Diagnostic test 3

Past to Present tenses

Select the best choice of words in brackets. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (Has the package arrived/Did the package arrive) safely yesterday? We still hold meetings in the old manor house, which (stood/has stood) on the same spot for over two hundred years. Beethoven (has written/wrote) some of the most accomplished symphonies you will ever listen to. I (didn't see/haven't seen) Keith at all yesterday morning. The nurses' strike (increased/has increased) the current waiting time for minor surgery by two to three weeks. Only one British female astronaut (spent/has spent) time on a space station. News is coming in of an incident in Parliament. A group of armed men (surrounded/has surrounded) the building and is holding hostages. He's really much more handsome in the flesh than I (thought/have thought). We (eat/have been eating) much less beef recently because of the crisis, but we think it's safe to start again now. This country (has been welcoming/has welcomed) the latest influx of political refugees from the Balkans. Th incidence of street crime (has risen/ has been rising) by five per cent in the last two months.

All the sentences below contain a grammatical mistake. Find and correct the mistakes. Example: 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 My family (is living) in this country for over twenty years. has been living/has lived Hurry up! We have been waited for you for twenty minutes. We have been using this supplier since two years and we've never had problems before. There were seven police dramas on TV so far this week and it's only Thursday! Only halfway through the financial year and British Aerospace already announced that its pre-tax profits will be down by 70%. The Indian government has imposed a ban on tiger hunting five years ago. Several drivers have been badly injured during the 1999 racing season. This farm is growing organic vegetables for more than ten years now. She has been playing with the symphony orchestra three times this season. I haven't seen you for ages. No, I've travelled in South-East Asia. Oasis has been recording a new album. It was a great success on its release last week. ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE Ongoing states and actions We use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about states that started in the past and are still continuing in the present. The manor house has stood on this spot for over two hundred years. (it's still there) We often use the prepositions for (+ period of time) and since (+ point in time). (wrong) The centre of the island has not been inhabited since fifty years. (correct) The centre of the island has not been inhabited for fifty years. (wrong) (correct) The centre of the island has not been inhabited for (the earthquake of) 1952. The centre of the island has not been inhabited since (the earthquake of) 1952.

Note: We do not use the Present Simple or Continuous with for and since when we refer to a state that began in the past. (wrong) My family lives/is living in this country since 1978. (wrong) My family lives/is living in this country for over twenty years. (correct) My family has lived in this country since 1978 / for over twenty years. Note: In the examples above since is a preposition. When we use it as a conjunction, we usually use the Past Simple after it. You've been really moody ever since that letter arrived. What's wrong? Note: The Present Continuous + for expresses a present situation continuing in the future. We are staying here for another three months. We also use the Present Perfect to talk about actions which happened in the past but may happen again in the future. The period of time in which the action took place is unfinished, so it may be repeated. The action may have happened only once. I've only been to Hong Kong once, but I'd love to go again. (my life is still continuing so I may go to Hong Kong again) Or it may have happened several times. (a repeated action) NASA has sent probes to various planets in the solar system. (and may send more) Sometimes we know the time is not 'finished' because of the phrases we use. This channel has shown about four wildlife documentaries this week! Compare these two sentences. John Grisham has written some of the most successful legal thrillers. Agatha Christie wrote a huge number of thrillers. In the first example the author is still alive and is able to write more successful books; in the second the author is dead and therefore can't write any more books. (wrong) Agatha Christie has written a huge number of thrillers. We use the Present Perfect after superlatives, e.g. the best/worst, the greatest, ordinal numbers, e.g. the first (second, third), the only, often followed by ever. It's the worst sports programme I have ever seen and the first I have ever written to complain about. Many people consider Kennedy to be the greatest President the USA has had. Adverbs often used with the Present Perfect A number of adverbs are commonly used with the Present Perfect. ever, often, seldom, never, so far, already, yet, still. The Prime Minister has seldom been put in such a difficult position. I have never experienced any racism in athletics. We've received over 20,000 entries for the competition so far. Only halfway through the financial year and British Aerospace has already announced that it's pre-tax profits will be down by seventy per cent. Have they announced the date yet? No, they still haven't made up their minds.

