Simple Past or Present Perfect?
Past: Simple or Perfect?
Present: Perfect or Continuous?
Prepositions
Phrasal Verbs
100

1. We _________________ (go) to the theatre last week. 

2. Yesterday I _________________ (have) dinner with a friend.

1. We went to the theatre last week. 

2. Yesterday I had dinner with a friend.

100

12. When he ________________________________ (arrive) at the party, Julie had just left.

When he arrived at the party, Julie had just left.

100

18. I ___________________ (paint) my house all day, but it’s not finished yet.

18. I’ve been painting my house all day, but it’s not finished yet.

100

18. Who are you waiting _____?

18. Who are you waiting for?

100

to discover, learn, or verify something:


I don't know, but I'll ___ for you.

I don't know, but I'll find out for you. 

200

3. I _________________ (never / taste) Laphroaig.

4. When I _________________ (be) a child, I _________________ (love) ice skating.

3. I’ve never tasted Laphroaig. 

4. When I was a child, I loved ice skating.

200

13. After arriving home, I realised I ________________________________ (not / buy) any milk. 

14. The laundry was wet – it ________________________________ (rain) while I was out.

13. After arriving home, I realised I hadn’t bought any milk. 

14. The laundry was wet – it had rained while I was out.

200

19. Julie ___________________ (be) at the office since 6 am.

19. Julie has been at the office since 6 am.

200

16. Please be quiet – I need to concentrate _____ this book.

16. Please be quiet – I need to concentrate on this book.

200

to end a relationship; usually a long-term one.


He ___ with her because they had different life goals.

He broke up with her because they had different life goals.

300

5. I _________________ (not/ have) any coffee today – I feel very sleepy! 

6. I _________________ (not / drink) any coffee yesterday. 

7. I _________________ (read) all his books – I think he’s a wonderful writer.

5. I haven’t had any coffee today – I feel very sleepy! 

6. I didn’t drink any coffee yesterday. 

7. I’ve read all his books – I think he’s a wonderful writer.

300

1. When I ______ (arrive) at the cinema, the film ____________________ (start). 

2. She ____________________ (live) in China before she ________ (go) to Thailand. 

3. After they ____________________ (eat) the shellfish, they ______ (begin) to feel sick.

1. When I arrived at the cinema, the film had started

2. She had lived in China before she went to Thailand. 

3. After they had eaten the shellfish, they began to feel sick.

300

20. The writer ___________________ (deserve) this award for a long time.

20. The writer has deserved this award for a long time.

300

14. Don’t worry _____ Margot, she’ll be fine.

14. Don’t worry about Margot, she’ll be fine.

300

to cancel a meeting, party, rendezvous or event.


I ___ the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

I called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it.

400

8. What _________________ (do) at the weekend? 

9. I_________________ (always / love) tea – I drink it every day. 

10. What subject _________________ (she / study) at university?

8. What did you do at the weekend? 

9. I’ve always loved tea – I drink it every day. 

10. What subject did she study at university?

400

15. We ________ (can/not/go) into the concert because we ___________________ (not / bring) our tickets. 

16. She ______ (say) that she ___________________ (not / visit) the UK before. 

17. Julie and Anne ___________________ (not / meet) before the party.

15. We couldn’t go into the concert because we hadn’t brought our tickets. 

16. She said that she hadn’t visited the UK before. 

17. Julie and Anne hadn’t met before the party. 

400

16. How much gasoline ___________________ (she / buy)? 

17. She ___________________ (eat) chocolate all morning, so she feels sick.

16. How much gasoline has she bought

17. She has been eating chocolate all morning, so she feels sick. 

400

11. My flatmate listens _____ a lot of jazz. 

12. David paid _____ the drinks. 

4. I borrowed a pen _____ my classmate.

11. My flatmate listens to a lot of jazz. 

12. David paid for the drinks. 

4. I borrowed a pen from my classmate.  

400

 to change the time of a schedule meeting or event to a later one; to postpone.


Never ___ until tomorrow what you can do today.

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

500

12. How long _________________ (you / know) Susie for? 

13. He _________________ (be) married for ten years (but he got divorced). 

14. He _________________ (be) married for ten years (he is still married). 

15. How many books _________________ (she / write) so far?

12. How long have you known Susie for?

 13. He was married for ten years (but he got divorced). 

14. He has been married for ten years.

15. How many books has she written so far?

500

18. I ___________________ (find) my charger because the housekeeper _________ (throw) it away.

19. He ___________________ (not / send) an email before, so I ______ (show) him how to do it. 

20. You ___________________ (not / study) for the test, so you were very nervous.

18. I didn't find my charger because the housekeeper had thrown it away.

19. He hadn’t sent an email before, so I showed him how to do it. 

20. You hadn’t studied for the test, so you were very nervous.

500

12. I ___________________ (call) John for hours and hours and he hasn’t answered. I’m really angry with him! 

13. I ___________________ (be) in London for three years. 

14. We ___________________ (know) James for ages.

12. I’ve been calling John for hours and hours and he hasn’t answered. I’m really angry with him! 

13. I’ve been in London for three years. 

14. We have known James for ages. 

500

18. She often goes to school ___________ foot. 

20. The little girl broke the toy ___________ purpose because she was so angry.

26. We watched a film ___________ a change. Usually we read.

18. She often goes to school on foot 

20. The little girl broke the toy on purpose because she was so angry.

26. We watched a film for a change. Usually we read.

500

to endure or tolerate something (or someone) unpleasant without complaint 


Why do you ____ him? He's so selfish and impolite!

Why do you put up him? He's so selfish and impolite!