Circle the correct answer.

I usually drive / 'm usually driving to work but this week I take / 'm taking the bus because
my car is at the garage.

I usually drive to work but this week I’m taking the bus because my car is at the garage.

1. Make sure you lock / ’re locking the doors and windows before you leave the house.
2. She plays /’s playing tennis once or twice a week but she doesn't play / isn't playing this
week because she's hurt her wrist.
3. A: Where does Evan come / is Evan coming from?
B: I'm not sure, but his parents live/ are living in New Zealand.
4. The film begins / is beginning with a death and ends / is ending with a dramatic car chase
through the streets of New York.
5. And the Ferrari takes / is taking the last corner at high speed, races / is racing towards the
finish line and crosses / is crossing it! What a race!
6. A: What do you do / are you doing?
B: I wait / 'm waiting for the bus. It runs / ‘s running late.
7. You always leave / are always leaving the lights on! It doesn't matter how many times I
remind / 'm reminding you.
8. There is so much fast food available but people forget / are forgetting how to cook.
9. If you don't watch / aren’t watching the television, would you turn it off?
10. According to recent research, too little sleep causes / is causing young people to gain
weight.

Complete the information from a website. Use the present simple or continuous of the
verbs in the box.

gain go on learn offer organise perform remain study take

This year the International School for Languages has about 100 part-time students who (0)
are taking evening classes and a further 300 who (1)… full time. Many of them (2)… a new
language to improve their job prospects or to prepare for university. The European
languages (3)… very popular but Chinese and Japanese (4)… in popularity.

The school (5)… an excellent range of learning facilities and (6)… social activities like
excursions to local areas of interest.

Every year our students (7)… extremely well in their examinations and many (8)… to study at
top universities in the country.
Complete the fact sheet. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in brackets.

Geography

The landscape (0) rises (rise) from the lowlands in the east to the Himalayas in the west. High
plateaux and mountains (1)… (occupy) one third of the area. The coastline on the Yellow Sea is flat at
the mouths of China's two major rivers, the Yangtze and the Huanghe. Unfortunately, rapid
industrialisation (2)… (destroy) much of the planet and animal life in the country.

Most people (3)… (live) in rural regions. Rice production (4)… (provide) enough food for the local
population and surpluses are exported. However, the economy (5)… (develop) rapidly and as a
result, China (7)… (open up) to world markets. China (7)… (export) many inexpensive processed
goods, including machinery and textiles, and income from foreign trade and tourism (8)… (increase).

Complete the sentences. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in the box.

appear (x2) be belong to come have (x2) taste weigh

Who does that beautiful house on the hill belong to?

1. That soup… delicious! What have you put in it?

2. My sister doesn't resemble me. For a start, she… blonde hair.
3. It… that she's changed her mind about taking the job.
4. I can't believe you… so unreasonable! What's wrong?
5. We… lunch. Can I phone you back in half an hour?
6. Now all new cars… with 1 years free insurance.
7. Alex is working. He… on stage in a play by Agatha Christie.
8. How much… an adult African elephant… ?

Complete the article. Use the present simple or continuous of the verbs in brackets.

Singer and songwriter James Sharpe (0) has (have) lessons every day and spends so much time on
the course that his girlfriend, actress and model Sophie Clarke, (2)… (think) of taking up the sport as
well so she can spend more time with him!

What (3)… he… (think) of the rumours that he and Sophie are planning to get married? ‘Every day I
(4)… (see) things written about me that aren't true. One day they say we're getting married and the
next that I (5)… (see) another woman. I just try to ignore all of it.’

James's new album came out last month and so far that critics have been positive. The album (6)…
(include) a mixture of familiar and new musical styles and (7)… (contain) remixes of some old
favourites. James is pleased with the reviews but it's his fans that (8)… (matter) most to him.
However, if they (9)… (hope) for something that (10)… (sound) like his last album, they may be
disappointed.

So is James worried? Not at all. ‘I need to grow as an artist and that (11)… (mean) taking risks. I hope
that never changes.’
Somehow, we (12)… (not think) his fans will be disappointed.

Practice

Circle the correct answer.

We spoke / ’ve spoken to them yesterday.

We spoke to them yesterday.

1. Katie had / ’s had several jobs abroad and now she went / ‘s gone to Turkey to work for a
large multinational.
2. There were / have been several major earthquakes in Japan recently. In fact, there was / has
been a serious one about a week ago.
3. I'm afraid he isn't here. He left / ‘s left an hour ago.
4. Did you see / Have you seen any good films recently?
5. I visited / ‘ve visited their offices a few days ago but not their factory.
6. They never ate / ‘ve never eaten such spicy food before but they're enjoying it!
7. I tried / ‘ve tried to contact her several times but the last time I talked / ‘ve talked to her,
she put / ‘s put the phone down on me.
8. That's the silliest article I ever read / ‘ve ever read!
9. A: Did you ever work / Have you ever worked in an office?
B: Yes, I / ‘ve worked in one last year but I didn't like / haven't liked it.
10. They say it's the first time he ever lost / ‘s ever lost a game.
11. I always dreamed / ‘ve always dreamed of becoming a doctor and I hope to study medicine.
12. She only went / ‘s only been to Manchester once before and she doesn't remember it well.

