in
the kitchen.
8. Oh, no! There’s no wine to drink. They have drunk / have been drinking all the wine.
9. No wonder your eyes hurt. You’ve been playing / have played computer games ever
since
you had your breakfast.
10. I haven’t seen / haven’t been seeing you for ages.
11. God! Hakan has scored / has been scoring.
12. They have danced / have been dancing for an hour.
13. I have been waiting / have waited for you for ages.
14. I’ve finished / ‘ve been finishing my work.
15. I’ve been writing / have written this letter for an hour.
16. He has visited / has been visiting ten museums this week.
17. I’m very tired. Because I have travelled / have been travelling around Istanbul all
day.
18. She has found / has been finding a good job.
19. I’m hot because I have been running / have run.
20. I have written / have been writing letters for weeks.

Use THE SIMPLE PAST or THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE to fill in the
blanks:
1. What ………………………………………… (you / learn) since you
……………………. (come) here? How many friends
………………………………………. (you / make)? I hope you
……………………………………... (already / meet) a lot of interesting people.
2. Last night my roommate and I ……………………….. (have) some free time, so we
………………………….. (go) to a show.
3. I ………………………………….. (just / have) lunch, but I
…………………………… (not / have) lunch yesterday.
4. Who …………………………………. (write) the play “Hamlet”?
5. How many games …………………………………… (the team / win) so far this
season?
6. I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ………………………………………. (never / meet)
him.
7. It ………………………………… (rain) a lot last week, but it
…………………………… (not / rain) much so far this week.
8. How many letters ……………………………………….. (you / write) since the
beginning of the month?
9. When we were on vacation, the weather ……………………………… (be) terrible.
10. In her whole lifetime, Mary …………………………………………… (never / see)
snow.

Use PRESENT PERFECT TENSE or PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS to fill

in the blanks:
1. I’m trying to study. I …………………………………………….. (try) to study for the
last hour, but something always seems to interrupt me. I think I’d better go to the
library.
2. The children are playing basketball right now. They
……………………………………… (play) for almost two hours. They must be getting
tired.
3. The telephone …………………………………………… (ring) four times in the last
hour, and each time it has been for my roommate.
4. The telephone …………………………………………… (ring) for almost a minute.
Why doesn’t someone answer it?
5. It ……………………………………………….. (rain) all day. I wonder when it will
stop.
6. We ………………………………………… (have) three accidents so far this week. I
wonder how many more we will have if you keep using the tools carelessly.
7. We ……………………………………………………. (live) here since last June.
8. My little son is dirty from head to foot because he
……………………………………… (play) in the mud.
9. What’s the matter? Your eyes are red and puffy. I hope you
……………………………… (not / cry). Oh, now I understand. You
…………………………………………….. (peel) some onions.
10. Hello, Rob. I’m happy to see you again. I
……………………………………………….. (not / see) you for weeks. What
……………………. you …………………………… (do) lately?

Use THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE or THE PRESENT PERFECT

CONTINUOUS to fill in the blanks:
1. I’m tired. We ………………………………………………. (walk) for over an hour.
Let’s stop and rest for a while.
2. The zoo isn’t far from here. I ………………………………………………… (walk)
there many times.
3. I …………………………………………………. (write) my friends at least a dozen
letters since I left home and come home.
4. Sally is writing a letter to her boyfriend. She ……………………………………….
(write) it since she got home from class. It’s going to be a long letter.
5. The telephone …………………………………………….. (ring) four times in the last
hour, and each time it has been for my roommate.
6. The telephone ……………………………………………… (ring) for almost a
minute. Why doesn’t someone answer it?
7. She is 80 and she ………………………………………… (never / read) a book in her
life.
8. The secretary is very tired. She ………………………………………………… (type)
all morning.
9. Tom is reading a book. He started two hours ago and he is on page 53. He
……………………………………….. (read) for two hours.
10. Hello! I …………………………………………… (clean) the windows. So far I
………………………………………… (clean) five of them and there are two more to
do.
11. My grandfather ……………………… (died) 30 years ago. I
…………………………….. …………………. (never / meet) him.