Exercises Past Simple Present Perfect Continuous. | PDF | Perfect ... - Free Printable

Let's solve each exercise step by step, explaining the grammar rules and providing correct answers.

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EXERCISE 1: Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or the Present Perfect of the verbs in brackets.

We use:
- Past Simple for completed actions in the past with a specific time (e.g., yesterday, last Saturday).
- Present Perfect for actions that happened at an unspecified time, or have a connection to the present (often with "yet", "already", "for", "since").

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#### 1.
A: I saw Karen yesterday.
B: Oh really? I haven't seen her for weeks.

> ✔ "Yesterday" → Past Simple
> ✔ "For weeks" → Present Perfect (action started in the past and continues to now)

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#### 2.
A: What did you do last Saturday?
B: I stayed at home.

> ✔ "Last Saturday" → Past Simple (specific past time)
> ✔ "Did" is auxiliary for Past Simple

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#### 3.
A: Have you written your essay yet?
B: Yes, I finished it an hour ago.

> ✔ "Yet" → Present Perfect
> ✔ "An hour ago" → Past Simple (specific past time)

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#### 4.
A: Have you been in the United States?
B: Yes, I went to Miami last summer.

> ✔ "Have you been?" → Present Perfect (experience up to now)
> ✔ "Last summer" → Past Simple

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#### 5.
A: I have known Tony for three years.
B: Really? When did you meet him?
A: We met in college.

> ✔ "For three years" → Present Perfect (duration from past to now)
> ✔ "When...?" → Past Simple (specific time in past)
> ✔ "Met" = Past Simple

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#### 6.
A: Have you eaten at Mario’s restaurant?
B: Yes, I have. I ate there last Saturday.

> ✔ "Have you eaten?" → Present Perfect (experience)
> ✔ "Last Saturday" → Past Simple

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#### 7.
A: Have you ever played football?
B: Yes, I played when I was a teenager.

> ✔ "Ever" → Present Perfect (general experience)
> ✔ "When I was a teenager" → Past Simple (completed time)

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#### 8.
A: Have you asked the teacher about your essay yet?
B: Yes, I talked to her yesterday.

> ✔ "Yet" → Present Perfect
> ✔ "Yesterday" → Past Simple

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✔ Exercise 1 Answers:

1. A: saw / B: haven't seen
2. A: did / do / B: stayed
3. A: Have / written / B: finished
4. A: Have / been / B: went
5. A: have known / B: did / meet / A: met
6. A: Have / eaten / B: have / ate
7. A: Have / ever played / B: played
8. A: Have / asked / B: talked

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EXERCISE 2: Complete the questions with the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous of the verbs in brackets.

Use:
- Present Continuous: actions happening *now* or around now.
- Present Perfect Continuous: actions started in the past and continue to now (often with "for/since").

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#### 1.
A: Who are you waiting for?
B: I am waiting for the manager.
A: She has been speaking on the phone with a client for an hour. I’ll tell you when she’s free.

> ✔ "Who are you waiting for?" → Present Continuous (current action)
> ✔ "I am waiting" → Present Continuous
> ✔ "Has been speaking" → Present Perfect Continuous ("for an hour" = duration)

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#### 2.
A: You look busy. What are you doing?
B: I am writing my essay.
A: How long have you been working on it?
B: I have been working on it for two weeks.

> ✔ "What are you doing?" → Present Continuous (current action)
> ✔ "I am writing" → Present Continuous
> ✔ "How long have you been working?" → Present Perfect Continuous (duration from past to now)
> ✔ "Have been working" → Present Perfect Continuous

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✔ Exercise 2 Answers:

1. A: are you waiting / B: am waiting / A: has been speaking
2. A: are / doing / B: am writing / A: have you been working / B: have been working

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EXERCISE 3: Write answers using the Present Perfect Continuous and a time expression with for or since.

Use: have/has been + verb-ing + for/since

- for = duration (e.g., for 3 years)
- since = starting point (e.g., since 2020)

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#### 1. How long have you been going to this school?
→ I have been going to this school for three years.
(or: since September 2021 – depending on context)

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#### 2. How long have you been learning English?
→ I have been learning English for five years.
(or: since I was ten)

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#### 3. How long have you been using this book?
→ I have been using this book for two months.
(or: since January)

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#### 4. How long have you been learning the Present Perfect?
→ I have been learning the Present Perfect for one week.
(or: since Monday)

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#### 5. How long have you been doing this exercise?
→ I have been doing this exercise for 20 minutes.
(or: since 9 a.m.)

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✔ Exercise 3 Answers (examples):

1. I have been going to this school for three years.
2. I have been learning English for five years.
3. I have been using this book for two months.
4. I have been learning the Present Perfect since Monday.
5. I have been doing this exercise for 20 minutes.

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✔ Summary of Grammar Rules Used:

| Tense | Use |
|------|-----|
| Past Simple | Completed actions at a specific time in the past (yesterday, last year). |
| Present Perfect | Actions completed at an unspecified time, or connected to the present (with "yet", "ever", "for", "since"). |
| Present Continuous | Actions happening now or around now. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | Actions that started in the past and continue to the present (often with "for" or "since"). |

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