Exercises
1Correct the tense error: "I have seen that film yesterday."
A finished-time signal ("yesterday") is incompatible with the present perfect — use past simple.
2Rewrite using the historical present for dramatic narrative effect: "In 1492, Columbus reached the Americas."
The historical present narrates past events as if happening now, for vividness — common in storytelling, headlines, and jokes.
3Backshift into reported speech: She said, "I am working on the project."
Under a past reporting verb, present simple backshifts to past simple.
4Complete with the correct aspect: "By the time we arrived, the film ___ (already / start)."
Past perfect marks an action completed before another past point of reference.
5Rewrite using future perfect continuous: "I will work here for ten years by June."
Duration continuing up to a future point → future perfect continuous (will have been + -ing).
6Correct the tense error: "She has lived in Paris last year."
A definite past time marker ("last year") requires past simple, not present perfect.