Grammar Practice Exercises , Upper Intermediate [ 8 ]

8 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises

Upper Intermediate

 Contrast : Present Perfect Simple Versus Past Simple

1 -] Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple , present perfect pr present perfect continuous

Jake and Michael , two friends , are talking

Example

J : Hello , I haven’t seen (not see) you for ages .

M : No , it must be about two years since we last -----------------------(meet) . What -------------

(you /do) with yourself ?

J : I ---------------------(do) all sorts of things . Life ------------------(be) very busy lately . I ------

(start) a new job at the sailing center .

M
: Really ! Doing what ?

J : Well , I ---------------------(teach) beginners’ courses to school groups this term but when those ----------------(finish) , I’ll be teaching more advanced groups on holiday courses .

M : That sounds great . What about your old job at the tourist office then ?

J : Well , I ---------------------(work) there for ten years and I quite --------------(enjoy) the job but I -------------------(want) to do something different . I -----------------------(always/enjoy) sailing in my spare time so I -----------------(think) it would be nice to do it for a job .

M: So how long --------------------------(you/be) at the sailing center ?

J : For about two months now . I’m sure I ---------------------(do) the right thing . It’s a really enjoyable job . And what about you ?

M : Well , I’m still at the Hilton Hotel . I ------------------(work) there for fifteen years now . But I -----------------------(have) a promotion so that’s good . They ----------------( give) me the job of head receptionist .

J : Oh , that’s good news .

M : Yes , it -----------------------(make) me feel much better about work . I mean ----------------(do) a lot of different jobs at the hotel but I ----------------(never have) a job with this much responsibility before I --------------------(work) on the reception desk for four years when

 I ----------------(start) at the hotel - that was before they --------------------(move) me into the office - but I ----------------------(be) only a junior receptionist then so I just -------------(do) what I --------------------(be told) to do .

J : So when --------------------(you / get) the new job ?

M : A month ago , after I ------------------(pass) my intermediate exams in Spanish and German at the college . Did you know I ------------------(do) language evening classes at the college for a while now ?

J : No , I didn’t realize .

M : Yes , I ------------------------(decide) that I -----------------(cannot get) any further at work without learning some languages .

A : And so you did ! What a good idea .

2 - ] Put the verbs into the present perfect simple or past simple in the following passages

Example

1 - ] News has just come in (just come in) that there ---------------------(be) an air crash somewhere off the south coast of England . There --------------------(be) 120 passengers and crew on the plane and it is understood that no survivors -----------------(be found) . Apparently the plane ----------------(go) mysteriously out of control and -----------(plunge) into the sea . Relatives of most of the passengers and crew -----------------(now be informed) and many of them -----------------------(set off) for the sea rescue base , but they -----------------

(not be given) much hope . Most of the passengers --------------------(be) on business .  

2 - ] Despite the problems that the government --------------(have) in the last two years , it

----------------------(somehow manage) to stay in power . There -------------------(be) a number of scandals involving government ministers , including one rumor about the Prime Minister himself . It is said that he ---------------(promise) gifts to certain Members of Parliament in exchange for their vote before he -------------(be elected) leader . In spite of all this , the government -----------------(Maintain) its position in Parliament and --------(claim) that this ------------------(be) the most successful term of office that a government --------------

(ever have) . This is rather surprising as they ---------------(come) to power with only a small majority . 

Grammar Practice Exercises [ 7 ] Upper Intermediate

7 - ] Grammar Practice Exercises 

Upper Intermediate

 

5 - ] Tenses With the Perfect Aspect

Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

1 . Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous .

Tim Bryant , a magazine journalist , is interviewing Margaret Rodwell , the founder of a successful company .

Example

TB : So why do you think your company has been (be) so successful ?

MR : Well , our products ---------------------(fill) a large gap in the market and I think one of the most important things is that we -----------------(always listen) to our clients and we ------

(act) on their comments and suggestions .

TB : And what’s a typical day for you ?

MR : Well , take today for example . I ------------------------(interview) candidates for a marketing executive post .

TB : And how many ---------------------------(you / interview) ?

MR : Er , I ---------------------------(interview) four so far . And I ----------------------(talk) to clients on the phone on and off all day . I seem to spend a lot of time on the phone . I ---------

(discuss) some new ideas with them for the transportation and delivery of our products .

RB : Mm , it sounds like a very busy day .

MR : Oh , that’s only part of it . I ---------------------(have) two meetings , one with Union representatives and one with departmental heads . And I -----------------(also work) on a proposal for a new marketing strategy .

TB : And it’s not two o’clock yet !

MR : No , but of course I ---------------------(be) here since seven o’clock this morning .

TB : Gosh . And , I hope you don’t mind my mentioning this Ms Rodwell , but some rumors --------------------------(circulate) about your possible engagement to Mr. Thomson , the banker .

MR : No , there will be no engagement , though it’s true that Mr. Thomson and I -------------

(see) each other . That’s no secret .

TB : When you get the time , I suppose . And is it also true that you ----------------(learn) Russian with a view to introducing your products there ?

MR : Yes , I have , but I ----------------------(not learn) much yet ; there’s still a long way for me to go .

 2 . Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous .

Example

1` - ] A: You look hot . What have you been doing ( you / do) ?

B : I ------------------------------(run) .

A : Running ! In this heat ? How far ----------------------(you / run ) ?

B : About four miles .

2 - ] A : What’s the problem ? You look a bit preoccupied .

B : Yes , I -------------------------(think) about Helen .

A : Why ? Is there something wrong with her ?

B : Well , she -------------------------(act) so strangely lately .

A : In what way ?

B : Well , some days when she arrives at work , I know that she ---------------(cry) . And she

-------------------------- (make) private calls when we’re all out at lunch . I just think that something’s going on .

A : -----------------------------(you /talk) to her about it yet ?

B : Yes , a few times , and each time she ----------------(say) that there’s nothing wrong , but I’m not so sure .

3 - } A : Where ----------------(you / be) , Simon ?

B : I ------------------------(talk)to Mark on the phone . He says he -------------------- (try) to phone us all day .

A : Well I -----------------(be) in most of the day but I ----------------(not hear) the phone .

B : That’s strange . But anyway , he ---------------------(have) a phone call from Jackie’s mother and Jackie ------------------(be) in some kind of accident . It’s nothing very serious but she’s got to stay in hospital overnight .

A : Oh dear . -----------------------------(she/break) any bones ?

B : I’m not quite sure how badly she ----------------------(be hurt) but I think we should go and see her tonight .