Present Perfect and Time Expressions

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   I ___ this course since September.

   1. have attended
   2. attended
   3. am attending
   4. was attending
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   have attended

   Since introduces a starting point continuing to the present, so use the present perfect.

   have attended: Correct: I have attended this course since September.

   attended: The past simple does not show the connection with the present.

   am attending: The present continuous does not normally combine with since for this duration meaning.

   was attending: The past continuous describes an activity in progress at a past time, not up to now.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   She ___ her assignment yet.

   1. has not finished
   2. did not finish
   3. not finish
   4. is not finish
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   has not finished

   Yet in a negative present perfect sentence refers to an expected action that has not happened up to now.

   has not finished: Correct: She has not finished her assignment yet.

   did not finish: The past simple does not fit the up-to-now meaning of yet here.

   not finish: A finite auxiliary and subject agreement are required.

   is not finish: The form after is would need to be finishing, not finish.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   We ___ three exams this term.

   1. have taken
   2. took
   3. are taking
   4. had taken
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   have taken

   This term is an unfinished time period, so the present perfect is appropriate.

   have taken: Correct: We have taken three exams this term.

   took: The past simple suggests a finished time period.

   are taking: The present continuous does not express the completed number of exams.

   had taken: Past perfect requires another past reference point.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   He ___ at the university in 2020.

   1. started
   2. has started
   3. has been starting
   4. starts
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   started

   A finished date in the past takes the past simple.

   started: Correct: He started at the university in 2020.

   has started: Present perfect is not normally used with a finished past date.

   has been starting: This progressive perfect form does not fit a single completed event.

   starts: The present simple does not match the past date.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How long ___ you ___ English?

   1. have you studied
   2. do you study
   3. did you study
   4. are you studied
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   have you studied

   Use have plus the past participle in a present perfect question about duration up to now.

   have you studied: Correct: How long have you studied English?

   do you study: The present simple asks about a routine, not duration up to now.

   did you study: The past simple asks about a finished past period.

   are you studied: English cannot be studied with this passive-like form in this question.

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Connect a past action to the present.

I have lost my key, so I cannot open the door.

Have + past participle describes a past action with a present result.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.