past or present perfect

I _______ a new dress yesterday.

• buy

• bought

• have bought

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'bought' because it is the simple past tense of 'buy', which fits the context of the sentence indicating an action completed yesterday.

They _____ their homework yet

• have finished

• haven't finished

• finished

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'haven't finished' because the sentence indicates that the action of finishing homework has not occurred yet, which requires the negative form of the present perfect tense.

Helen has already ____ lunch.

• have

• has

• had

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'had' because it indicates that Helen completed her lunch in the past. 'Has' is present tense, and 'have' is incorrect in this context.

Ben has just _____ a vase

• break

• broke

• broken

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'broken' because it is the past participle form used with 'has' in the present perfect tense. The sentence indicates that the action of breaking the vase has just occurred.

My father went to Italy five days (a)   .

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'ago' because it indicates a specific time in the past, fitting the context of the sentence. 'Five days ago' clearly states when the father went to Italy.

He has known her (a)   2001.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'since' because it indicates a starting point in time. The phrase 'since 2001' shows that he has known her from that year up to the present.

Have you _________ seen an elephant?

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'ever'. The sentence asks if you have at any point in your life seen an elephant, which is best expressed with 'ever'. 'Ever' indicates any time up to now.

She hasn't finished her work ________.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'yet'. The sentence implies that the work is still incomplete, and 'yet' indicates that it hasn't been finished up to the present time.

He has lived in Madrid (a)   ten years.

Answer explanation

The correct preposition is 'for' because we use 'for' to indicate a duration of time. The sentence should read: 'He has lived in Madrid for ten years.'

We went to bed at 11 o'clock (a)   .

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'last night' because it indicates the specific time when the action of going to bed occurred, making the sentence complete and clear.