EX. 5 - SIMPLE PAST/PRESENT PERFECT
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I have never seen that movie

2. Sam arrived in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I have known each other for over fifteen years. We still get together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He has written ten very creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I haven't had this much fun since I was a kid.

6. Things have changed a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first started working here three years ago, the company only had six employees. Since then, we have expanded to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I told him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he wandered off into the forest and was bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you missed the bus this morning. You have been late to work too many times. You are fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he has never seen the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George dreamed of going to California before he died, but he didn't make it. He never saw the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling has become much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it took two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip was very rough and often dangerous. Things have changed a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you have changed since the last time I saw you. You have grown at least a foot!

13. This tree was planted by the settlers who founded our city over four hundred years ago.

14. This mountain has never been climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers have tried to reach the top, but nobody has ever succeeded. The climb is extremely difficult and many people have died trying to reach the summit.

15. I have never visited Africa, but I have travelled to South America several times. The last time I went to South America, I visited Brazil and Peru. I spent two weeks in the Amazon, hiked for a week near Machu Picchu, and flew over the Nazca Lines.

EX. 6 - SIMPLE PAST/PRESENT PERFECT
Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology has changed a great deal. The first computers were simple machines designed for basic tasks. They didn't have much memory and they weren't very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little. Most computers were separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times have changed. Computers have become powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers 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 have become faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users have also got on the Internet and have begun communicating with other computer users around the world. We have started to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past have evolved into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

EX. 7 - PRESENT PERFECT/PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Robin: I think the waiter has forgotten us. We have been waiting here for over half an hour and nobody has taken our order yet.

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

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

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

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

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

EX. 8 - PRESENT PERFECT/PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
1. Judy: How long have you been in Canada?
Claude: I have been studying here for more than three years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

EX. 12 - SIMPLE PAST/PRESENT PERFECT/PAST PERFECT
1. When I arrived home last night, I discovered that Jane had prepared a beautiful candlelight dinner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EX. 14 - PRESENT PERFECT/PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE/PAST PERFECT/PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
1. It is already 9:30 PM and I have been waiting here for over an hour. If John does not get here in the next five minutes, I am going to leave.

2. I was really angry at John yesterday. By the time he finally arrived, I had been waiting for over an hour. I almost left without him.

3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He had been working for that import company for more than ten years and he had worked in almost every department. Nobody knew the company like he did.

4. I had seen many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

5. Sarah has climbed the Matterhorn, has sailed around the world, and has gone on safari in Kenya. She is such an adventurous person.

6. Sarah had climbed the Matterhorn, had sailed around the world and had gone on safari in Kenya by the time she turned twenty-five. She had experienced more by that age than most people do in their entire lives.

7. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were red and watery. I think she had been crying.

EX. 16 - PRESENT AND PAST TENSES WITH NON-PROGRESSIVE VERBS
a. Look, I have two tickets for the circus.
b. Look, I am holding two tickets for the circus.

a. We had been there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.
b. We had been waiting there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.

a. Sam was sitting in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.
b. Sam was in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.

a. One clown was juggling while he was balancing a glass of wine on his head.
b. One clown was juggling while he had a glass of wine on his head.

a. I have loved the circus ever since I was a child.
b. I have been going to the circus ever since I was a child.

a. Right now, I see two elephants doing tricks in the ring.
b. Right now, I am looking at two elephants doing tricks in the ring.

EX. 17 - PRESENT AND PAST TENSES REVIEW
Lars: Excuse me, which movie are you waiting for?

Tony: We are waiting for the new Stars Wars movie. In fact, we have been waiting here for more than five hours.

Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive?

Tony: We got here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people were already standing here waiting for tickets when we arrived.

Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious?

Tony: Yeah, people take Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this particular showing has been sold out for over a week. We are just waiting in line to get a good seat in the theater.

Lars: When did you buy your tickets?

Tony: I bought them last week by phone. I knew tickets would be hard to get because I had seen a news interview with a group of people standing in line to get tickets. They had been waiting in line for almost a month to buy tickets for the first showing.

Lars: I don't believe that!

Tony: It's true. They camped out in front of Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles for about a month because they wanted to be the first people to see the movie.

VERB TENSES PRACTICE TEST
1. You look really great! have you been working out at the fitness center recently?

2. A: What were you doing when the accident occurred?
B: I was trying to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

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

4. If it snows this weekend, we will go skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. A: What do you call people who work in libraries?
B: They are called librarians.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I return to Australia, I will have been studying for nine months and I will have been in England for exactly one year.

7. Sam arrived in San Diego a week ago.

8. Samantha lived in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she was living there when the Berlin wall came down.

9. If Vera keeps drinking, she will eventually lose her job.

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

11. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John is sleeping.

12. It has been raining all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the beach.

13. Listen Donna, I don't care if you missed the bus this morning. You have been late to work too many times. You are fired!

14. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we wake up tomorrow morning, the sun will be shining.

15. I have not traveled much yet; however, I will have visited the Grand Canyon and San Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

16. I had seen many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

17. In the last hundred years, traveling has become much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it took two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip was very rough and often dangerous. Things have changed a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

18. Joseph's English is really improving, isn't it? He has been watching American television programs and has been studying his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

19. When I arrived home last night, I discovered that Jane had prepared a beautiful candlelight dinner.

20. If you need to contact me sometime next week, I will be staying at the Sheraton in San Francisco.

VERB TENSES FINAL TEST
1. When Carol called last night, I was watching my favorite show on television.

2. I have been working for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon loves to travel. She goes abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He writes mystery novels and travel memoirs. He has been writing since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he has written seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we got to the train station, Susan had been waiting for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam was trying to change a light bulb when he slipped and fell.

7. Everyday I wake up at 6 o'clock, eat breakfast at 7 o'clock and leave for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I got up at 6:30, skipped breakfast and left for work late because I had forgotten to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim is reading the newspaper and Kathy is making dinner. Last night at this time, they were doing the same thing. She was cooking and he was reading the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they will also be doing the same thing. She will be preparing dinner and he will be reading. They are very predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you will have completed your studies and will have found a job. I, on the other hand, won't have accomplished anything. I  will still be studying and you will be working in some new high paying job.

10. The students are usually taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they are being taught by Mr. Tanzer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
11.
Jane talks on the phone.
Bob has been talking on the phone for an hour.
Mary is talking on the phone.

Who is not necessarily on the phone now? Jane isn't necessarily on the phone now.

12.
I'm going to make dinner for Frank.
I'm making dinner for Judy.
I'll make dinner for Mary.
I make dinner for Ted.
I will be making dinner for Tony.

Who are you offering to make dinner for? I'm offering to make dinner for Mary

13.
Jane left when Tim arrived.
Bob left when Tim had arrived.
Tim arrived when Mary was leaving.
John had left when Tim arrived.
After Tim arrived, Frank left.

Who did not run into Tim? John didn't.

14.
Jane is talking in class.
Bob always talks in class.
Mary is always talking in class.

Whose action bothers you? Mary's actiom does.

15.
Jane never left Jamestown.
Bob has never left Jamestown.

Who is still alive? Bob is.