Intermediate Present Perfect. 45 questions on for vs since, just, and contrast with Simple Past.
What this test covers
- For vs Since
- Just, Recently & So Far
- Present Perfect vs Simple Past
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1I ___ in this apartment since I moved to the city in 2015.
Answer: D. have lived
The Present Perfect is used with 'since' to describe an action that started at a specific point in the past and continues to the present. 'Live' and 'am living' are present tenses that ignore the past starting point, while 'lived' (Simple Past) implies the action is finished.
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Q2She ___ for over three hours, so she is exhausted.
Answer: B. has been running
The Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the duration of an activity ('for over three hours') that has a visible result in the present ('she is exhausted'). The Simple Present 'runs' refers to habits, and the Present Continuous 'is running' does not connect the past duration to the current state.
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Q3They ___ each other since they were children, and they still do.
Answer: D. have known
'Know' is a state/feeling verb (expressing a state, not an action) and is rarely used in continuous forms like 'are knowing'. To show a state that began in the past and continues now, we use the Present Perfect Simple with 'since'.
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Q4We ___ waiting for the bus for a long time, and it still hasn't come.
Answer: A. have been
The phrase 'for a long time' is a duration clue, and 'it still hasn't come' confirms the waiting is ongoing right now. We use the Present Perfect Continuous ('have been' + verb-ing) to show the action started in the past and is still happening now. 'Had been' is the Past Perfect Continuous, which would imply the waiting is finished — contradicted by 'still hasn't come'.
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Q5He ___ at the company since January.
Answer: C. has worked
'Since' indicates a specific starting point in the past. We use the Present Perfect to connect that past point to the present. While 'works' describes a general fact, 'has worked' is required to show the span of time from January until now.
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Q6I haven't seen my cousin ___ ages.
Answer: C. for
Use 'for' with a period or duration of time, such as 'ages', 'ten minutes', or 'two years'. 'Since' is only used with a specific starting point, like '2015' or 'last Tuesday'.
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Q7She has been a teacher ___ 2008.
Answer: D. since
'Since' is used with a specific point in time (a start date like '2008'). 'For' would require a duration (e.g., 'for 15 years'), and 'ago' is a marker for the Simple Past, not the Present Perfect.
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Q8They have been married ___ ten years.
Answer: A. for
'Ten years' is a duration or period of time, so we must use 'for'. 'Since' would be used if the sentence mentioned a specific start year (e.g., 'since 2014').
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Q9Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. I have known her for five years.
Use 'for' with a period of time like 'five years'. The Present Perfect 'have known' is required because the state of knowing her started in the past and continues now. 'Know' (Simple Present) cannot be used with 'for' to show duration.
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Q10Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: C. We have lived here since Monday.
'Monday' is a specific point in time, so 'since' is the correct preposition. The Present Perfect 'have lived' is used to show the action started on Monday and continues to the present.
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Q11Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. She has been sick since last week.
'Last week' is a specific starting point, requiring 'since'. To describe a state that began then and is still true, the Present Perfect 'has been' is the only correct choice.
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Q12Choose the correct sentence: 'I have worked here since three years.'
Answer: C. I have worked here for three years.
The mistake in the original sentence is using 'since' with a duration. 'Three years' is a length of time, so 'for' must be used. 'Since' is reserved for specific points in time like 'January' or 'last year'.
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Q13Choose the correct sentence: 'We have been waiting for Monday.'
Answer: C. We have been waiting since Monday.
If Monday is the point when the waiting started, we must use 'since'. 'For Monday' would mean you are waiting for Monday to arrive, but the Present Perfect Continuous 'have been waiting' combined with 'since' correctly describes an ongoing action.
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Q14Choose the correct sentence: 'He has lived in Paris for he was a child.'
Answer: C. He has lived in Paris since he was a child.
When the starting point is a clause (subject + verb, like 'he was a child'), we use 'since'. 'For' is used only with noun phrases describing a period of time (e.g., 'for ten years').
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Q15I ___ just finished my homework, so I can watch TV now.
Answer: A. have
The word 'just' with the Present Perfect ('have' + finished form) describes an action completed moments ago with a result in the present ('so I can watch TV now'). 'Had' (Past Perfect) would require a past reference point — it cannot be used when the result is in the present tense ('can watch').
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Q16Have you seen any good movies ___?
Answer: C. lately
'Lately' is a time adverb used with the Present Perfect to ask about a period leading up to now. 'Yesterday' is a finished time marker and would require the Simple Past ('Did you see...').
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Q17We have completed three chapters ___ this week.
Answer: B. so far
'So far' is used with the Present Perfect to indicate progress or a total count within a period that is not yet finished (like 'this week'). 'Yesterday' would require the Simple Past 'completed'.
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Q18She has ___ arrived at the airport.
Answer: D. just
In the Present Perfect, 'just' is placed between the helper word 'has' and the finished form 'arrived'. It indicates the action happened moments ago.
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Q19I haven't heard from him ___.
Answer: A. lately
In negative Present Perfect sentences, 'lately' or 'recently' are used at the end to describe the period leading up to the present. 'Yesterday' refers to a finished time and requires the Simple Past.
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Q20How many emails have you sent ___?
Answer: A. so far
'So far' is the correct choice to ask about the total number of actions completed up to the present moment. 'Just' and 'since' do not fit the grammatical structure at the end of this question.
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Q21I've ___ seen that movie, so I don't want to watch it again.
Answer: C. already
'Already' is used in positive sentences to show that an action happened sooner than expected or at some point before now. 'Yet' is typically used in negatives and questions.
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Q22Have you been to the gym ___?
