I. Do this 20-task test to check if you understand Present Tenses + Past Tenses

Present Tenses + Past Tenses (active, passive).
1. People travel far

… (often, comparison) than they used to.
People travel far more often than they used to.
2. Food prices … (to climb) higher and higher at present.
Food prices are climbing higher and higher at present.
3. My bicycle … (to steal). I don’t know who the thief is.
My bicycle has been stolen. I don’t know who the thief is.
4. I didn’t want to join you because I … (to see) the concert before.
I didn’t want to join you because I had seen the concert before.
5. We can run … (fast, comparison) than … (she).
We can run faster than them (they can).
6. Caroline … (to text) her family every day when she was on holiday.
Caroline texted her family every day when she was on holiday.
7. We … (to use) the machine for years without any problems.
We have been using the machine for years without any problems.
8. Your car isn’t here. It … (to take) to the garage.
Your car isn’t here. It has been taken to the garage.
9. Jack can’t come to the phone; he … (to have) a shower.
Jack can’t come to the phone; he is having a shower.
10. The apartment … (not, to have) a garden.
The apartment doesn’t have a garden.

email had been sent by Monday last week.
12. We …

(to work) in Venice for 5 years. Now I am in Paris.
We worked in Venice for 5 years. Now I am in Paris.
13. Everything … (to plan) by Jack and Lucy.
Everything has been planned by Jack and Lucy.
14. I called Jane after I … (to write) an essay.
I called Jane after I had written an essay.
15. The children were dirty because they … (to play) in the garden.
The children were dirty because they had been playing in the garden.
16. Where are Mary’s jeans? Her jeans … (to wash) at the moment.
Where are Mary’s jeans? Her jeans are being washed at the moment.
17. How long … (John, to have) a new apartment?
How long has John had a new apartment?
18. All the clothes … (usually, to import) from China.
All the clothes are usually imported from China.
19. While we … (to walk) the storm started.
While we were working the storm started.
20. I gave up after I … (to phone) six times without getting through.
I gave up after I had phoned six times without getting through.

(you, to see) them recently?
Have you seen them recently?
2. They

… (to come) three times so far.
They have come three times so far.
3. If you … (not, to read) a magazine, can I take it, please.
If you are not reading a magazine, can I take it, please.
4. You … (always, to shout) at me!
You are always shouting at me!
5. They calculate … (accurately, comparison) than … (I).
They calculate more accurately than me / I do.
6. Caroline … (to text) her family when her mother and father … (to call).
Caroline was texting her family when her mother and father called.
7. I … (to send) the parcel by 6 yesterday.
I had sent the parcel by 6 yesterday.
8. Your cake isn’t here. It … (just, to eat) by the dog.
Your cake isn’t here. It has just been eaten by the dog.
9. Tom can’t come to you right now; he … (to sleep) in the room.
Tom can’t come to you right now; he is sleeping in the room.
10. Last season the house … (to buy) by a pop star.
Last season the house was bought by a pop star.

Paris.
New York is a lot bigger than Paris.
12. I usually

… (to have) a really good time at work.
I usually have a really good time at work.
13. When … (to be) the last major festival in your country?
When was the last major festival in your country?
14. It was the worst meal I … (ever, to eat)!
It was the worst meal I had ever eaten!
15. My parents … (to have) the same car since 2003.
My parents has had the same car since 2003.
16. Cows … (not, to eat) meat.
Cows do not eat / don’t eat meat.
17. Listen to that noise! The neighbours … (to have) a party.
Listen to that noise! The neighbours are having a party.
18. I … (not, to want) to get up now – I’m still tired.
I do not want / don’t want to get up now – I’m still tired.
19. In the photo the vet … (to hold) a kitten.
In the photo the vet is holding a kitten.
20. I … (never, to swim) with dolphins.
I have never swum with dolphins.

repaired now.
22. The building … (not, to reconstruct) since the

1990s.
The building has not been reconstructed since the 1990s.
23. I eat … (slowly, comparison) than other people.
I eat more slowly than other people.
24. What were we doing at 11 o’clock? We … (to interview) by the boss.
What were we doing at 11 o’clock? We were being interviewed by the boss.
25. What … (you, to do) at the time the crime was committed?
What were you doing at the time the crime was committed?
26. While Rob … (to play) his match, we … (to wait) in the car outside.
While Rob was playing his match, we were waiting in the car outside.
27. She says she … (to know) this professor for years.
She says she has known this professor for years.
28. When … (he, to visit) the office?
When did he visit the office?
29. Detroit … (to call) Motown in the past.
Detroit was called Motown in the past.
30. Why … (they, to have) two cats?
Why do they have two cats?

her husband.
Fiona was working at Harrods when she met her

husband.
32. Nick … (to know) to be a very interesting person.
Nick is known to be a very interesting person.
33. Do you really think her English … (to improve) since school?
Do you really think her English has been improving / has improved since school?
34. I smell tobacco. … (you, to smoke)?
I smell tobacco. Have you been smoking?
35. Letters … (to deliver) by the postman at 8 every year.
Letters are delivered by the postman at 8 every year.
36. He hardly ever … (to do) his homework.
He hardly ever does his homework.
37. I … (to enter) the room and … (to switch) on a TV set.
I entered the room and switched on a TV set.
38. The workers … (to try) to move the wardrobe for half an hour, go help them.
The workers have been trying to move the wardrobe for half an hour, go help them.
39. My suitcase … (already, to pack) when my friends came to see me off.
My suitcase had already been packed when my friends came to see me off.
40. People … (to use) to travel by ship a lot in those days.
People used to travel by ship a lot in those day.