Grammar Practice (Perfect tenses and Reported Speech)

Complete. Use a suitable simple or continuous perfect tense.

1.They....................................(be) in Los Angeles for a week. They’re having a great time.

• are

• will be
• had been

• have been

Answer explanation

'have been'

Uno de los usos más comunes del Present Perfect  es para describir un estado o una acción que empezó en el pasado y dura todavía, hasta ahora (periodo inacabado que dura hasta el presente), normalmente con since/ for

2 ..................................... you .................................... (finish) your homework yet?

• Are.........finishing

• Have.........finished

• Have...... been finishing

• Will.......finish

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Have.........finished' because it is the present perfect tense, which is used to talk about an action that started and finished in the past and is still relevant now. (It is important to know it because it is something that has to be done)

3.We .................................... (walk) around for hours, but we’re still not tired.

• have walked

• have been walking

• will have walked

• has been walking

Answer explanation

'have been walking'

Normalmente, se usa para poner énfasis en la duración de una acción que empezó en el pasado pero que continua en el presente, especialmente con expresiones de tiempo, como: for, since, all morning/day/ week, etc

4.How long....................................they....................................(wait) outside by the time you arrived?

• had they been waiting
• have they waiting
• did they waited
• were they wait

Answer explanation

'had they been waiting' Usamos el pasado perfecto continuo para referirnos a algo que habíamos estado haciendo (en proceso) cuando otra acción lo interrumpió. El pasado perfecto continuo se utiliza para la acción en proceso y el pasado simple para la acción que interrumpe.

5.By the time you returned my call, I....................................(take care) of the problem.

• I had taken

• I have taken

• I had been taking

• I took

Answer explanation

Usamos el pasado perfecto para referirnos a una acción o evento que comenzó en el pasado y que es anterior a otra acción también en el pasado. La acción que ocurrió primero es en pasado perfecto y la que sigue en pasado simple.

6.I’m surprised he....................................(not call) me all week. Maybe something is wrong.

• has not called
• had not calling

• has not been calling

• didn't call

7.What .................................... you .................................... (do) all day? You look exhausted.

• have you been doing

• have you done

• have you doing

• you have done

Answer explanation

'have you been doing' (Como en la 3)

8.It was no surprise that she canceled the meeting. She....................................(not feel) well all week.

• hasn't felt

• hasn't been feeling

• hadn't been feeling

• haven't been feeling

2 COMPLETE THE SENTENCES USING REPORTED SPEECH

“We refuse to leave the demonstration now,” they said.

They said that they .............................. to leave the demonstration then.

“I’m standing up for my rights,” the protester said.

The protester said that he .............................. for his rights.

• stood up

• was standing up

• had been standing up

• is standing up