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THE VERB

INDICATIVE MOOD

Table of contents

Present simple ................................................................................................................... 5


1.1
Forms ........................................................................................................................ 5

Affirmative/Positive:................................................................................................. 5

Negative: ................................................................................................................... 5

Interrogative:............................................................................................................. 5
1.2
Uses........................................................................................................................... 5

To denote repeated, usual, habitual actions .............................................................. 5

To denote general truths: .......................................................................................... 5

To denote future actions (calendars, timetables, programmes): ............................... 5

In narrative texts (comments, recipes, directions, explanations):............................. 5


1.3
Exercises ................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1
Put the following sentences into the negative and interrogative: ..................... 6
1.3.2
Which is a signal phrase for the simple present?.............................................. 6
1.3.3
Find a correct signal phrase. ............................................................................. 6
2
Present continuous/progressive......................................................................................... 7
2.1
Forms ........................................................................................................................ 7

Affirmative/Positive:................................................................................................. 7

Negative: ................................................................................................................... 7

Interrogative:............................................................................................................. 7
2.2
Uses........................................................................................................................... 7

To denote actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now):........................... 7

To denote actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking): .. 7

To denote an exception to the rule:........................................................................... 7

To denote future actions (personal plans):................................................................ 7

In descriptive texts: ................................................................................................... 7


2.3
Exceptions:................................................................................................................ 7
2.4
Exercises ................................................................................................................... 8
2.4.1
Put the verbs into the correct form.................................................................... 8
2.4.2
Use the words below to make sentences in present progressive....................... 8
2.4.3
Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive) ................................. 9
2.4.4
Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive). ................................ 9
3
Exercises on Simple Present and Present Continuous .................................................... 10
3.1
Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous form:....... 10
3.2
Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous form:....... 11
4
Present perfect simple ..................................................................................................... 12
4.1
Forms ...................................................................................................................... 12

Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 12

Negative: ................................................................................................................. 12

Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 12
2

4.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 12

For finished actions that have an influence on the present ..................................... 12

For an action that stopped recently (already, just).................................................. 12

To put emphasis on the result ................................................................................. 12

For an action that is not completed (yet, not yet) ................................................... 12

For an action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment
of speaking (once, never, ever) ................................................................................... 12
4.3
Exercises ................................................................................................................. 13
4.3.1
Write positive sentences using present perfect simple ................................... 13
4.3.2
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple)........................... 13
Present perfect continuous/progressive........................................................................... 14
5.1
Forms ...................................................................................................................... 14
5.1.1
Affirmative/Positive:....................................................................................... 14
5.1.2
Negative: ......................................................................................................... 14
5.1.3
Interrogative:................................................................................................... 14
5.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 14

An action that began in the past and continues in the moment of speaking ........... 14

Finished action that influence the present............................................................... 14

Emphasize the duration or course of an action (not the result)............................... 14


5.3
Exercises ................................................................................................................. 14
5.3.1
Decide whether you have to use since or for. .......................................... 14
5.3.2
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive)................... 15
Exercises on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous/Progressive........ 16
6.1
Put the verbs into the correct tense. ........................................................................ 16
6.2
Put the verbs into the correct tense. ........................................................................ 16
6.3
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below ...................................... 17
6.4
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below ...................................... 18
Past tense simple ............................................................................................................. 19
7.1
Forms ...................................................................................................................... 19

Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 19

Negative: ................................................................................................................. 19

Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 19
7.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 19

A completed action in the past................................................................................ 19

Actions in the past taking place one after the other (narrative texts)...................... 19

An action in the past taking place in the middle of another action......................... 19

Actions expressing habits in the past ...................................................................... 19

Actions expressing single duration ......................................................................... 19


7.3
Exercises ................................................................................................................. 19
7.3.1
Ask for the bold part of the sentence. ............................................................. 19
7.3.2
Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past)............................................ 20
7.3.3
Write the verbs in simple past......................................................................... 20
7.3.4
Write the verbs in simple past......................................................................... 20
Past tense continuous/progressive................................................................................... 21
8.1
Forms ...................................................................................................................... 21

Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 21

Negative: ................................................................................................................. 21
3


Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 21
8.2
Uses......................................................................................................................... 21

An action in progress at a certain time in the past .................................................. 21

An ongoing action in the past interrupted by another action .................................. 21

Parallel actions (in the past).................................................................................... 21

Repetition and irritation with "always"................................................................... 21


8.3
Exercise................................................................................................................... 21
8.3.1
Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive). ................................... 21
9
Exercises on Past Tense Simple and Past Tense Continuous/Progressive ..................... 22
9.1
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below ...................................... 22
9.2
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below ..................................... 24
9.3
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive). ................... 24
10
Past perfect simple ...................................................................................................... 26
10.1 Forms ...................................................................................................................... 26

Affirmative/Positive:............................................................................................... 26

Negative: ................................................................................................................. 26

Interrogative:........................................................................................................... 26
10.2 Uses......................................................................................................................... 26

An action taking place before a certain time/action in the past .............................. 26

