Verb Tense Exercise 6

Simple Past / Present Perfect

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change) has changed a great deal. The first computers (be) were simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not) didn't have much memory and they (be, not) weren't very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) did very little. Most computers (be) were separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times (change) have changed. Computers (become) have become powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) have created a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) have become faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) have also got on the Internet and (begin) begun communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) have started to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) have evolved into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

Verb Tense Exercise 7

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) has forgotten us. We (wait) have been waiting here for over half an hour and nobody (take) has taken our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) has walked by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already) have already ordered.

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) have only been here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, not) haven't ordered yet! We (sit) have been sitting here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) has even noticed us. He (run) has been running from table to table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) hasn't looked in our direction once.

Verb Tense Exercise 8

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

1. Judy: How long (be) have you been in Canada?
Claude: I (study) have been studying here for more than three years.

2. I (have) have had the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

3. I (love) have loved chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah (have) have been having some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they (go) have been going to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John (work) has been working for the government since he graduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he (enjoy) has enjoyed his work, but now he is talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) have been thinking about changing my career because I (become) have become dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

7. I (see) have been seeing Judy for more than five years and during that time I (see) have seen many changes in her personality.

Verb Tense Exercise 12

Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

1. When I (arrive) arrived home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) had prepared a beautiful candlelight dinner.

2. Since I began acting, I (perform) have performed in two plays, a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, never even) had never even spoken publicly before I came to Hollywood in 1985.

3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) had already begun without me. My boss (be) was furious with me and I (be) was fired.

4. When I (turn) turned the radio on yesterday, I (hear) heard a song that was popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) hadn't heard the song in years, and it (bring) brought back some great memories.

5. Last week, I (run) ran into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) hadn't seen each other in years, and both of us (change) had changed a great deal. I (enjoy) enjoyed talking to her so much that I (ask) asked her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for dinner.

6. When Jack (enter) entered the room, I (recognize, not) didn't recognize him because he (lose) had lost so much weight and (grow) grown a beard. He looked totally different!

7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) had virtually disappeared by the time Europeans first (arrive) arrived in the New World.

8. I (visit) have visited so many beautiful places since I (come) came to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear, never) had never heard of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, or Canyonlands.