TENSE TRANSFORMATION

1. S + started / began + V-ing / to V+ ....... + time + ago

+ in + year
+ when + S + V2/ed
 S + have/ has + V3/ed /been + V-ing+... +for + time
+ since + year
+ since +S + V2/ed
Ex: She started cooking for the party 4 hours ago.
 She has been cooking for the party for 4 hours
He began to teach English in 1999
 He has taught English since 1999

2. When + did + S + start/ begin + V-ing / to V + ..............?

 How long + have/ has + S + V3/ed
have / has + S + been + V-ing+ ..............?

Ex: When did she start cooking for the party.

 How long has she been cooking for the party?

3. S + V2/ V-ed + ..............+ time + ago

..............+ in + year
when S + V2/ V-ed

 S + have/ has + V3/ V-ed/been + V-ing + .............. + for + time

..............+ since + year
since + S + V2/ V-ed

Ex: She cooked for the party 4 hours ago. She has cooked for the party for 4 hours
Ex: My father smoked when he was 18 . My father has smoked since he was 18

4. S + have/ has + not / never + V3/ V-ed + ..............+ before.

 It/ This is the first time + S + have/ has + V3/ V-ed + ..............

Ex: My father has not driven a car before. This is the first time my father has driven a car

5. First S1 + V2/ V-ed + .............., then S1 + V2/ V-ed + ..............

 After S1 + had + V3/ V-ed + ......., S2 + V2/ V-ed + ...........
 Before + S2 + V2/ V-ed + ......., S1 + had + V3/ V-ed + ...........

Ex : First he finished his work and then he went out with his friend
 After he had finished his work, he went out with his friend
 Before he went out with his friend, he had finished his work

6. S + have/has + not + V3/ed +……………………..+ for + time

 It’s + time + since S + (last) + V2/ed………….
 The last time + S + V2/ed……..+ WAS + time ago
 S + (last) + V2/ed +…………..+ time ago

Ex: I haven’t seen him for 3 years

 It’s 3 years since I last saw him
 The last time I saw him was 3 years ago
 I last saw him three years ago

7. During / In the middle of + N, S+ V

 While/ When + S + WAS / WERE + Ving …., S + V2/ ed

Ex: During my dinner, he came  While I was having dinner, he came

8. Ngay khi / vừa mới / chẳng lâu sau ……..thì………
No sooner than
= Hardly/ scarcely/ barely/ only just S + HAD + V3/ed + when + S + V2 / ed

= Just after + S + HAD + V3/ed , S + V2/ed

= Just as / as soon as + S + had + V3/ ed

+ S + V2/ed , S + V2/ ed

Note : No sooner, hardly/ scarcely/ barely/ only just : đứng đầu câu => ĐẢO NGỮ
Ex: He had no sooner left home than it began to rain
= Hardly had he left home when it began to rain
= Just after he had left home , it began to rain
= As soon as he (had) left home , it began to rain

9. S + used to + V + (O/C/A)  S + V (not ) + (O/C/A) any more/ any longer

S + often/ always V2/ V-ed + ( O/C/A)
S + no longer + V/ Vs/es
Ex: He used to sleep in class.  He no longer sleeps in class./ He doesn’t sleep in class any more.
He usually ate in class when he was young.  He used to eat in class when he was young.

