Read and listen to the dialogue. Who do you think is more enthusiastic about seeing the film: Jack or Ellie? Find evidence for your opinion.

Ellie: At last! I've been waiting for ages. Where have you been? What have you been doing?

Jack: My bus didn't come. I've been trying to phone you since 7.30...

Ellie: You're 25 minutes late! The film has started.

Jack: Sorry. Do you still want to see it?

Ellie: Yes, I do. I've been looking forward to it for weeks. It stars my favourite actor. And I've already bought the tickets!

Jack: Let's go inside then.

Ellie: OK. But why is your hair wet? It hasn't been raining.

Jack: That's sweat. I've been running for 25 minutes! And I haven't eaten. Can we see the film later?

Exercise 1. Put the verbs in brackets : present perfect or present perfect progressive. 

1. How long (you / know)............................. Gerry ?

2. You look dirty. What (you / do)..........all day ?

3. How many times (Charles / visit) ............. New York ?

4. The children (watch)................... videos for two hours .

5. (He / study)................... hardn today ?

6. Sorry , I'm late. (You / wait )................... for long ?

7. We (not / see) ...................... Lisa recently . 

8 . How long (he / wait) .......................... for her ?

Read the Writing Strategy. Then read Ellie's email again and underline.

1 a piece of formal language. How could you make it informal?

2 three different contractions. Can you find any more places where Ellie could have used contractions?

3 an example of a sentence with words omitted at the start. What exactly has been omitted?

II. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs (present simple, present continuous, or present perfect).

1. She always (remember) remembers my birthday.

2. Look! It (snow) is snowing

3. How long (know) ______Simon?

4. Is this the second time he (lose) has lost his job ?

5. How many times (you/ take) _________________ this exam?

6. He (eat) is eating six bars of chocolate today!

7. When I’m in Paris I (usually/stay) usually stays in the Hotel du Pont, but this time I (stay)________ in the more expensive Hotel Notre Dame.

8. (they/ arrive) They have arrived already?

9. My father (be) ______an engineer, but he (not/work) isn’t working right now.

10. My parents (live) __________. in Sydney. Where (your parents/ live) _________________?

11.It’s the most difficult exam I ever (take) have taken .

12. We (own) _________________two cars, an estate car and a sports car.

13. Can you drive? No, but I (learn) am learning at the moment.

14. Julie (cook) is cooking dinner. Let’s go and eat!

15. Look! That woman (try) is trying to steal that man’s wallet.

16. I (drink)  _________________ more water lately, and I feel better.

17. I (clean) _________________ all morning – I’m fed up!

18. The River Nile (flow) _________________ into the Mediterranean.

19. Sorry about the mess! I (bake) _________________

20. The students (finish) _________________ their exams. They’re very happy.

21. __________ (you/ talk) about the upcoming journey? Can I join?

22. Recently, the United States__________ (alter) the whole of their immigration laws.

23. Either kangaroo or Sydney Opera House__________ (symbolize) Australia.

24. Look at the London Eye! The wheel__________ (appear) motionless, but it__________  (rotate) slowly.

25. Look! The concert__________ (start) at 7 P.M. and__________ (end) at 9 P.M.

26. Canada__________ (provide) fish, furs, and other natural resources to the world since the 15th century.

27. We’ve already booked our holiday. We__________ (go) to Scotland in July.

28. About 375 million people__________ (speak) English as their first language.

29. To preserve natural habitat, the government__________ (establish) six national parks so far.

30. That’s the best speech I ________ever ____________(hear).

31. I__________ (live) in the UK at the moment to learn English.

32. English__________ (be) an official language in several African countries, such as Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

33. __________ (you/ ever/ be) to Singapore? - Yes, I__________ (be) there twice.

34. Where do you go (you/ go) on your holiday next summer?

35. Over 670 million people visted (visit) Disneyland since its opening in 1955.

I.  Put the verb in the bracket into Present perfect or Present perfect continuous.

1.     England (win) ………………… the World Cup only once since 1930.

2.     How long you (sit) ………………… here in the sun? You look like burnt toast.

3.     The chair in the president’s office is very special. Sixteen presidents (sit) ………………… in it.

4.     The children are at the park. They (play) ………………… ball for the last two hours, but they don’t seem tired yet.

5.     Jim (play) ………………… soccer only a couple of times, so he’s not very good at it. He’s much better at tennis.

6.     Karl (raise) ………………… three children to adulthood. Now they are educated and working in productive careers.

7.     Sally is falling asleep at her desk. Dr. Wu (lecture) ………………… since ten o’clock, and it’s now past noon.

8.     Jenna is a law student. Ever since she enrolled in law school, she (miss, never) ………………… a class due to illness.

9.     Janice (sleep) ………………… for almost ten hours. I think we should wake her up.

10.  Tim (sleep) ………………… in the downstairs bedroom only once. He usually sleeps upstairs in the bedroom he shares with his brother.