Multiple Choice
My mom __________ her errands. She's happy that it's done.
a. just finished
b. has just finished
c. had been finishing
b. has just finished
Rule: recently completed action in the past.
A: Did you go grocery shopping yesterday?
B: No. I ran out of time. By the time I got home from work, the grocery store _____________ (already/close).
had already closed
RULE:
"by the time" connects the simple past with the past perfect. Two past actions- one before the other
We _______ for 6 months before my visa got approved.
a. had been waiting
b. have waited
c. have been waiting
a. had been waiting
RULE:
"before" is used to combine to past actions together. One before the other.
There was no food left when I went back for seconds. They______ everything!
a. have eaten
b. had eaten
c. had been eating
b. had eaten
RULE:
Two finished past actions, one before the other
How many movies _____________ today?
a. have you been watching
b. have you watched
c. had you been watching
b. have you watched
RULE: How many
A: My sister _______________ (not/study) much for the TOEFL this year.
B: Why not? Doesn't she need to pass that test for college?
hasn't been studying OR hasn't studied
RULE: routine
- has the same meaning in present perfect and present perfect progressive
Correct the italicized section below:
When I finally decided to go back to school, all the classes filled up.
had filled up
RULE:
two past actions, one before the other
I _____________ (take) the test yet. I need to take it before Friday.
haven't taken
RULE:
with "yet" use the Present Perfect
How long ________? You should stop and sleep for awhile.
a. have you been driving
b. had you been driving
c. have you driven
a. have been driving
RULE: How long
A: _____________ (you/remember) to fill-up the car with gas on your way home?
Did you forget
RULE:
use simple past for a specific action/event in the past
A: So you moved to Chicago 3 years ago. Where had you been living before then?
B: ____________________ (living in Texas)
I'd been living in Texas.
RULE:
Two past actions: one before the other
If I ask a question in past perfect progressive, the answer needs to be in past perfect progressive.
Which is Correct?
I have been living / I have lived in Utah for 5 years.
Both
RULE:
Verbs of Habit like: live, teach, study, etc. have the same meaning in both tenses.
My brother ________ he was a kid. He still plays soccer as often as possible.
a. has loved playing soccer since
b. loved paying soccer since
c. has loved playing soccer for
a. has loved playing soccer since
You use "since" with Present Perfect NOT Simple Past.
"For" is used for a period/length of time
I ____________ (try) trail running many times.
have tried
RULE:
unspecified time in the past. We don't know when she tried trail running in the past. We just know that she tried it at sometime.
Last night, my teacher came late to class. When he arrived, he apologized and told them that he lost his watch.
had lost his watch
Explain the difference between simple past and present perfect.
Simple Past- finished time in the past. Specific time frame given.
Present Perfect- connects the past to the present.
- Action completed at an unknown time in the past, action that started in the past and continues in the present, recently completed action
By the time I got to school, my teacher __________ the test.
a. has passed out
b. passed out
c. had passed out
a. had passed out
RULE:
"by the time" is used to combine the simple past and the past perfect
The boys were exhausted because they __________ (play) in a soccer tournament all day.
had been playing
RULE:
- ongoing action in the past that was completed
A: Had you ever tried Brazilian food before you went to Brazil?
B: __________________________ (Feijoada, but/not/Farofa)
I had tried Feijoada, but I hadn't tried Farofa.
I'd tried Feijoada, but not Farofa.
RULE: question is in past perfect, answer must be in past perfect
How long __________ (you/go) on long-distances hikes?
have you been going
RULE:
with "how long" use present perfect progressive