Exercise . Choose the best answer

1. I haven't met my grandparents for five years
A. I often met my grandparents five years ago. B. I last met my grandparents five years ago.
C. I have met my grandparents for five years. D. I didn't meet my grandparents five years ago.
2. He last visited London three years ago.
A. He didn't visit London three years ago. B. He has been in London for three years.
C. He was in London for three years. D. He hasn't visited London for three years
3. I haven't visited my hometown since I left school.
A. I have been in my hometown since I left school .
B. I last visited my hometown when I left school.
C. I didn't visit my hometown when I left school.
D. I was in my hometown since I left school
4. I haven't heard from Susan for several months.
A. I last heard from Susan for several months.
B. Susan didn't hear from me several months ago.
C. Susan heard from me several months ago.
D. The last time I heard from Susan was several months ago.
5. I have never seen such beautiful pictures before.
A. These pictures are the most beautiful I have never seen.
B. I haven’t seen these beautiful pictures.
C. This is the first time I see beautiful pictures.
D. This is the first time I have seen beautiful pictures.
6. Mary has been working in this company for five years.
A. Mary began to work in this company for five years.
B. Mary began working in this company for five years ago.
C. Mary began to work in this company five years ago.
D. Mary has begun to work in this company five years ago.
7. She last saw him years ago.
A. She hasn’t seen him for a long time. B. She hasn’t seen him for years ago.
C. The last time she saw him years ago. D. It was years since she last saw him.
For years = for ages = for along time
8. John has played the piano for 10 years.
A. John played the piano 10 years ago. B. John began playing the piano 10 years ago.
C. John used to play the piano 10 years ago. D. John doesn’t play the piano anymore.
9. I have never eaten this kind of fruit before.
A. This is the first time I have eaten this kind of fruit. B. This is the last time I have eaten this kind of
fruit.
C. I last ate this kind of fruit a long time ago. D. I have eaten this kind of fruit for a long time.
10. He started learning French six years ago.
A. He has learned French for six years.
B. It was six years ago did he start learning French.
C. He hasn’t learnt French for six years.
D. It is six years since he has learnt French.
11. The last time I went to the museum was a year ago.
A. I have not been to the museum for a year. B. A year ago, I often go to the museum.
C. My going to the museum lasted a year. D. At last I went to the museum after a year
12. They last visited me five years ago.
A. They haven't visited me since five years.
B. I haven't been visited for a long time.
C. They have visited me for five years.
D. They haven't visited me for five years.
13. Mr. Brown bought this car five years ago.
A. Mr. Brown started to buy this car five years ago.
B. It has been five years when Mr. Brown bought this car
C. Mr. Brown has had this car for five years.
D. It is five years ago since Mr. Brown bought this car.
14. It’s a long time since we last went to the cinema.
A. We have been to the cinema for a long time. B. We haven’t been to the cinema for ages.
C. We don’t go to the cinema as we used to. D. We wish we went to the cinema now.
15. I haven’t stayed in a hotel for years.
A. It’s years since I stayed in a hotel.
B. It’s years when I stayed in a hotel.
C. It’s years since I stay in a hotel.
D. I haven’t stayed in a hotel years ago.
16. I have never read such a good book before.
A. This is the first time I read a good book . B. This is the first time I have read a good book.
C. This book is the best I have never read. D. This book is the best I read .
17. This is the most interesting man I’ve ever met.
A. I’ve ever met a more interesting man than this one before.
B. I’ve never met the most interesting man before.
C. I’ve never met an interesting man before.
D. I’ve never met a more interesting man than this one before.
18. It has been a long time since they met.
A. They haven’t met since a long time. B. They haven’t met for a long time.
C. They didn’t meet for a long time. D. They didn’t meet a long time ago.
19. I have never listened to jazz music before.
A. This is the first jazz music I listen to. B. This is the first time I listen to jazz music.
C. This is the first time I have listened to jazz music. D. This is the first time I listened to jazz music.
20. It started to rain at 2 o’clock and it is still raining.
A. It has been raining at 2 o’clock. B. It has been raining since 2 o’clock
C. It has been raining for 2 o’clock. D. It has been raining in 2 o’clock.
For + lượng thời gian ( bao lâu)
Since + mốc thời gian/ thời điểm ( khi nào)
For 2 hours
Since 2 o’clock
21. We last went to that cinema 2 months ago.
A. We have been to the cinema for 2 months. B.We haven't been to the cinema for 2 months.
C.We didn't want to go to the cinema anymore. D.We didn't go to the cinema for 2 months.
22. The last time I saw her was three years ago.
A. I have not seen her for three years.
B. About three years ago, I used to meet her.
 C. I have often seen her for the last three years.
D. I saw her three years ago and will never meet her
23. We have been cooking for the party for four hours.
A. We didn’t start cooking for the party until four.
B. We started cooking for the party four hours ago.
C. We have four cooks for the party
D. Cooking for the party will be done in four hours
24. She has known how to play the piano for 5 years.
A. She didn’t play the piano 5 years ago.
B. She started to play the piano 5 years ago.
C. She played the piano 5 years ago.
D. The last time she played the piano was 5 years ago.
25. This is the first time we have been to the circus.
A. We have been to the circus some times before. B. We had been to the circus once before.
C. We have ever been to the circus often before. D. We have never been to the circus before.
26. The last time I saw her was 3 years ago.
A. I have not seen her for 3 years. B. About 3 years ago, I used to meet her.