Note: We use already with the affirmative but yet with the negative and in questions. (wrong) We've yet seen the film but they haven't seen it already. (correct) We've already seen the film but they haven't seen it yet. Present relevance We can use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about an action completed in the past which has some relevance to the present, e.g. there is a present result of the action. The avalanche has devastated the skiing industry in the area. (result = the skiing industry is still having big problems) We often use this form to talk about recent actions. We can start the interviews now, as all the candidates have arrived. Has the government put up the minimum wage? Yes, it's $20 per hour now. Common adverbs with the Present Perfect in this use are just, recently and lately. Has the sports centre increased its membership fees lately? We use just with very recent actions. I've just made a nice pot of tea. Would you like a cup? The wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills has just taken place in Ireland. Note: We do not use the Present Perfect with a definite time in the past (except with since or for). We usually use the Past Simple when we give a time. (wrong) Ms Brown has arrived half an hour ago. She's waiting in the staff room. (correct) Ms Brown arrived half an hour ago. She's waiting in the staff room. We can use the Present Perfect when the time is indefinite, that is when no time is stated, especially when the past action has some relevance to the present. Ms Brown has arrived. She's in the staff room and is ready to see you now. Other uses As the Present Perfect Simple expresses relevance to the present, news broadcasts and reports often use it to introduce a story, before moving into past tenses. Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere has died at the age of 77 in a London hospital. He came to London in ... Similarly, we often use it to introduce a new topic of conversation. I've heard from Maurice he's been in Australia for the last two months. In time clauses (e.g. after, when) we use the Present Perfect with future reference. We'll make a move as soon as the rain has stopped. PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE DIFFERENCES Present Perfect Unfinished state/action Spain has governed the enclave of Ceuta since 1580. Unfinished time I haven't seen Keith this morning yet. (it's still morning) Present relevance The Indian Government has imposed a ban on tiger hunting to prevent the extinction of tigers. Indefinite time I've been to Eurodisney twice. Past Simple Finished state/action Spain governed the state of Western Sahara from 1958 to 1976. Finished time I didn't see Keith at all this morning. (it's now afternoon/evening) No present relevance The Indian Government imposed a ban on tiger hunting a few years ago. Definite time I went to Eurodisney in 1999 and 2000.

Beliefs and expectations We use the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect, to correct an incorrect belief or expectation, or to confirm a correct one. (wrong) The area is far more rugged and wild than I have expected. (correct) The area is far more rugged and wild than I expected. (wrong) (correct) She is just as beautiful as I have imagined. She is just as beautiful as I imagined.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS Ongoing states and actions We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about an ongoing state or action which began in the past and is still continuing or has just finished. Women have been speaking out on this issue for some time, with mixed results. Where have you been? I've been talking to Jenny. It is common to use since or for with this use of the Present Perfect Continuous. I've been looking into the possibility of early retirement since the reorganisation. The simple form of the Present Perfect often focuses on the fact that an action is completed, while the continuous focuses on the fact that it is still ongoing. (Simple) I've learnt how to play chess. (= I can play chess now) (Continuous) I've been learning how to play chess. (= I'm still learning) We use the continuous to focus on the duration of an action so we do not mention the number of times that we have done the action. With repeated actions we use the Present Perfect Simple. (wrong) I've been calling you five times this morning. Where have you been? (correct) I've called you five times this morning. Where have you been? The use of the Present Perfect Continuous can suggest that the state or action may change (it is temporary). Compare this with the Present Simple. We subscribe to one of the satellite TV companies. (unlikely to change) We've been subscribing to one of the satellite TV companies. (not a fixed situation we may change) With the adverbs lately or recently, we use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about new developments which may be temporary. Helen's been spending a lot of time at the club lately. (= she didn't use to) Note: We use the Present Perfect Continuous + for, not the Present Continuous, to specify the duration of an activity which started in the past and is still continuing. (wrong) I am learning how to play chess for three years now. (correct) I have been learning how to play chess for three years now. Note: We do not usually use the Present Perfect Continuous in the passive. (wrong) The patient's heart rate has been being monitored continuously. (correct) The nurses have been monitoring the patient's heart rate continuously. Present relevance We can use the Present Perfect Continuous to explain a present result, e.g. a situation or an appearance. The focus is on the activity rather than the result. In this case, we don't usually use a time adverb. The test result is much better. It's clear you've been revising. I'm sorry the hall is in such a mess. We've been decorating, Compare these examples of the Present Perfect Continuous and Simple. We have been trialling the new software prior to its release on the open market. We have completed the new software trial and are now ready to release it. [result]

