Question

2 Underline the correct form of the present perfect in italics. It may be possible to use both forms. 1 I’ve sent / been sending the invoice three times but they still haven’t paid. 2 It’s a successful business; they’ve opened / been opening eighty branches in the last three years. 3 How long have you worked / been working here? 4 I’ve tried / been trying to get through all day but the number is always engaged. 5 How much holiday have you taken / been taken this year?

Answer 1

1. I have been sending
2.have opened
3.have you worked
4.been trying
5.have yoy taken

Answer 2

1. I've sent the invoice three times but they still haven't paid. (Correct form: I've sent) 2. It's a successful business; they've opened eighty branches in the last three years. (Correct form: They've opened) 3

Answer 3

Sure, let's go through each sentence and determine the correct form of the present perfect tense:

1. I’ve sent / *been sending* the invoice three times, but they still haven’t paid. - The correct form is: I’ve sent.

2. It’s a successful business; they’ve opened / *been opening* eighty branches in the last three years. - The correct form is: *been opening*.

3. How long have you worked / *been working* here? - The correct form is: *been working*.

4. I’ve tried / *been trying* to get through all day, but the number is always engaged. - The correct form is: I’ve tried.

5. How much holiday have you taken / *been taken* this year? - The correct form is: have you taken.

Explanation:

- The present perfect tense is used to express actions that started in the past and continue into the present or have just been completed. It is often used with the auxiliary verb "have" (I have, you have, he/she/it has, we have, they have) and the past participle of the main verb.

- In sentence 1, "I’ve sent" is the correct form because it indicates a completed action (sending the invoice) that has relevance to the present (they still haven't paid).

- In sentence 2, "they’ve been opening" is the correct form. This is because the emphasis is on the continuous action of opening branches over the last three years, indicating an ongoing process.

- In sentence 3, "have you been working" is the correct form. It implies the duration of time (how long) the person has been engaged in the action of working.

- In sentence 4, both "I’ve tried" and "I’ve been trying" could be acceptable, but "I’ve tried" is more commonly used in this context to indicate attempts made throughout the day.

- In sentence 5, "have you taken" is the correct form. It is asking about the amount of holiday taken, which is a completed action. "been taken" would be incorrect in this context.