1 Grammar practice – plus

1 Complete the sentences with the correct past 3 Complete the sentences with the correct past
perfect simple or past perfect continuous form of simple, past perfect simple or past perfect
the verbs in brackets. continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 We have been trying (try) to come up with a plan for 1 He has been designing (design) new app for weeks when
hours when Jeff had a brilliant idea. he saw (see) a similar one appear on
2 Have you explored (you / explore) all the possibilities the market.
before you gave up trying to find a solution? 2 Paula’s boss asked if her team had (have)
3 They didn’t go with Sally’s idea because they any new ideas for product packaging, but she said that
have used (use) it before. nothing have emerged (emerge) yet.
4 Donald have been helping (help) Jean with her project 3 Although the executive complained that the strategy
for some time when he realised his own project was late. didn’t work (not work), data showed that it
5 If you wouldn’t be looking (not look) at your phone, you has actually boosted (actually / boost) production by 12%.
would have heard what I said. 4 When asked how she had come up with (come up
6 By the time I finished the quiz, I have spent with) the idea for cleaning the world’s oceans, Diana said
(spend) two hours answering questions. she was (be) inspired after watching
videos online.
2 Complete the email with the correct form of the 5 They have been exploring (explore) the possibility of
verbs in the box. opening a new start-up for years when one of the lead
creators inherited (inherit) a large sum
call ​have ​not expect ​provide ​quote ​receive ​speak of money.

4 Complete the second sentence so that it means

the same as the first using between three and
Hi Samantha,
five words.
I finally spoke with the event planners about the 1 Helen corrected all the errors in her essay, and then gave it to
upcoming Brilliant Minds awards show. They the teacher.
(1) have been calling me all morning, but I didn’t By the time Helen’s essay was given to the teacher, all the
have any phone service. At any rate, I have errors were corrected .
a bit of bad news. An employee of the company 2 After launching the new streaming service, the company
(2) have provided me a price of £3000 redesigned its website.
for the event, but his manager just told me it The company decided to redesign its website after the new
will be £4500. I hope that’s not a problem. The
streaming service because of .
manager did say that he (3) has spoken
3 Jonathan came up with a brilliant idea after sitting quietly in
problems with that employee giving incorrect his chair for hours.
quotes. He apologised, but I told him that we
Jonathan has been sitting in his chair when he
(4) had that quote two weeks
suddenly came up with a brilliant idea.
ago and that we (5) have been quoting the cost
4 The criminal was robbing houses for months, then he got
to rise by such a large amount. I also mentioned caught by the police.
that I (6) spoke to two other event The police caught the criminal after he
planners before I made arrangements with his has been robbing houses for months.
company. I said that those event planners
(7) didn’t expect me with quotes of £3800
and £4000 in writing. In the end, I said I’d have to AIM HIGHER
discuss this with you. What do you think? 5 Rewrite the sentences using the word or phrase
Bye for now,
given in brackets.
1 Harry had just woken up from a dream when he thought of
Gillian
his brilliant idea. (barely)
when for barely

2 Lisa had just finished a huge project when another one

landed on her desk. (no sooner)
lisa, no sooner,

3 I had only just begun to speak when my teacher interrupted

me. (scarcely)
interrupted me scarcely

4 Jake’s computer crashed straight after he started researching

his topic. (hardly)
jake´s computer crashed straight hardly

5 Paul sold one of his paintings immediately after launching his

online gallery. (no sooner)
his painting no sooner

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