Ex. 4 Choose the right variant using the Present Perfect, the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous Tense

1. While I (was waiting / waited / have waited) for him to call up, he (had / was having / have had) a good time in the bar. 2. She (has written / wrote/was writing) this exercise yesterday at 8 o'clock. 3. He (has invited/was inviting/ invited) me to the party yesterday. 4. I (passed/have passed/ was passing) my exam in history today. 5. He (read/has read/was reading) a book two days ago. 6. They (have seen/ saw/were seeing) this film last week. 7. She (painted/has painted/was painting) the picture when I came. 8. I (made/have made/was making) my report when you entered the hall. 9. They (learnt/were learning/have learnt) the new words yesterday from three till seven. 10. It (rained/has rained/was raining) this week. 11. She (was having/had/ has had) a bath at seven o'clock last night. 12. She (was washing/washed/has washed) dishes already. 13. They (had/have had/were having) supper when the telephone rang, 14. I (didn't meet/haven't met/was not meeting) you for ages. 15. Last summer he (has gone/was going/went) to the Caucasus. 16. She was thoughtfully looking at him while he (read/was reading/has read) a newspaper. 17. While I (swept/was sweeping/has swept) the floor, Mrs. Parker began cooking. 18. I just (had/have had/was having) a telegram to say that my poor friend is badly ill again. 19. We (sat/were sitting/have sat) in silence for a few minutes. He (spoke/was speaking/has spoken) at last. 20. While she (washed/was washing/has washed up), she (was hearing/heard/has heard) the doorbell, then voices. 21. "She (was making/made/has made) tea, let's go to the dining room." 22. Only two stars (shone/were shining/ has shone) in the dark blue sky. 23. On glancing at the address, he observed that it (contained/was containing/has contained) no name. 24. He just (left/was leaving/has left) the hall when a stranger (entered/was entering/has entered). 25. I (met/was meeting/have met) Ann at her father's house twenty years ago and (knew/have known/ was knowing) her ever since.

Ex. 5 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Present Perfect or Past Simple. In some cases the Present Perfect Continuous is also possible.

1. Peter (meeting Paul unexpectedly in London): Hello, Paul! I (not know) you (be) here.

Paul: Oh, I (be) here nearly two months. I (arrive) on the 6th of January.

2. Peter: When we last (meet) you (say) that nothing would induce you to come to England. What (make) you change your mind?

Paul: I (find) that I (need) English for my work and this (seem) the quickest way of learning it.

3. Peter: You (know) any English when you first (arrive) here?

Paul: No, I (not know) a word.

4. Ann (to Yvonne, who is going to English classes): How long you (learn) English?

Yvonne: I (learn) off and on for about five and a half years. 5. I (begin) English at secondary school and (do) it for three years. Then I (drop) it for a year and (forget) most of it. Then I (spend) two years at a secretarial college, where I (study) commercial English, and for the last six months I (study) in London.

6. At 4 p.m. my neighbour (ring) up and (say) ‘Is Tom with you?' Tom, her son, (spend) most of his time in my garden playing with my children, so whenever she (not be able) to find him she (ring) me. I'm afraid I (not see) him today,' I (say). 'But my children (go) to the beach this morning and (not come) back yet. Perhaps he (go) with them.'

7. I just (have) my first driving lesson. - How it (go)? You (enjoy) it?

- Well, I not actually (hit) anything but I (make) every other possible mistake.

8. Old Ben (sell) newspapers just inside the station entrance, and my father always (buy) his evening paper from him as he (leave) the station on his way home. But one day my father (arrive) home without his paper. 'Ben (not be) there this evening,' he (say). 'I hope he (not be taken) ill.'

9. On Saturday afternoon I (see) Frederick sitting in his garden. 'I (think) you (work) on Saturdays,' I (say). 'I (work) this morning,' (explain) Frederick, 'but at lunch time the boss (go) off to play golf and (tell) us all to go home. It's about time he gave us a whole Saturday off actually. I (work) practically evry Saturday since the beginning of the year.'

10. Ann: You (be) to Hampton Court? Jane: Yes, I (go) there last week. The tulips (be) wonderful. Ann: You (go) by car?

Jane: No, I (go) with my English class. We (hire) a coach.

Ann: Where else you (be) to since you (come) to England?

Jane: Oh, I (be) to Stratford and Coventry and Oxford and Canterbury.

Ann: You (see) a lot. When you (go) to Stratford?

Jane: I (go) last week. The people I work for (take) me.

Ann: You (see) a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre when you (be) at Stratford?

Jane: Yes, we (see) Macbeth. We were very lucky. We just (walk) in and (ask) if they (have) any returned tickets, and the girl at the box office (say), 'Yes, a man just (return) three stalls.'

Ann: You (be) to Wales?

Jane: No, I (be) to Scotland but I (not be) to Wales. I'd like to go.

Peter: You (see) any good films lately?

Ann: Yes, I (go) to the National Film Theatre last week and (see) a Japanese film.

Peter: You (like) it?

Ann: Yes, I (love) it, but of course I (not understand) a word.

11. Tom: I hear that Mr Benson just (die). You (know) him quite well, didn't you?

Jack: Yes. We (work) for the same company for ten years. I (not see) so much of him after he (leave) the company but we (keep) in touch.

12. Ann (think) the garage (be) empty, and (turn) off the lights. 'Hey!' (shout) Paul from under the car. I'm sorry, Paul,' (say) Ann, I (not know) you (be) there.'

13. Father: Tom (not come) back yet? Mother: Yes, he (come) in an hour ago. He (go) straight to bed. Father: Funny. I (not hear) him.

14. Paul: That's a live wire. It just (give) me a shock! Ann: Nonsense! I just (touch) it and I (not feel) anything!

15. When Paul (come) into the room, Ann was sitting in an armchair just behind the door. Paul, not noticing Ann, (go) to the window and (look) out. Ann (cough) and Paul (spin) round. 'Hello, Ann!' he (exclaim), 'I (not see) you!'

16. Jack: You just (agree) to go, so why aren't you getting ready? Peter: But I didn’t realize that you (want) me to start at once!