Complete the text. Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or past simple tense.
Until the beginning of this year, my life was (be) very boring. I ___ (not have) many friends, so I ___ (not go out). I ___ (spend) most of my free time in front of the TV. Then, last January I ___ (join) a local youth club. Since then, life ___ (be) very different. I ___ (make) lots of new friends and I ___ (do) some really exciting things. In fact, I ___ (not watch) TV for the last two weeks, because I ___ (be) out every evening.
Explanation:
1. The verb "be" is in the past simple tense because it refers to a specific time in the past, the beginning of this year.
2. The verb "have" is in the past simple tense because it refers to a past action that was not happening until the beginning of this year.
3. The verb "go" is in the past simple tense because it refers to a past action that was not happening until the beginning of this year.
4. The verb "spend" is in the past simple tense because it refers to a past action that was happening until the beginning of this year.
5. The verb "join" is in the past simple tense because it refers to a specific action that happened last January.
6. The verb "be" is in the present perfect tense because it refers to a state that started in the past (since joining the youth club) and continues to the present.
7. The verb "make" is in the present perfect tense because it refers to actions that happened in the past (making new friends) and have an impact on the present.
8. The verb "do" is in the present perfect tense because it refers to actions that happened in the past (doing exciting things) and have an impact on the present.
9. The verb "watch" is in the present perfect tense because it refers to a past action that has a specific duration (for the last two weeks) and is still ongoing.
10. The verb "be" is in the present perfect tense because it refers to a state that started in the past (not watching TV) and continues to the present.