The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Exercises: present time

Present time - Exercise 1

For each of the following sentences, choose the best explanation.

She started taking karate lessons six months ago.

She is taking karate lessons for six months.

She has been taking karate lessons for six months.

I've been in Canada for ten days.

I arrived in Canada ten days ago.

I spent ten days in Canada.

The last time she called me was two weeks ago.

It's two weeks since she last called me.

She didn't call me for two weeks.

This is the first time I've been to Paris.

I've been to Paris once.

I've never been to Paris before.

We haven't been on holiday for years.

The last time we went on holiday was years ago.

We didn't go on holiday for years.

Present time - Exercise 2

Complete each sentence with one of the following time expressions: already, always, for, just, never, rarely, since, still, usually, yet.

This has ... happened to me before. It's the first time.

He has ... been abroad three times this year.

I've ... spoken to Kate. She says hi.

I have loved you ... the day I met you.

Whenever I ring her, the line is busy, and she ... calls me back.

Have you heard what I've ... said? Are you ... listening to me?

Bill has been trying to open that can of tuna ... the last half an hour.

We've ... wanted to go to Spain but have never been able to afford it.

I ... haven't done my homework.

When does the postman ... come?

Have you done the dishes ... ?

They're ... quarrelling about stupid things. It's getting on my nerves!

Where were you? I've been looking for you ... ages!

Hold on for a second. I'm ... brushing my teeth.

My children ... get sweets. Only on special occasions.

Present time - Exercise 3

Decide if the following sentences are correct or incorrect.

Why do you continually disturb me?!

Czechs are drinking more and more coffee.

I'm listening to music since I've come home.

She has been to Egypt twice last year.

How long have you waiting here?

We've just got back from abroad.

Lucy is getting up very early these days.

Sam has been sitting on that bench since three hours.

What's the hottest place you've ever been to?

Since when has she been taking ballet lessons?

Present time - Exercise 4

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word(s) in capital letters and the meaning stays the same. Do not change the words given.

I've never driven such a fast car. (FASTEST)

What's on your mind right now? (ABOUT)

Do you know how to make a website? (EVER)

The last time I took a sauna was two years ago. (HAVEN'T)

I haven't written to Tim for three months. (SINCE)

Leyla got a job as a waitress two weeks ago. (FOR)

When did they get engaged? (HOW LONG)

Jill hasn't completed the test yet. (IS)

What time is breakfast at the hotel? (SERVE BREAKFAST)

Ted has the irritating habit of biting his nails. (ALWAYS)

Present time - Exercise 5

Make questions with the appropriate present or past tenses and then discuss them with your partner.

You | do | any sport? How long | do | it?

You | be | to the cinema or theatre | recently? What | you | see?

Is there a website that you visit regularly? How often | you | visit | it?

You | ever | lose | something very important to you? How | it | happen?

You | watch | any TV series | right now? How long | you | watch | it?

Where | you | live? How long | you | live | there?

Is there a restaurant or bar that you often go to? When | you | usually | go | there?

You | ever | be | abroad? Which foreign countries | you | be | to?

You | learn | another language | at the moment? How long | you | learn | it?

What is your daily routine during the week? What | you | do | at weekends?

Answer key: present time

Answer key - Present time - Exercise 1

She started taking karate lessons six months ago. (2) She has been taking karate lessons for six months.

I've been in Canada for ten days. (1) I arrived in Canada ten days ago.

The last time she called me was two weeks ago. (1) It's two weeks since she last called me.

This is the first time I've been to Paris. (2) I've never been to Paris before.

We haven't been on holiday for years. (1) The last time we went on holiday was years ago.

Answer key - Present time - Exercise 2

This has never happened to me before. It's the first time.

He has already been abroad three times this year.

I've just spoken to Kate. She says hi.

I have loved you since the day I met you.

Whenever I ring her, the line is busy, and she never calls me back.

Have you heard what I've just said? Are you still listening to me?

Bill has been trying to open that can of tuna for the last half an hour.

We've always wanted to go to Spain but have never been able to afford it.

I still haven't done my homework.

When does the postman usually come?

Have you done the dishes yet?

They're always quarrelling about stupid things. It's getting on my nerves!

Where were you? I've been looking for you for ages!

Hold on for a second. I'm just brushing my teeth.

My children rarely get sweets. Only on special occasions.

Answer key - Present time - Exercise 3

Why are you continually disturbing me?

Correct.

I've been listening to music since I came home.

She has been to Egypt twice. / She went to Egypt twice last year.

How long have you been waiting here?

Correct.

Correct.

Sam has been sitting on that bench for three hours.

Correct.

Correct.

Answer key - Present time - Exercise 4

This is the fastest car I have ever driven.

What are you thinking about right now?

Have you ever made a website?

I haven't had/taken a sauna for two years.

It's three months since I last wrote to Tim.

Leyla has been working as a waitress for two weeks.

How long have they been engaged?

Jill is still taking/doing the test.

When do they serve breakfast at the hotel?

Ted is always biting his nails.

Answer key - Present time - Exercise 5

Do you do any sport? How long have you been doing it?

Have you been to the cinema or theatre recently? What did you see?

Is there a website that you visit regularly? How often do you visit it?

Have you ever lost something very important to you? How did it happen?

Are you watching any TV series right now? How long have you been watching it?

Where do you live? How long have you been living there?

Is there a restaurant or bar that you often go to? When do you usually go there?

Have you ever been abroad? Which foreign countries have you been to?

Are you learning another language at the moment? How long have you been learning it?

What is your daily routine during the week? What do you do at weekends?