Present Perfect Exercises With Answers Advanced

Savager Indie vor

3 min read

·

22-11-2024

1

0

Share

This article provides advanced-level exercises to master the present perfect tense in English. The present perfect, formed with "have/has" + past participle, expresses actions completed at an unspecified time in the past or actions continuing up to the present. We'll cover various nuances and complexities often encountered at an advanced level.

Understanding the Nuances of the Present Perfect

Before diving into the exercises, let's briefly review some key aspects of the present perfect that are crucial for advanced learners:

1. Unspecified Time: The present perfect emphasizes the result of the action in the present, not the specific time it occurred. For example, "I have lived in London" doesn't specify when you started living there, only that you currently live there (or lived there until recently).

2. Duration and Completion: The present perfect can express actions that have continued for a period of time up to the present ("I have studied English for five years") or actions completed at an unspecified time ("I have seen that movie").

3. "Just," "Already," "Yet," and "Since/For": These adverbs and prepositions add precision to the present perfect and are essential for expressing different shades of meaning. We'll see examples in the exercises below.

4. Perfect Infinitives and Perfect Participles: Advanced usage often involves combining the present perfect with infinitives and participles, adding another layer of complexity.

Exercise 1: Choosing the Correct Tense

Instructions: Choose either the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous to complete the following sentences.

1. She ______ (travel) extensively throughout Europe.
2. They ______ (work) on that project for months.
3. I ______ (just/finish) writing my report.
4. He ______ (never/see) anything like it before.
5. We ______ (try) to contact him all day, but without success.
6. The company ______ (make) significant progress this year.
7. She ______ (live) in Paris since 2010.
8. They ______ (wait) for the bus for over an hour.
9. I ______ (read) that book three times.
10. He ______ (learn) Spanish for the last two years.

Answers:

1. has traveled
2. have been working
3. have just finished
4. has never seen
5. have been trying
6. has made
7. has lived
8. have been waiting
9. have read
10. has been learning

Exercise 2: Using Adverbs of Time and Prepositions

Instructions: Complete the sentences using the present perfect with the appropriate adverb or preposition.

1. Have you ______ (see) the new exhibit at the museum yet?
2. I have ______ (finish) my homework already.
3. She hasn't called ______ (since) Tuesday.
4. They have lived in this house ______ (for) ten years.
5. We have ______ (just/arrive).
6. I haven't ______ (eat) lunch yet.

Answers:

1. yet seen
2. already finished
3. since
4. for
5. just arrived
6. eaten

Exercise 3: Perfect Infinitives and Participles

Instructions: Complete the sentences using perfect infinitives or participles.

1. I'm glad ______ (have/finish) that difficult assignment.
2. She seems ______ (have/make) a lot of progress.
3. Having ______ (study) hard, he passed the exam.
4. The project, ______ (complete/recently), was a huge success.
5. He regrets ______ (not/study) harder in school.

Answers:

1. to have finished
2. to have made
3. studied
4. recently completed
5. not having studied

Exercise 4: Contextual Usage – Advanced Scenarios

These sentences present more complex scenarios requiring careful consideration of the present perfect tense.

1. Describe a situation where using the present perfect continuous emphasizes ongoing frustration.
2. Explain why the present perfect simple is better than the past simple in describing accumulated experiences ("I have traveled to...")
3. Construct a sentence using the present perfect to express a change of opinion.
4. Create a sentence that uses the present perfect to express an action completed with a lasting result.

Example Answers: (Note: There are multiple correct answers)

1. "I've been trying to fix this computer all morning, and I'm still stuck!" (Ongoing frustration)
2. "I have traveled to many countries," emphasizes the accumulated experience rather than specific trips.
3. "I've reconsidered my position on the matter." (Change of opinion)
4. "I have written my memoirs, and they're now published." (Completed action with lasting effect)

Conclusion

Mastering the present perfect tense at an advanced level requires understanding its subtle nuances and various applications. These exercises, along with careful study of the explanations, should significantly improve your proficiency. Remember to practice regularly to solidify your understanding and ensure fluent and accurate usage in your writing and speaking. Consistent practice is key to achieving fluency with the present perfect tense and related grammatical constructions.