The verb tenses that we are going to see here are:
When two subjects are connected with both... and, always use a plural verb.
12.1 Perfect Tenses
The Perfect Tenses all give the idea that one thing happens before another time o revent.
Present Perfect Tense
The The Perfect Tense expresses the idea that something happened (or never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past. The exact time when it happened is not important.
Example:
At some point in the past it happened.
The Present Perfect Tense also expresses the repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important.
Example:
Exercise 1
Complete the sentences using the correct structure and the verb in Past Participle.
- 1. She (travel) to Paris many times.
- 2. We (eat) German food. Have you?
- 3. You (ask) me that question already.
- 4. The boys (go) to that school for 10 years.
- 5. He (work) for many months.
The Present Perfect Tense is used with for and since, to express a situation that b egan in the past and continues in the present.
Example:
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences using since or for. Then write the equivalent using the o ther word.
examples:
-
1.1. She has worked there...... May
since:
For: -
2. He has driven to Canada ... several years
since:
For: -
3. I haven't seen your dad... I was 10 years old.
since:
For: -
4. It's been a long time... I've had such a good time at a party.
since:
For: -
5. They've known about the incident ...... a long time
since:
For: -
6. She hasn't seen her..... many years
since:
For: -
7 .He hasn't been so happy..... he was at school.
since:
For: -
8. He hasn't been stable ...... his divorce.
since:
For: -
9. They have been the owners of that hotel..... 2006
since:
For:
Past Perfect Tense
The Past Perfect Tense expresses an activity that was completed before another a ctivity or time in the past.
Examples:
Examples:
Exercise 3
Change the following sentences using Past Perfect Tenses.
Future Perfect Tense
The Future Perfect Tense expresses a future finished action and another time in t he future.
example:
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks using Future Perfect Tense.
- 2. He (write) his autobiography by the time he is 90 years old.
- 3. The students (learn) English by September.
- 4. My grandmother (cook) when we arrive for dinner.
- 5. The teachers (prepare) their lesson plans by next month.
- 6. The dog (be) with us for 10 years in two days.
12.2 Perfect Progressive Tenses
The Perfect Progressive Tense gives the idea that one event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are used to express the duration of the first event.
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
The event is in progress (studying). When? Before now, for two hours.
The Perfect Progressive Tense gives the idea that one event is in progress i mmediately before, up to, until another time or event. The tenses are used to e xpress the duration of the first event.
Example:
I started to study in the past, I am still studying now, I will keep on studying more.
Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks using Present Perfect Progressive Tense.
- 1. I (study) for 2 hours.
- 2. We (play) poker since 9 o'clock. How long.
- 3. How long you (learn) English?
- 4. I have been (smoke). I am not lying, mother!
- 5. It (rain) a lot this week.
- 6. (your parents) (get along) good?
- 7. Mary (travel) to many places lately.
- 8. She is sick because she (take) her medicine.
- 9. My in-laws (live) in Colombia since June.
- 10. The kids (yell) all day.
Past Perfect Progressive Tense
The event was in progress (studying). When? Before another event in the present, f or two hours.
Example:
Difference in Past Perfect Progressive and Present Perfect Progressive.
For example, imagine that you meet Tomas at 11 am. Tomas says to you:
"I am angry. I have been waiting for two hours."
Later, you tell your friends:
"Tomas was angry when I arrived. He had been waiting for two hours."
Exercise 6
- 1. John was very tired. He (dance) all night long.
- 2. I could smell perfume. Somebody (use) my perfumes.
- 3. She (feel) bad lately; that was a sign of infection.
- 4. (the driver) (drink) before the crash?
- 5. Our soccer match was interrupted. We (play) for about twenty minutes when it started to snow.
- 6. The detective (look) for the suspect for three years.
- 7. He (try) to get into that school for 2 years, and finally he got in.
- 8. The old lady (try) to cross the street since 2:00, but nobody would stop to help her.
- 9. The children (wait) for Santa Claus since July.
- 10. My boss (study) all morning until his wife called.
Future Perfect Progressive Tense
The event will be in progress (studying). When? Before another event in the f uture.
Example:
Exercise 7
Fill in the following sentences using Future Perfect Progressive Tense.
- 1. She came to Bogotá in November, in March next year she (live) here 4 months.
- 2. The boy (wait) for his girlfriend for 2 hours in two minutes.
- 3. I (work) for ten years in the same company by September.
- 4. The neighbors (live) in this condo for 25 years next year.
- 5. My grandparents (live) together for 50 years next month; my family will organize a big party for them.
- 6. My cousin (study) English 8 months by the time she graduates.