Complete the email. Use the present perfect or past simple of the verbs in the box.

always/want encourage ever/have find

happen have invite meet (x2) see start (x2)

Dear Anna,

It seems like ages ago since I last (0) saw you! So much (1)… recently that I don't know where to
begin. First of all, I (2)… someone special. His name is Steve and when planning to get married. We
(3)… a little over a year ago at Gill’s wedding.

Secondly, I (4)… a new job as an editorial assistant for a local newspaper. I wasn't going to apply but
Steve (5)… me and much to my surprise, they (6)… me for an interview! I (7)… working there 6
months ago.

What else? We're busy planning the wedding but we still (8)… time to take a holiday in Turkey last
month. I (9)… to go there and we (10)… a great time.

Anyway, you'll be hearing from me again soon. I hope you're well-I really think this is the best year I
(11)… !

Love, Suzanne
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the word in brackets. Use
between 2 and 5 words.

This is the saddest film I have ever seen.(never)

I have never seen such a sad film.

1. She has never done anything like that before. (ever)

It's the first time she… anything like that.
2. This is Sean's first time in a helicopter. (flown)
Sean… in a helicopter before.
3. Andy and Rachel are still on holiday in Italy. (gone)
Andy and Rachel… to Italy on holiday.
4. I have been to Russia once before. (second)
This… I have been to Russia.
5. We still remember the times we spent together. (forgotten)
We… the times we spent together.
6. I went to the exhibition at the National Gallery last week (been)
I… exhibition at the National Gallery.
7. You have never told anyone the story before, have you? (ever)
Is this the first time… anyone the story?

Practice

Complete the sentences. Use the present perfect or past simple of the verbs in brackets.

A: Have you spoken to Jim recently?

B: I spoke to him last week. (you / speak, speak)

1. I… Claire. We… at the end of term party. (already / meet, meet)

2. Harriet… me anything yet but her sister… me yesterday but Harriet's expecting a baby. (not
tell, tell)
3. Look! I… all my exams! I'm so relieved because I… them all last year. (pass, not pass)
4. My parents… .They… in a taxi about 5 minutes ago. (just / arrive, arrive)
5. A: … your wallet yet?
B: Yes, I… it under the sofa this morning. (you / find, find)
6. Someone… the window-there’s glass everywhere. They… it last night. (break, break)
7. Nathan… his hand so he can't write. He… it was we playing tennis. (hurt, hurt)
8. If you're looking for Carol, I… her. I… her a few minutes ago in the canteen. (just / see, see)
Complete the conversations. Use the words in brackets and just, already, yet or recently.

A: Would you like something to eat?

B: No, thanks I’ve just had lunch. (I /have / lunch)

1. A: Is Tony here?
B: I’m sorry. … (you /miss /him)
2. A: … (you / taste / the chocolates?)
B: Yes, and they’re delicious.
3. A: Why are we hurrying?
B: We’re late. … (the film / start)
4. A: Why is all this laundry still here?
B: … (they /not repair/ the washing machine)
5. A: … (you / finish / your homework?)
B: No, but it won’t take me much longer!
6. A: Congratulations! … (I / hear / the news)
B: Thanks. We’re delighted.
7. A: Would you like a coffee?
B: No, thanks. … (I / have / three cups)
8. A: I hear Gemma isn’t well. … (you / see / her?)
B: No, not for a few days. Perhaps we should drop by.

Complete the e-mail. Use the present perfect or past simple of the verbs in brackets.

Dear Javier,

I'm sorry I (0) haven't been (not be) in touch recently but I (1)… (be) really busy. I (2)… (go) to my
third job interview this morning but unfortunately, no one (3)… (offer) me a job yet. I (4)… (look)
everywhere and I (5)… (fill in) dozens of application forms. Still, I'm not discouraged. Some things
take time.

In fact, I'm really enjoying myself here. I (6)… (already / see) Cats and I (7)… (just / buy) tickets for
the next Madonna concert-I (8)… (stand) in line for an hour this afternoon but it was worth it. Also, I
like the family I'm staying with-they (9)… (give) me lots of advice about finding work and last night
they even (10)… (take) me out for a meal. We talk all the time and as a result, my English (11)…
(already / improve) a lot. Anyway, someone (12)… (just / come) to the door. I hope it's the pizza I
(13)… (order) an hour ago. I’ll write more often in future-I promise.

Farida
Practice

Re-write the sentences. Use the words in brackets.

It's weeks since we last saw one another (seen)

We haven't seen one another 4 weeks.

1. When did you get married? (been)

How long… ?
2. They haven't seen their parents for 2 weeks. (since)
It’s 2 weeks… .
3. I'm tired because the last time I slept was 2 days ago. (for)
I'm tired because I… .
4. When Owen left his job, he began to feel more relaxed. (felt)
Since Owen left his job, … .
5. Vanessa hasn't been to the cinema for months. (since)
It’s months… .
6. I started working as a waiter and quit a month later. (for)
I… .
7. It’s many years since they visited their grandparents. (for)
They… .
8. How long have Belinda and Roderick been married? (get)
When… .
9. She met them when she was a child. (known)
She… .
10. They're angry because the last time they got paid was 2 months ago. (been)
They’re angry because they… .