Ex.29. Complete the story by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. You can choose from the Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous. My English is really getting better. I (try) to learn the language since 2005, but only recently have I been able to make some real progress. By the time I started high school in 2008, I (study) the language for almost three years; however, I was only able to introduce myself and utter a few memorized sentences. For a couple more years, I (struggle) through grammar and vocabulary lessons, which made absolutely no difference. Nothing worked, so I decided to study abroad.
I (find) an exchange program in England that (sound) like the perfect answer. I (stay) with a host family for one month. It was a huge disappointment! I (sit) there the whole time staring at the host mother and father hoping that there would be some breakthrough. Nothing.
When I returned, I mentioned to a friend that I (have) problems with the language for years. He recommended that I spend a year in an English speaking country. I decided to go abroad again. I (research) exchange programs for a couple of weeks and finally (decide) on a school in the United States.
Well, it (work). I (live) and (study) in the U.S. for more than two years. I (stay) here for at least another year before I return home. By then, I should be completely fluent.