English Grammar Exercises: Present perfect and past 1

Exercise 1   

Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets. Use the present perfect where possible. Otherwise use the past simple.

Exercise 2   

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

1   Did you hear about Sue? She’s given up her job. …………………….

2   My mother has grown up in Italy. …………………….

3   How many poems has William Shakespeare written? …………………….

4   Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. …………………….

5   Drugs have become a big problem everywhere. …………………….

6   Who has invented paper? …………………….

7   Where have you been born? …………………….

8   Ellie isn’t at home. She’s gone shopping. …………………….

9   Albert Einstein has been the scientist who …………………….

     has developed the theory of relativity. …………………….

Exercise 3   

Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

1   ……………………. Raining for a while, but now it’s raining again. (it / stop)

2   The town where I live is very different now. ……………………. a lot. (it / change)

3   I studied German at school, but ……………………. most of it now. (I / forget)

4   The police ……………………. three people, but later they let them go. (arrest)

5   What do you think of my English? Do you think …………………….? (it / improve)

6   A: Are you still reading the paper?

     B: No, ……………………. with it. You can have it. (I / finish)

7   ……………………. for a job as a tourist guide, but I wasn’t successful. (I / apply)

8   Where’s my bike? ……………………. outside the house, but it’s not there now. (it / be)

9   Quick! We need to call an ambulance. ……………………. an accident. (there / be)

10   A: Have you heard about Ben? ……………………. his arm. (he / break)

       B: Really? How ……………………. ? (that / happen)

       A: ……………………. off a ladder. (he / fall)