- 7. It (rain) 10 days if it is still raining tomorrow.
Exercise 8
Practice all verb tenses. Identify each sentence.
- 1. She has been studying for 50 minutes.
- 2. We have been playing golf all afternoon.
- 3. They had been hiding all the time until we found them.
- 4. The neighbors in this condo for 25 years next year.
- 5. My grandparents together for 50 years next months my family will organize a big party for them.
- 6. My cousin English 8 months by the time she graduates.
- 7. It 10 days if it is still raining tomorrow.
Exercise 9
Practice all verb tenses. Identify each sentence.
- 1. She has been studying for 50 minutes.
- 2. We have been playing golf all afternoon.
- 3. They had been hiding all the time until we found them.
- 4. You have been writing that book for over an hour.
- 5. I will have been working when you call from 10 to 12.
- 6. She had been studying yesterday.
- 7. I have eaten three apples
- 8. They had not heard about it until you bought it.
- 9. They have showed us their house.
- 10. I have gone Christmas shopping with my mother since I was 5
- 11. The girls will have read that book when we call.
- 12. I will have eaten when they come home.
- 13. They had already eaten when you arrived.
- 14. She will have been buying that book when you get.
- 15. Sarah will have raised her child alone by the time he cares.
- 16. They have been going to that club every night.
- 17. He has been talking about that all day long.
- 18. We had been looking at those ducks for two hours last. Friday.
- 19. Sarah will have finished at 5:00.
- 20. You have written a letter.
- 21. You will have flown to New York by the time I go visit you.
- 22. I will have been studying when you call.
- 23. They will have forgotten before tomorrow.
- 24. She had never eaten Chinese food before, today.
- 25. We had not worked until now.
- 26. We have worked all day.
Exercise 10
Use the Simple Past, Present Perfect and Past Perfect.
- 1. When John (arrive) home last night. He (find) out that his children (prepare) a great cake to celebrate Father's Day.
- 2. When your sister (enter) the room I (recognize) her. It is incredible, 2 years (pass) and she (change–not) a bit.
- 3. By the time she (arrive) to the Party, it (begin).
- 4. Last week I (meet) a very handsome man.
- 5. Yesterday I (go) to see the movie that you recommended, It (be) a fantastic film. I (see) anything like that until yesterday.
Exercise 11
Fill in the blanks using the correct tense.
- Mary (be) babysitter of the kids in my family for over 20 years. My grandparents (know) her many years. When I (be) little, she (take) care of me. And now, she (take) care of my children. It (be) great to have somebody you trust taking care of your children.
Exercise 12
Use the Present Perfect Progressive in the following sentences.
- 1. The boys (play) soccer right now. They (play) for almost 2 hours.
- 2. Alex is talking on the phone. He (talk) on the phone for over half an hour. He should hang up soon. Long distance is expensive.
- 3. I'm trying to study. I (try) to study for the last hour, but something always seems to interrupt me.
Exercise 13
Use the Present Perfect or Simple Past in the following sentences.
- 1. He (be) a newspaper reporter before he (become) a businessman.
- 2. I (feel) a little better after I (take) the medicine.
- 3. I was late. The teacher (give) a quiz when I (get) to class.
- 4. The anthropologist (leave) the village when she (collect) enough data.
- 5. It was raining hard, but by the time the class (be) over, the rain (stop) .
12.3 Other Uses for Verb Tenses (Will Vs. Going to)
Some of the verb tenses have other uses that express different intentions or meanings.
To Express a Prediction:
To express a prediction/statement about something that someone thinks will be true or will occur in the future (guess
or a prophecy) use either will or going to.
Example:
According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow.
According to the weather report, it is going to be cloudy tomorrow.
Be careful! You will hurt yourself.
Watch out! You're going to hurt yourself
To Express a Prior Plan:
To express a prior/something the speaker intends (wants) to do in the Future b ecause he/she made a plan/ decision in
the past to do it, use only going to.
Examples:
A= Yes, I am going to meet Jack at the library at seven o'clock. We are going to study together.
Q= Are you busy tonight?
A= Well, I really haven't made any plans. I am going to eat dinner, and probably I'm going to watch TV.
Q= Why did you buy this paint?
A= I am going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.
Robert is tired of taking the bus to work. He is going to buy a car.
To Express Willingness: To express willingness/intention (Volunteering to do something) use only Will.
Examples:
Exercise 14
Fill in the blank with Will or Going to to express predictions.
- 1. Sue (graduate) in June. After that she (begin) work at an electronics firm.
- 2. Fred (be) at the meeting tomorrow. I think Jane (come) too.
- 3. The damage we do to our environment (affect) the quality of life of future generations.