Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form. Choose your answers from the given options.
1. This is the first time I …………………. that song.
We use a present perfect tense in sentences constructed with ‘this is the first / second / third / last time’.
2. Sorry, I am late. ……………………… long?
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present.
3. Alice ……………….. ten minutes ago.
We use the simple past tense to say that something happened sometime ago.
4. I …………………… there for three months.
The present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses are used with the time expressions since and for.
5. I think the baby ………………. enough – I will wake her up.
6. How long …………………………… English?
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about actions and situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present.
7. The Chinese ……………… paper.
The simple past tense is the normal tense for talking about finished events in the past.
8. I …………………. James yet.
In American English, both the simple past and the present perfect tense are used with indefinite past time adverbs already, yet, ever and before.
9. I ………………… two books since morning.
We use the present perfect to say that something has happened several times up to the present.
10. We ……………………… each other since 1990.
The present perfect is often used to talk about how long present situations have lasted.
11. I ……………… the bell several times, but nobody opened the door.
The simple past is the normal tense for talking about repeated past actions.
12. …………………. you read the Bible?
The present perfect is often used to say that a finished action is connected to the present in some way. If you have read the Bible, you know the Bible.
Answers
1. This is the first time I have heard that song.
2. Sorry, I am late. Have you been waiting long?
3. Alice phoned ten minutes ago.
4. I have been working there for three months.
5. I think the baby has slept enough – I will wake her up.
6. How long have you been learning English?
7. The Chinese invented paper.
8. I haven’t called / didn’t call James yet.
9. I had read two books since morning.
10. We have known each other since 1990.
11. I rang the bell several times, but nobody opened the door.
12. Have you read the Bible?