C. I have often seen her for the last 3 years. D. I saw her 3 years ago and will never meet her
27. She last visited her home country 10 years ago.
A. She hasn't visited her home country for 10 years. B. She didn't visit her home country 10 years
ago.
C. She has visited her home country for 10 years. D. She was in her home country for 10 years.
28. When did your sister start working as a secretary ?
A When has your sister been a secretary ?
B. How long has your sister worked as a secretary ?
C.How long had your sister worked as a secretary ?
D. How long have your sister worked as a secretary
29. Someone knocked on the door during my lunchtime.
A. I had lunch when someone knocked on the door.
B. When I had had lunch, someone knocked on the door.
C. I was having lunch when someone was knocking on the door.
D. I was having lunch when someone knocked on the door.
30. Steve left before my arrival.
A. When I arrived, Steve had already left.
B. Steve left as soon as I arrived.
C. While Steve was leaving I arrived.
D. Steve hadn’t left until I arrived.
31. She last visited her home country ten years ago.
A. She hasn't visited her home country for ten years. B. She didn’t visit her home country ten years ago.
C. She has visited her home country for ten years. D. She was in her home country for ten years.
32. The last time she came back to her hometown was 4 years ago.
A. It's 4 years since she last lived in her hometown.
B. She didn't come back to her hometown 4 years ago.
C. She started coming back to her hometown 4 years ago.
D. She hasn’t come back to her hometown for 4 years.
33. He started working as a bank clerk 3 months ago.
A. He last worked as a bank clerk 3 months ago. B. He didn't work as a bank clerk 3 months ago.
C. He has been working as a bank clerk for 3 months. D. The last time she worked as a bank clerk was 3
months ago.
34. It is a long time since we last met each other.
A. We haven't met each other for a long time.
B. The last time we met each other is a long time ago.
C. We last met each other for a long time.
D. We started meeting each other a long time ago.
35. I last had my hair cut in November.
A. The last time I had my hair cut was since November. B. I haven't had my hair cut since November.
C. I didn't have my hair cut in November. D. I started having my hair cut in November.
36. This is the first time I have had such a delicious meal.
A. I haven't had such a delicious meal before. B. This is the most delicious meal I have ever had.
C. I didn't have such a delicious meal. D. I didn’t have such a delicious meal before.
37. She has been working as a teacher for 5 years.
A. The last time she worked as a teacher was 5 years ago.
B. It is 5 years since she last worked as a teacher.
C. She began working as a teacher 5 years ago.
D. She hasn’t been working as a teacher for 5 years.
38. I haven't met my grandparents for five years.
A. I often met my grandparents five years ago. B. I last met my grandparents five years ago.
C. I have met my grandparents for five years. D. I didn't meet my grandparents five years ago.
39. He last visited London three years ago.
A. He has been in London for three years. B. He hasn't visited London for three years.
C. He didn't visit London three years ago. D. He was in London for three years.
40. I haven't visited my hometown for a few years.
A. I have been in my hometown for a few years. B. I last visited my hometown a few years ago.
C. I didn't visit my hometown a few years ago. D. I was in my hometown for a few years.
41. I haven't heard from Susan for several months.
A. I last heard from Susan several months ago. B. Susan didn't hear from me several months ago.
C. Susan heard from me several months ago. D. I didn't hear from Susan several months ago.
42. It is over twenty years since I last got in touch with them.
A. I can’t help keeping getting in touch with them for over 20 years.
B. I haven't gotten in touch with them for over 20 years.
C. I used to get in touch with them for over 20 years.
D. I have been getting in touch with them for over 20 years.
43. He last had his eyes tested 10 months ago.
A. He had tested his eyes 10 months before. B. He didn’t have any test on his eyes 10 months before.
C. He had not tested his eyes for 10 months then. D. He hasn’t had his eyes tested for 10 months.
44. The last time I went to the museum was a year ago.
A. I have not been to the museum for a year. B. A year ago, I often went to the museum.
C. My going to the museum lasted a year. D. At last I went to the museum after a year.
45. The last time I saw Peter was when I ran into him at the station on my way to Glasgow.
A. I haven't seen Peter since a chance meeting with him at the station when I was setting off for Glasgow
B. The last time I went to Glasgow, I happened to meet Peter at the station.
C. When I last saw Peter at the station when I was on my way to Glasgow, I ran after him.
D. I finally saw Peter at the station when I was on my way to Glasgow.
46. We started working here three years ago.
A. We have been working here for three years. B. We worked here for three years.
C. We will work here for three years. D. We have no longer worked here for three years.
47. It started to rain at 2 o’clock and it is still raining.
A. It has been raining at 2 o’clock. B. It has been raining in 2 o’clock.
C. It has been raining for 2 o’clock. D. It has been raining since 2 o'clock
48. The last time I saw Rose was three years ago.
A. I haven't seen Rose since three years. B. I haven’t seen Rose three years ago.
C. I didn’t see Rose for three years. D. I haven't seen Rose for three years.
49. Eight years ago, we started writing to each other.
A. We have rarely written to each other for eight years.
B. Eight years is a long time for us to write to each other.
C. We have been writing to each other for eight years.
D. We wrote to each other eight year ago.
50. I last heard this song 10 years ago.
A. It has been 10 years when I have heard this song. B. It was 10 years since I last heard this song.
C. It is 10 years since I last heard this song. D. It is 10 years when I have heard this song.