Put the bracketed expressions into the sentences and choose the correct tenses.
1. I (like) sport. (always)
2. I am sorry for her. She (have) bad luck. (all her life)
3. I (want) to be a doctor. (until I was 15)
4. He (be) unemployed. (ever since he left school)
5. (you live) in this town? (how long)
6. I (not work) very hard. (when I was at university)
7. He was ill before Christmas, but he (be) fine. (since then)
8. I (have) trouble sleeping. (all this week)
9. I (have) trouble sleeping. (all last week)
10. I (learn) a lot. (in this job)
11. I (not learn) much. (in that job)
12. My boyfriend and I (know) each other. (for ages)
13. He (live) in Durban. (for a year before he got married)
14. I (spend) three days in hospital. (last month)
Explanation: We use the present simple tense ("like") to talk about habits or things that are generally true. The adverb "always" emphasizes that the person has a continuous liking for sport.
2. I am sorry for her. She has had bad luck. (all her life)
Explanation: We use the present perfect tense ("has had") to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. The adverbial phrase "all her life" indicates that her bad luck has been ongoing for the entire duration of her life.
3. I wanted to be a doctor. (until I was 15)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("wanted") to talk about a past desire or intention. The phrase "until I was 15" indicates the specific time until which the person wanted to be a doctor.
4. He has been unemployed. (ever since he left school)
Explanation: We use the present perfect continuous tense ("has been unemployed") to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and is still happening. The phrase "ever since he left school" specifies the starting point of his unemployment.
5. Have you lived in this town? (how long)
Explanation: We use the present perfect tense ("have you lived") to ask about experiences or actions that started in the past and have a connection to the present. The question "how long" asks for the duration of time the person has lived in the town.
6. I didn't work very hard. (when I was at university)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("didn't work") to talk about a past action or state. The phrase "when I was at university" specifies the time period during which the person did not work hard.
7. He was ill before Christmas, but he has been fine. (since then)
Explanation: We use the present perfect tense ("has been fine") to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and continues up to the present. The phrase "since then" indicates the starting point of him feeling fine.
8. I have been having trouble sleeping. (all this week)
Explanation: We use the present perfect continuous tense ("have been having trouble sleeping") to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and is still happening. The time frame "all this week" specifies the duration of the sleeping difficulties.
9. I had trouble sleeping. (all last week)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("had trouble sleeping") to talk about a past action or situation. The phrase "all last week" specifies the duration of the sleeping difficulties in the past.
10. I have learned a lot. (in this job)
Explanation: We use the present perfect tense ("have learned") to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has a connection to the present. The phrase "in this job" specifies the context in which the person has learned a lot.
11. I didn't learn much. (in that job)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("didn't learn") to talk about a past action or state. The word "much" indicates the degree to which the person did not learn in that job.
12. My boyfriend and I have known each other. (for ages)
Explanation: We use the present perfect tense ("have known") to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has a connection to the present. The phrase "for ages" specifies the duration of time the person and their boyfriend have known each other.
13. He lived in Durban. (for a year before he got married)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("lived") to talk about a past action or state. The phrase "for a year before he got married" specifies the duration of time he lived in Durban before his marriage.
14. I spent three days in the hospital. (last month)
Explanation: We use the past simple tense ("spent") to talk about a past action or state. The phrase "last month" specifies the time period during which the person spent three days in the hospital.