Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form. Choose your answers from the given options.
1This is the first time I ............... that song.
Wrong!
Use "have heard" after "This is the first time" to talk about experience up to now.
2Sorry, I am late. ............... long?
Wrong!
Use "Have you been waiting" for an action that started before now and may still be continuing.
3Alice ............... ten minutes ago.
Wrong!
Use "phoned" with the finished past time expression "ten minutes ago".
4I ............... there for three months now.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect continuous "have been working" with "for ... now" for an action that began in the past and is still continuing.
5I think the baby ............... enough; I will wake her up.
Wrong!
Use "has slept" because the baby's sleep has a present result.
6How long ............... English?
Wrong!
Use "have you been learning" to ask about an activity continuing up to now.
7The Chinese ............... paper.
Wrong!
Use "invented" for a completed event in history.
8I ............... James yet.
Wrong!
Use "haven't called" with "yet" to mean the call has not happened up to now.
9I ............... two books since this morning.
Wrong!
Use "have read" for a completed total from an unfinished time period up to now.
10We ............... each other since 1990.
Wrong!
Use "have known" with "since 1990" for a relationship continuing to the present.
11I ............... the bell several times, but nobody opened the door.
Wrong!
Use "rang" for repeated actions in a finished past event.
12............... you read the Bible before?
Wrong!
Use "Have" with "before" to ask about life experience up to now.
Answers
- This is the first time I have heard that song.
- Sorry, I am late. Have you been waiting long?
- Alice phoned ten minutes ago.
- I have been working there for three months now.
- I think the baby has slept enough; I will wake her up.
- How long have you been learning English?
- The Chinese invented paper.
- I haven’t called James yet.
- I have read two books since this morning.
- We have known each other since 1990.
- I rang the bell several times, but nobody opened the door.
- Have you read the Bible before?