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS DIFFERENCES Present Perfect Simple Completion This country has welcomed several hundred refugees from Kosovo in the last few weeks. Repeated action She has played with the symphony orchestra three times this season. Permanent situation People have eaten a lot less meat over the last twenty years or so. Focus on present result I've done the accounts here they are. Present Perfect Continuous Continuation This country has been welcoming political refugees for many years. Duration of action She has been playing with the symphony orchestra all season. Temporary situation People have been eating less meat recently because of the crisis. Focus on the activity I've been doing my accounts all afternoon.

Choose the phrase or sentence which correctly continues the text or dialogue. Example: Only halfway through the football season and Manchester United yet again leads the Premier League. The situation could change, however, as ... a) b) 1 ... most teams played only a third of their games do far. ... most teams have played only a third of their games so far. (incorrect) (correct)

I must remember to phone my parents before I go away on Thursday. I haven't told them about the trip yet. a) Didn't you see much of them lately, then? b) Haven't you seen much of them lately, then? What do you think of our new Finance Director? a) He's the most obnoxious person I ever met. b) He's the most obnoxious person I have ever met. We won't be able to move back into our house for a while. a) Our tenants are living there for six months. b) Our tenants have lived there for six months. Today we're previewing the new album by the top Swedish band The Turnips, who, as I'm sure you all know, are coming to Hong Kong on tour next month. a) The group released three albums so far. b) The group has released three albums so far. Another earthquake has hit the north-west of Turkey, bringing further devastation to the area east of Istanbul, which is still suffering from the August earthquake. a) The latest tremor measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. b) The latest tremor has measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. Pipeworks regrets the current inconvenience to residents of Kelvin Close. a) We have lowered the water pressure to allow essential repairs. b) We lowered the water pressure to allow essential repairs. Investigators into the recent air crash have released their findings, which show a fault in the engine cooling system of the aircraft. All major airlines ... a) ... grounded aircraft of the same type for thorough checks. b) ... have grounded aircraft of the same type for thorough checks.

The seventeenth-century writer Cervantes is often considered the father of the modern novel. Most people only connect the name with Don Quixote, though Cervantes .. a) ... was a prolific writer. b) ... has been a prolific writer. With so much money being poured into medical research every year, you'd think that more breakthroughs would be made But breakthroughs are being made. a) Didn't a Colombian scientist discover a cure for malaria last year? b) Hasn't a Colombian scientist discovered a cure for malaria last year? Most visitors to the prison are pleasantly surprised by the environment. a) It is far more open and greener than they have imagined. b) It is far more open and greener than they imagined.

10

Match the sentences (A and B) in the pairs below with its meaning. Example: A B I've been reading the book you lent me on genetics. I've read the book you lent me on genetics. 1 2 1 A B I've finished the book. I'm still reading the book. B A

The firm gives company cars to junior managers. The firm has been giving company cars to junior managers. 1 2 This is the company's usual policy. It's unlikely to change. This isn't the company's usual policy. It may change.

A B

Something has been killing the rabbits in the woods. Something has killed the rabbits in the woods. 1 2 There are no rabbits left in the woods. There are some rabbits left in the woods.

A B

Monsanto has placed some adverts in the national press. Monsanto has been placing adverts in the national press. 1 2 This was a one-off publicity move. This is a continuing publicity campaign.

A B

Hi, Fiona. What a mess! Have you been decorating? Hi, Fiona. This room looks great. Have you decorated it? 1 2 Fiona is in the middle of decorating. Fiona isn't decorating any more.

A B

A group of us have learnt how to play bridge. A group of us have been learning how to play bridge. 1 2 We're still learning. We can play it now.