Exercise 4 Open the brackets using Present Simple or Continuous, Present Perfect or Past Simple.

1. Where do you live? How long (you/live) there?

2. Oh, you (wear) new clothes! How long (you/have) them?

3. Do you know it? Jessica (already/leave) for Kansas City.

4. Maria (have) a lot of problems since she (move) to this country.

5. Since the semester (begin), we (learn) a lot of new things.

6. When (you/sell) your car? – Last week. – How long (you/have) it?

7. Since we (start) the exercise, we (complete) six sentences.

8. (you/see) that film before? – Yes, I (see) it when I (be) in London.

9. When (Ann/move) into her new house? – She (move) in a month ago. I (not visit) her yet, but I (arrange) to meet her this week.

10. Where (you/ buy) those shoes? They are really nice.

11. I (know) this news already. I (know) it for ages. – When (you/learn) it?

12. It’s the third time I (be) here in the last three weeks. – How (you/get) here this time?

13. It (be) three hours since I (have) breakfast.

14. Now that he (leave), we can talk.

15. Now that he (be) here, be careful.

16. Now that you (be) to London, can you speak fluently?

17. It (be) an hour since it (start) snowing.

18. I didn’t know that you (be) so slow! It (be) the fifth time you (ask) me this question!

19. She is not half as smart as I (imagine).​

1. Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
To answer this question, the speaker is asking about the person's current place of residence. To respond, they should use the present simple tense to indicate their current living situation. "I live in [place]. I have lived there for [number of years or months]."

2. Oh, you are wearing new clothes! How long have you had them?
The speaker notices that the person is wearing new clothes and wants to know how long they have had them. To answer, the person should use the present perfect tense to describe the duration of time since they acquired the clothes. "I bought these clothes [number of days/weeks/months] ago."

3. Do you know it? Jessica has already left for Kansas City.
The speaker is asking if the person is aware of a particular fact. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to indicate that Jessica recently left for Kansas City. "Yes, I know. Jessica has already left for Kansas City."

4. Maria has had a lot of problems since she moved to this country.
The speaker is mentioning Maria's ongoing problems, which started in the past and continue in the present. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe the duration of Maria's problems. "Maria has had a lot of problems since she moved to this country."

5. Since the semester began, we have learned a lot of new things.
The speaker is talking about the time period since the semester started and the amount of information they have acquired during that time. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe the continuous action of learning new things since the semester began. "Since the semester started, we have learned a lot of new things."

6. When did you sell your car? – Last week. – How long did you have it?
The speaker is asking about the past action of selling the car and the duration the person owned it. To respond, they should use the past simple tense to indicate when the car was sold and how long it was owned. "I sold my car last week. I had it for [number of years/months]."

7. Since we started the exercise, we have completed six sentences.
The speaker is referring to the time since they started the exercise and the number of sentences they have completed during that time. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe the ongoing action of completing sentences since the exercise started. "Since we started the exercise, we have completed six sentences."

8. Have you seen that film before? – Yes, I saw it when I was in London.
The speaker is asking if the person has watched a specific film in the past and the person confirms that they have seen it during their time in London. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to ask about prior viewing and the past simple tense to describe the action of watching the film while in London. "Yes, I have seen that film before. I saw it when I was in London."

9. When did Ann move into her new house? – She moved in a month ago. I haven't visited her yet, but I have arranged to meet her this week.
The speaker is asking about the past action of Ann moving into her new house and the person responds with both the past simple tense to indicate when Ann moved and the present perfect tense to describe their plans and actions related to visiting her. "Ann moved into her new house a month ago. I haven't visited her yet, but I have arranged to meet her this week."

10. Where did you buy those shoes? They are really nice.
The speaker is asking about the past action of buying the shoes and complimenting their appearance. To respond, they should use the past simple tense to indicate where the shoes were purchased. "I bought these shoes at [place]."

11. I already know this news. I have known it for ages. – When did you learn it?
The speaker states they have already been aware of the news for a long time and asks when the person learned it. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe their ongoing awareness of the news and the past simple tense to indicate when they learned it. "I have already known this news for ages. I learned it [time or date]."

12. It’s the third time I have been here in the last three weeks. – How did you get here this time?
The speaker mentions that this is their third visit to the location within a specific time frame and inquires about their mode of transportation on this occasion. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe their multiple visits and the past simple tense to indicate how they traveled on this trip. "This is the third time I have been here in the last three weeks. I got here [mode of transportation]."

13. It has been three hours since I had breakfast.
The speaker indicates the duration of time since they last ate breakfast. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe the ongoing duration and the past simple tense to indicate the past action of having breakfast. "It has been three hours since I had breakfast."

14. Now that he has left, we can talk.
The speaker notes that the person's departure allows for a conversation. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to indicate the person's past action of leaving. "Now that he has left, we can talk."

15. Now that he is here, be careful.
The speaker states that the person's presence requires caution. To respond, they should use the present simple tense to describe the person's current presence. "Now that he is here, be careful."

16. Now that you have been to London, can you speak fluently?
The speaker alludes to the person's visit to London and asks if it has improved their language abilities. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to indicate their past experience of being in London. "Now that I have been to London, my fluency has improved."

17. It has been an hour since it started snowing.
The speaker mentions the duration of time since the start of the snowfall. To respond, they should use the present perfect tense to describe the ongoing duration and the past simple tense to indicate the past action of the snowfall starting. "It has been an hour since it started snowing."

18. I didn’t know that you were so slow! It is the fifth time you have asked me this question!
The speaker expresses surprise at the person's slowness and mentions that they have asked the same question multiple times. To respond, they should use the past simple tense to express the speaker's lack of knowledge and the present perfect and present simple tenses to highlight the repeated questioning. "I didn't know that you were so slow! This is the fifth time you have asked me this question!"

19. She is not half as smart as I imagined.
The speaker compares their imagined perception of the person's intelligence to the reality. To respond, they should use the past simple tense to describe the initial perception and the present simple tense to indicate the current comparison. "She is not half as smart as I imagined."