The present perfect simple and continuous put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. 1 peter: you (telephone) for ages. you not nearly (finish)? jack: i (not get) through yet. i (try) to get our paris office but the line (be) engaged all morning. 2 ann (fail) her driving test three times because she's so bad at reversing. but she (practise) reversing for the last week and i think she (get) a bit better at it. 3 tom: i often (wonder) why bill left the country so suddenly. peter: actually, i just (find) out. 4 he (play) the bagpipes since six o'clock this morning. he only just (stop). 5 why you (not bring) me the letters for signature? you (not type) them yet? 6 tom (looking up absent-mindedly as mary comes in): you (sunbathe)? mary (crossly): don't be ridiculous! it (rain) all day! 7 a pair of robins (build) a nest in the porch since last week. i (watch them from my window since they began. 8 the police (not find) the murderer yet, but the dead man's brother (be) in the station all day. the police say that he (help) them with their enquiries. 9 they (pull) down most of the houses in this street, but they (not touch) the old shop at the corner yet. 10 tom is convinced that there is gold in these hills but we (search) for six months and (not see) any sign of it. 11 i (wait) for the prices of the houses to come down before buying a house, but i think i (wait) too long and the prices are beginning to go up again. 12 peter (be) a junior clerk for three years. lately he (look) for a better post but so far he (not find) anything.
Jack: I (have not got) through yet. I (have been trying) to get our Paris office but the line (has been ) engaged all morning.
2 Ann (has failed) her driving test three times because she's so bad at reversing. But she (has been practising) reversing for the last week and I think she (has got) a bit better at it.
3 Tom: I have often (wondered) why Bill left the country so suddenly.
Peter: Actually, I have just (found) out.
4 He (has been playing) the bagpipes since six o'clock this morning. He has only just (stopped).
5 Why have you (not brought) me the letters for signature? Have you (not typed) them yet?
6 Tom (looking up absent-mindedly as Mary comes in): Have you been (sunbathing)?
Mary (crossly): Don't be ridiculous! It (has been raining) all day!
7 A pair of robins (have been building) a nest in the porch since last week. I (have been watching them from my window since they began.
8 The police (have not found) the murderer yet, but the dead man's brother (has been) in the station all day. The police say that he (has been helping) them with their enquiries.
9 They (have pulled) down most of the houses in this street, but they (have not touched) the old shop at the corner yet.
10 Tom is convinced that there is gold in these hills but we (have been searching) for six months and (have not seen) any sign of it.
11 I (have been waiting) for the prices of the houses to come down before buying a house, but I think I (have been waiting) too long and the prices are beginning to go up again.
12 Peter (has been) a junior clerk for three years. Lately he (has been looking) for a better post but so far he (has not found) anything.