Answer: A. lately
'Lately' is used to ask about recent habits or activities in the Present Perfect. While 'so far' is possible, it usually implies a count of progress, whereas 'lately' fits a general inquiry about recent events.
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Q23Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. I have just finished my lunch.
In the Present Perfect, the adverb 'just' is placed between the helper word ('have/has') and the finished form ('finished').
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Q24Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. We have visited four cities so far.
'So far' is used at the end of a sentence to show progress up to now. 'Yesterday' is a finished time and cannot be used with the Present Perfect.
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Q25Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. Have you been busy lately?
'Lately' is a common time adverb used at the end of Present Perfect questions to mean 'recently'. 'Since' and 'for' must be followed by a time expression (e.g., 'since Tuesday').
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Q26Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. She has just called me.
The adverb 'just' correctly sits between the helper word 'has' and the finished form 'called'. 'She has called just me' would mean she called only me and no one else, which changes the meaning.
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Q27Choose the correct sentence: 'I have so far done my laundry.'
Answer: C. I have done my laundry so far.
'So far' is most naturally placed at the end of the clause in Present Perfect sentences to indicate progress up to now.
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Q28Choose the correct sentence: 'He has lately arrived.'
Answer: B. He has recently arrived.
The adverb 'lately' describes ongoing states or habits over a recent period (e.g., 'I have been busy lately') and is not used for single, completed events like arriving. The correct adverb for a single punctual event is 'recently'. 'He has recently arrived' correctly places 'recently' between the helper word 'has' and the finished form 'arrived'. 'He has arrived just.' places 'just' after the finished form — 'just' must come before it ('He has just arrived'). 'He lately has arrived.' puts 'lately' before the helper word, which is non-standard. 'He has lately arrive.' uses the base form 'arrive' instead of the finished form 'arrived'.
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Q29Choose the correct sentence: 'They have just to eat dinner.'
Answer: C. They have just eaten dinner.
The Present Perfect is formed with 'have/has' + finished form. 'Eaten' is the finished form of 'eat'. 'Just' goes between 'have' and 'eaten'.
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Q30I ___ to Paris last year.
Answer: D. went
'Last year' is a finished, definite time. This requires the Simple Past ('went'). The Present Perfect ('have been') is used for indefinite time or life experience without a specific date.
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Q31I ___ to Paris three times in my life, and I plan to go again.
Answer: B. have been
Use the Present Perfect ('have been') to talk about life experiences when the exact timing is not important. The period ('in my life') is still continuing, making Present Perfect the correct choice.
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Q32She ___ her keys yesterday.
Answer: B. lost
Because the sentence includes the finished time marker 'yesterday', we must use the Simple Past ('lost'). The Present Perfect cannot be used with specific past times.
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Q33She ___ her keys and cannot get into her house.
Answer: D. has lost
The Present Perfect ('has lost') is used to show a past action with a present result — she cannot get in now. The Simple Past 'lost' would describe only the past event without directly connecting it to the current situation ('cannot get in').
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Q34We ___ this film when we were kids.
Answer: B. saw
The phrase 'when we were kids' describes a finished time period in the past. This requires the Simple Past ('saw').
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Q35I ___ this film twice so far this week.
Answer: C. have seen
'This week' is an unfinished time period, and 'so far' indicates ongoing progress. We use the Present Perfect for repeated actions in a period that is not yet over.
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Q36He ___ for the company for ten years, but he left last month.
Answer: C. worked
Even though 'for' is used, the action is entirely finished because 'he left last month'. When a duration occurred in the past and is no longer true, we use the Simple Past ('worked').
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Q37He ___ for the company for ten years and still works there.
Answer: B. has worked
The phrase 'and still works there' shows that the action continues to the present. We use the Present Perfect ('has worked') with 'for' to describe a duration that began in the past and remains true now.
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Q38Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. I visited London two years ago.
The word 'ago' always requires the Simple Past ('visited'). The Present Perfect ('have visited') is never used with specific past time markers like 'ago', 'yesterday', or 'in 1999'.
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Q39___ you ever ___ sushi in your life?
Answer: D. Have / eaten
We use 'Have you ever' + finished form ('eaten') to ask about life experiences. 'Ate' is the past simple form, which cannot follow the helper word 'have'.
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Q40Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. She left an hour ago.
'An hour ago' is a specific point in the past that has finished. This requires the Simple Past ('left'). The Present Perfect ('has left') is used for actions without a specific time.
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Q41I ___ to Japan in my life, but I hope to go one day.
Answer: D. have never been
To describe the experience of visiting a place (or not) during your life, use the Present Perfect Simple ('have been'). 'Been' is used instead of 'gone' because it refers to the completed experience of visiting.
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Q42Choose the correct sentence: 'I have bought this car yesterday.'
Answer: B. I bought this car yesterday.
'Yesterday' is a finished time, so the Simple Past ('bought') must be used. You cannot use the Present Perfect with 'yesterday'.
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Q43Choose the correct sentence: 'Did you finished your work yet?'
Answer: B. Have you finished your work yet?
'Yet' is used in Present Perfect questions to ask if something expected has happened. The correct structure is 'Have you' + finished form ('finished'). 'Did you finished' is double-past and incorrect.
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Q44Choose the correct sentence: 'She has met him last week.'
Answer: A. She met him last week.
'Last week' is a specific, finished time period, requiring the Simple Past ('met'). The Present Perfect ('has met') cannot be used with specific past time expressions.
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Q45They ___ the project by the time the deadline arrived.
Answer: D. had finished
The sentence describes an action completed before another action in the past ('the deadline arrived'). This requires the Past Perfect ('had' + finished form). The Present Perfect ('have finished') is used for actions connecting to 'now', not a past deadline.
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