Group A Group B: Perfect And Continuous Aspect Perfect And Continuous Aspect

GRAMMAR QUIZ 1 • ANSWER KEY

Group A Perfect and continuous aspect

Exercise 1 1 am finding: We use the Present Continuous to talk about a temporary activity in progress around the time of speaking/now. 2 were taking part: We use the Past Continuous to talk about a past activity in progress which is a background for a complete past activity expressed in the Past Simple. 3 will be getting: We use the Future Continuous to talk about an activity in progress at a specific point in the future. 4 had been preparing: We use the Past Perfect Continuous to talk about a past activity which was in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for a long time) when another activity took place. 5 will have discovered: We use the Future Perfect (Simple) to talk about a future activity completed before a certain point in the future (used with expressions including by such as by the time I’m thirty). 6 will have been playing: We use the Future Perfect Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for a whole year) at a specific point in the future. 7 has become: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to talk about the results of a complete past activity which are visible in the present.

Exercise 2 1 has been training: We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about an activity which started in the past and is continuing at the moment of speaking (used with expressions including for such as for five months). 2 had bought / bought: We use the Past Perfect (Simple) to talk about a past activity which took place before another past activity to clarify their sequence. However, if the order of activities is logical, it’s also possible to use the Past Simple. 3 have known: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to talk about a state which started in the past and is still continuing at the moment of speaking (used with expressions including since such as since we were both five years old); even though the verb know implies a process, it can’t be used in the Present Perfect Continuous as it’s a state verb and as such doesn’t have a continuous form. 4 will have been: We use the Future Perfect (Simple) to talk about a state which will be in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for twenty years) at a specific point in the future; even though the verb be implies a process, it can’t be used in the Future Perfect Continuous as it’s a state verb and as such doesn’t have a continuous form.

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Group B Perfect and continuous aspect

Exercise 1 1 are living: We use the Present Continuous to talk about a temporary activity in progress around the time of speaking/now. 2 had been preparing: We use the Past Perfect Continuous to talk about a past activity which was in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for many months) when another activity took place. 3 were laughing: We use the Past Continuous to talk about a past activity in progress which is a background for a complete past activity expressed in the Past Simple. 4 has become: We use the Present Perfect (Simple) to talk about the results of a complete past activity which are visible in the present. 5 will be playing: We use the Future Continuous to talk about an activity in progress at a specific point in the future. 6 will have finished: We use the Future Perfect (Simple) to talk about a future activity completed before a certain point in the future (used with expressions including by such as by then). 7 will have been reading: We use the Future Perfect Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for five hours) at a specific point in the future.

Exercise 2 1 had given / gave: We use the Past Perfect (Simple) to talk about a past activity which took place before another past activity to clarify their sequence. However, if the order of activities is logical, it’s also possible to use the Past Simple. 2 have been going out: We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about an activity which started in the past and is continuing at the moment of speaking (used with expressions including since such as since we were both fourteen). 3 will have been living: We use the Future Perfect Continuous to talk about a future activity which will be in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for ten years) at a specific point in the future. 4 had been dating: We use the Past Perfect Continuous to talk about a past activity which was in progress for some time (used with expressions including for such as for four years) when another activity took place.