Tense review 4 present (perfect) simple or continuous

Review of the tenses 4

Revise and test your knowledge of the present tenses in English with this exercise: choose between present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple and present perfect continuous. If you need a full review first, click on the "help" button. These explanations will also be available during the quiz, under each question.

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Un quiz de N. Michiels, Athénée Royal d'Ath.

1/10

always has liked

She ................ (to like) pizza and pasta.

does liked

likes

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1/10

Right answer (C):

She likes pizza and pasta.

Answer A is incorrect because the frequency adverb should be placed after the auxiliary 'has'. B is incorrect because you don't need the auxiliary "do" to form a positive statement. But as this is a third person singular subject, you need an -s at the end of your verb (answer C).

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2/10

Is he

..................... (he / to be) taller than his brother?

is he being

Does he be

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2/10

Right answer (A):

Is he taller than his brother?

You don't need the auxiliary "do" to form a question with the verb to be, so answer C is incorrect. B is also incorrect because the verb "to be" is not normally used in the continuous form when it is a stative verb. But as this is a third person singular subject, you need "is" (answer A).

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3/10

Have you

................... (you / to have) any brother or sister?

Do you have

Do you have got

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3/10

Right answer (B):

Do you have any brother or sister?

Answer C is incorrect because in the expression "have got", have is an auxiliary so you don't need 'do'. Answer A is incorrect because when it means 'possess', the verb 'have' is not an auxiliary, so you need the auxiliary 'do' to make a question (answer B)

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4/10

have been receiving

I ........... five emails so far today.

have received

am receiving

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4/10

Right answer (B):

I have received five emails so far today.

The fact that you received mail is something that began in the past, so you can't use a present simple or a present continuous, but the speaker doesn't say precisely when in the past he received the mail, and the time adverbial "so far today" indicates that the day is not finished yet. This corresponds to a present perfect but not continuous, as the fact of receiving an email is too short. By choosing the present perfect simple we focus on the fact that the action of receiving is completed.

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5/10

drives

In her job as a sales representative, she ......... around a lot to meet prospective customers.

is driving

has drived

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5/10

Right answer (A):

In her job as a sales representative, she drives around a lot to meet prospective customers.

This is what she does every day, it's a repetitive action so you need the present simple.

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6/10

studies

She can't come to the phone now because she .... for tomorrow's test.

has studying

is studying

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6/10

Right answer (C):

She can't come to the phone now because she is studying for tomorrow's test.

The time adverbial "now" indicates that this is an action in progress, happening at the moment the speaking is talking, so you need the present continuous. Answer B is not a possible option as the auxiliary "have" is never followed by an -ing form.

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7/10

is sleeping

She ... since two pm. Shouldn't we wake her up?

has been sleeping

sleeps

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7/10

Right answer (B):

She has been sleeping since two pm. Shouldn't we wake her up?

Look at the time adverbial: since 2.00 means that the action began in the past. It is still going on, and we want to insist on the duration as well as the fact that it isn't finished, so we should choose the present perfect continuous here.

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8/10

haven't been reading

I ... this book yet. Can I borrow it for a week or two?

haven't read

'm not reading

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8/10

Right answer (B):

I haven't read this book yet. Can I borrow it for a week or two?

Answer A, 'I am not reading' would not be logical as it is the person who wants to borrow it who is speaking, not the owner of the book. 'Not yet' means 'pas encore' in French, so this is still true in the present. Moreover, the request is a consequence in the present.

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9/10

am cleaning

I ... all morning. I'm fed up!

have cleaned

have been cleaning

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9/10

Right answer (C):

I have been cleaning all morning. I'm fed up!

In this sentence, the action began in the past so you can't choose answer A. It is probably still going on, as the person says that they are fed up with it, and the choice of the present perfect continuous also conveys an idea of duration.

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10

10/10

have been knowing

I ... Jack and Jill for ages: we went to kindergarten together! Can you imagine?

know

have known

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10/10

Right answer (C):

I have known Jack and Jill for ages: we went to kindergarten together! Can you imagine?

You might be tempted to choose answer A (have been knowing) to express something that started in the past but is still going on, while insisting on the duration of that action, but remember that 'to know' is not an action verb and cannot be used in the continuous form. Therefore we have to choose the present perfect simple.

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Congratulations!

You have reached the end of the quiz. If you had difficulties or made mistakes, revise again, and choose some of these extra exercises:

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