PRESENT PERFECT TENSE SIMPLE FORM – Exercises

A Fill in SINCE or FOR

1. He has been back ___________ two hours / __________ 3 o’clock.
2. I haven’t seen him _________ over two months / ________ Christmas.
3. You’ve been watching TV __________ you came home from school / _____ most
of the evening.
4. Carol has been looking after the baby _________ this morning / ______ over four
hours.
5. The Healers have had Dusty ________ their old dog died / ________ nearly two
years.
6. We’ve been standing here ________ twenty-five minutes / _________ half past
six.
7. Kate has been learning French ________ she was eleven / _________ four
years.
8. Grandfather has been living with us ____________ Granny died / ________ quite
some time.

B Complete these sentences using the Present Perfect Tense

of the following verbs
to be – to clean – to eat – to have – to rain – to see

1. Chris ___________________ all the biscuits. (They are gone now.)

2. The boys ___________________ the car. (It looks beautiful now.)
3. Mrs Wood _______________ a busy day. (She is tired now.)
4. It _________ not _________ for weeks. (The garden is very dry.)
5. I _________________ the film. (I know it.)
6. My sister _______________ to Paris several times. (She knows it.)

C Complete these sentences using the Present Perfect Tense

or the Past Tense
1. We (not meet) _____________________ his mother so far. We _________ his
mother then.
2. Greg (be) _____________________ a good student last year. Greg ___________ a
good student up to now.
3. They (live) ___________________ in our street since 1982. They _____________ in
our street some years ago.
4. Bob and Chris (not quarrel) _________________________ all week. Bob and Chris
____________________ yesterday.
5. You (ask) __________________ me this question before. You _______________ me
this question last lesson.

© Prof. Mag. Karin Steppan, HLW Linz-Auhof 1

D Translate into English
1. Hat Kate ihre Hausübung für morgen gemacht?
2. Ich habe noch nie einen Rasenmäher repariert.
3. Hast du schon die Kinokarten gekauft?
4. Ich glaube, er war schon im Ausland.
5. Warum hast du den Brief noch nicht geschrieben?
6. Diana hat den ganzen Kuchen gegessen.
7. Hat der Film schon begonnen?
8. Meine Tochter ist schon etliche Male mit dem Flugzeug geflogen.
9. Unser neuer Nachbar hat uns zum Tee eingeladen.
10. Hast du mir diese Frage nicht schon einmal gestellt?

E Your are writing a letter to a friend. In the letter you give

news about yourself and other people. Use the words given
to make sentences. Use the Present Perfect Tense
Dear Chris,
Lots of things have happened since I last wrote to you.

1. I / buy / a new car ______________________________

2. my father / start / a new job ___________________________________
3. I / give up / smoking ____________________________________________
4. Charles and Sarah / go / to Brazil _________________________________
5. Suzanne / have / a baby ________________________________________

F Read the situations and write sentences. Choose one of the

following verbs.
arrive break go up grow improve lose

1. Mike is looking for his key. He can’t find it. …….He has lost his key.
2. Margaret can’t walk and her leg is in plaster (=Gips). She ___________________
3. Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is much better. ___________________
4. Tim didn’t have a beard last month. Now he has a beard. ___________________
5. This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. _______________________
6. Last week the bus fare was 80 pence. Now it is 90. _______________________

© Prof. Mag. Karin Steppan, HLW Linz-Auhof 2

G Complete B’s sentences. Use the verb in brackets + just /
already / yet

1 Would you like something to

B 1 No, thanks. I .............…..…. lunch.
eat?
2 Do you know where Julia is?
3 What time is David leaving?
4 What’s in the newspaper
today?
5 Is Ann coming to the cinema
with us?
6 Are your friends here yet?
7 What does Tim think about
your plan?
plan?
(just/have).
2 Yes, I ………………her. (just/see)
3 He ……………… (already/leave)
4 I don’t know. I …. (not/read/yet)
5 No, she ……………..the film.
(already/see)
6 Yes, they …………… (just/arrive).
7 I ……………………………………
(not/tell/yet)

SOLUTIONS
A Fill in SINCE or FOR
1. He has been back for two hours / since 3 o’clock.
2. I haven’t seen him for over two months /since Christmas.
3. You’ve been watching TV since you came home from school / for most of the
evening.
4. Carol has been looking after the baby since this morning / for over four hours.
5. The Healers have had Dusty since their old dog died / for nearly two years.
6. We’ve been standing here for twenty-five minutes / since half past six.
7. Kate has been learning French since she was eleven / for four years.
8. Grandfather has been living with us since Granny died / for quite some time.

B
1. Chris has eaten all the biscuits.
2. The boys have cleaned the car.
3. Mrs Wood has had a busy day.
4. It has not rained for weeks.
5. I have seen the film.
6. My sisterhas been to Paris several times.

C Complete these sentences using the Present Perfect Tense or the Past Tense
1. We have not met his mother so far. We met his mother then.
2. Greg was a good student last year. Greg has been a good student up to now.
3. They have lived in our street since 1982. They lived in our street some years ago.
4. Bob and Chris have not quarrelled all week. Bob and Chris did not quarrel yesterday.
5. You have asked me this question before. You asked me this question last lesson.

© Prof. Mag. Karin Steppan, HLW Linz-Auhof 3

D Translate into English
1. Has Kate done her homework for tomorrow?
2. I have never repaired a lawn mower.
3. Have you bought the cinema tickets?
4. I think he has already been abroad.
5. Why haven’t you written the letter?
6. Diana has eaten all the cake.
7. Has the film already started?
8. My daughter has already taken the plane several times.
9. Our new neighbour has invited us to tea.
10. Haven’t you asked me this question before?

E
1. I have bought a new car.
2. Ma father has started a new job.
3. I have given up smoking
4. Charles and Sarah have gone to Brazil.
5. Suzanne has had a baby.

F
2. She has broken her leg.
3. She has improved her English.
4. He has grown a beard.
5. The letter has arrived.
6. The price has gone up.

G Complete B’s sentences. Use the verb in brackets + just / already / yet

1 Would you like something to

B 1 No, thanks. I have just had lunch.
eat?
2 Do you know where Julia is? 2 Yes, I have just seen her.
3 What time is David leaving? 3 He has already left.
4 What’s in the newspaper 4 I don’t know. I have not read it yet.
today?
5 Is Ann coming to the cinema 5 No, she has already seen the film.
with us?
6 Are your friends here yet? 6 Yes, they have just arrived .
7 What does Tim think about 7 I have not yet told him.
your plan?
plan?

© Prof. Mag. Karin Steppan, HLW Linz-Auhof 4