Since/for

Since expresses a starting point. She’s been working since November.

For expresses the duration of an action. They’ve been in Hawaii for two weeks.

Fill in ‘since’ or ‘for’.

Animals have been a source of help and comfort to humans 1)___since____ history began, and we have known 2)___________years that animals make people gentler and more relaxed. 3)________a long time the question has been exactly how animals can change people. Some researchers believe that stroking a pet helps to relieve anxiety and tension and, 4)______the 1960’s, therapists have believed that animals’ remarkable powers can be used to heal our bodies and minds. This belief has actually been confirmed 5)_________the discovery that seriously ill people live longer if they have a pet to care for.

Ex.46 Underline the correct tense.

1. The plane leaves/has left at four o'clock. We must be at the airport by two o'clock.

2. It gets/is getting colder and colder every day.

3. Have you seen Linda? I have been looking/am looking for her for almost an hour.

4. Sam is a very interesting person. He knows/has known all kinds of unusual facts.

5. First, you are heating/heat the oven to a temperature of 180°C.

6. Have you heard the news? They have just elected / have been electing a new club chairman!

7. Martha is finding/has found a new job. She is starting next week.

8. The teacher has been correcting / has corrected essays for three hours.

9. Michael's car broke down last week, so he uses/is using his father's for the time being.

10. It rarely gets/is getting very hot in Britain.

Ex.47 Choose the correct answer.

1. ‘I met our new boss this morning.’

I.....him, too. He's very nice.’

A am meeting B have been meeting C have met

2. '.................in a hotel?'

'No, but my parents did last summer in Rome.'

A Have you ever stayed B Did you ever stay C Are you ever staying

3. ‘Who is in that new film?'

'Well, a young actress.................the leading role."

A has been playing B plays C has played

4. ‘Is David at home?'

‘Yes, but he.................a shower at the moment.'

A is having B has been having C has

5. ‘Why are you so upset?'

‘I.................my favourite ring.'

A lose B have been losing C have lost

6. 'Have you found a house yet?'

'No. I.................with my aunt at the moment.'

A stay B am staying C have stayed

Ex.48 Using the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous of the verbs in brackets, complete the sentences, as in the example.

1. Ralph is getting frustrated because the meal he ordered hasn't been served yet. (wait)

He ...has been waiting... for his meal.

2. The estate agent is taking down the 'For Sale' sign in front of the house. (sell)

He.......................................................the house.

3. Jerry is travelling to Moscow on Tuesday. (book)

He .................................................a plane ticket.

4. Samantha is reading a letter from Maureen. (receive)

She .......................................................from her.

5. John started fixing the washing machine this morning. (repair)

He ...................................................it since 9am.

6. Rachel is getting out of bed. (Just/wake up)

She .......................................................................

7. Lisa started working for us in 1992. (work)

She .........................................for us since 1992.

8. Elaine is still waiting for the bus. (come/yet)

It............................................................................

Ex.49 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Present forms.

Dear Mr and Mrs Williams,

I 1) ...am writing... (write) to thank you for coming to our wedding last month, I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Sheila and I 2).................................. (just/return) from our honeymoon in Kenya and 3)................................... (now/look forward to) starting our new life together. We 4) ................ (just/move) into our new house and since our honeymoon we 5) ................... (spend) all our free time decorating. The house 6) .......................................(actually/begin) to feel like home now and we 7)............................ (gradually/settle) into a routine. We 8)..........................(have) breakfast together in the morning, but then we 9) .......................................... (not/see) each other until late in the evening when we 10).......................... (get) home from work, I hope both of you 11)................................ (be) well since we last saw you.

Love,

David and Sheila

Ex.50 Put the words in brackets into the appropriate Present forms.

1. George Smith___has been training____ (train) for this match for months. He ____________ (practice) at least four hours a day for the last two weeks and he ____________ (say) tha now he _____________(feel) confident. However, he ________________ (face) a difficult opponent tonight. Palmer ______________ (win) several games recently, and he _____________ (look) determined to win this one too. The match _______________ (be) about to start, so let’s watch and see what ________________ (happen).

2. Louisa usually ________________ (go) to work by tube, but today she ______________ (go) there in a chauffeur-driven limousine. The reason for this _______________ (be) that she _____________ (just/win) the young business person award, and as part of the prize people ______________ (treat) her like royalty.

3. Mary _____________ (dye) her hair for years. She _______________ (go) to the hairdresser once a week and ______________ (try) every colour you can imagine. She __________ (say) she ______________ (want) to match her hair with her clothes. I _____________ (ask) her for ages why she ______________ (not/keep) her natural colour but she ______________ (say) she ______________ (forget) what it is!

Ex.51 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Present form.

1. A: Tortoises _______live______(live) to be very old.

B: I've heard of one which is over a hundred years old.

2. A: Are you still busy?

B: Yes. I ____________(read) this article for an hour and I still_____________(not/finish).

3. A: More and more people____________________(go) to university these days.

B: Yes. I think it's a good thing.

4. A: I ________________(have) a party tonight. Do you want to come?

B: Yes. What time does it start?

5. A: Why are your shoes wet?

B: I _______________(wash) the car.

6. A: What's the matter?

B: I ___________________ (break) my ankle.

7. A: What do I need to do next?

B: You ____________(add) the sugar to the mixture and you ______________(mix) it well.

8. A: Who ______________(use) my car?

B: I have.

9. A: Are you new here?

B: No. Actually, I ____________(live) here for almost ten years.

10. A: Pete is playing his music very loud.

B: Again! He_____________(always/do) that!

11. A: Have you made plans for Saturday yet?

B: I _____________ (go) to the cinema with Jack.

12. A: Mr Collins is a very good teacher.

B: Well, he _______________(teach) Maths for twenty-five years, you know.

13. A: Are you going to the concert on Saturday night?

B: Yes. Actually, I _____________(already/buy) the tickets.

14. A: Hello, Simon.

B: Oh! We _______________(always/meet) each other in this supermarket.

Ex.52 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

Dear Kathleen,

I 1)___‘m writing___ (write) to tell you my news. My school 2)______________(choose) me to spend six weeks at a school in the USA. I'm very happy about it!

At the moment, I 3)_________________(pack) things for my trip, because I 4)_________________ (leave) next week. My mother 5)__________________(book) the ticket.

I 6)__________________(wait) for this opportunity for ages, so I'm very excited. I 7)_______________ (finish) reading two books about the USA and I 8)__________________ (borrow) another one from the school library. I 9) ________________ (become) more and more nervous every day!

Well, I must go now. I've got a lot of things to do. I’ll write to you from the USA.

Love,

Tracy