Duration before a past date/event/action................................................................. 26


10.3 Exercises ................................................................................................................. 26
10.3.1
Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple)................................ 26
11
Past perfect continuous/progressive............................................................................ 27
11.1 Forms ...................................................................................................................... 27
11.1.1
Affirmative/Positive:....................................................................................... 27
11.1.2
Negative: ......................................................................................................... 27
11.1.3
Interrogative:................................................................................................... 27
11.2 Uses......................................................................................................................... 27

Duration between a date/event/action in the past ................................................... 27

Cause of something in the past ............................................................................... 27


11.3 Exercise................................................................................................................... 27

Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect progressive). ............................... 27
12
Exercise with Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous ................................ 28
12.1 Present and Past Tense Review............................................................................... 29
13
Table of English Tenses.............................................................................................. 30
14
Irregular Verbs ............................................................................................................ 33
15
Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 37

1 Present simple

1.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + short infinitive
Ex: You go; We eat etc.
+ -S/-ES* for the 3rd pers. sg.
* We add ES when the verb ends in: - S; -Z; - SH; -CH; -X; -O
Ex: He goes; She smashes; It buzzes
We add S for the rest of the verbs:
Ex: John paints; The dog barks

Negative:
Subject + DO / DOES* + NOT + short infinitive
* Does is used for the 3rd person singular
Ex: They do not swim; He does not drink

Interrogative:
Do / Does + subject + short infinitive
Ex: Do you go to school?
Does your sister know him?

1.2 Uses

To denote repeated, usual, habitual actions (adverbs usually used with this
tense: usually, always, never, seldom, every day; every time; once a year; twice a day
etc.):
Ex: My brother usually goes to school at 8 oclock.
I always buy vegetables from the market.

To denote general truths:


The Danube flows into the Black Sea.
Ice melts at 1 degree Celsius.

To denote future actions (calendars, timetables, programmes):


The plane leaves at 10:24 PM.

In narrative texts (comments, recipes, directions, explanations):


You go straight ahead, turn left and you are there.

1.3 Exercises
1.3.1 Put the following sentences into the negative and interrogative:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Johnny is a well-known actor.


My father usually goes to work at 8:00 sharp.
My train arrives in 25 minutes.
The sun moves around the moon.
You come home late, you open the TV and then you fall asleep.

1.3.2 Which is a signal phrase for the simple present?


a)

seldom

right now

in 1999

b)

already

next week

normally

c)

never

d)

the other day

e)

since 2001

last year

up to now

sometimes
every year

soon
in a year

1.3.3 Find a correct signal phrase.


a) Ron plays basketball
b)
I go to work by bus.
c) We speak English
d) I write a poem
e)
our neighbour leaves the house at 8 o'clock.

2 Present continuous/progressive
2.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + to be (present) + vb-ing
I am going.

Negative:
Subject + to be (present) + NOT + vb-ing
He is not eating.

Interrogative:
To be (present) + subject + vb-ing
Are they coming?

2.2 Uses
To denote actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now):
I am writing a letter.

To denote actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of
speaking):
Anna is reading Coelho now.

To denote an exception to the rule:


I usually drink milk but today I am drinking tea.

To denote future actions (personal plans):


My parents are coming tomorrow.

In descriptive texts:
The sun is shinning in the clear sky.

2.3 Exceptions:
Some verbs are not used with the continuous aspect or they acquire a different meaning when
they are used in the continuous aspect: verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions
and mental activity.
be (state), believe (mental activity), belong (possession), hate (feeling and emotion), hear
(senses), like (feeling and emotion), love (feeling and emotion), mean (mental activity),
7

prefer (mental activity), remain (state), realize (mental activity), see (senses), seem
(feeling and emotion), smell (senses), think (mental activity), understand (mental
activity), want (feeling and emotion), wish (feeling and emotion)
He loves her very much.
Do you see that beautiful painting?

2.4 Exercises
2.4.1 Put the verbs into the correct form
The following sentences express possession, senses, emotions or mental activity.
1. I (like)
2. He (hate)

pizza.
garlic.

3. My sister (prefer)
4. I (want)

tea to coffee.
to get away from here.

5. She (not / understand)

me.

6. I (not / believe)

it.

7. I (not / know)

why you are so mean.

8. We (not / think)

that this is right.

9. What (mean / it)

10. (you / hear)

the music?

2.4.2 Use the words below to make sentences in present progressive.


a) I / to read a book b) it / to rain c)

he / to repair his bike -

d) they / to watch a film e)

the cat /to sleep on the chair -

f)

Jane and Emily / to do their homework -

g) Bill / to wait at the bus stop h) we / to listen to the radio i)

the children / to play a game -

j)

Laura / to walk the dog


8

2.4.3 Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive)
a) PINK - Get The Party Started: Everybody (to wait) for me to arrive.
b) AVRIL LAVIGNE - Complicated: I like you the way you are when we (to drive) in
your car.
c) J'LO - Jenny From The Block: I know where I (go) and I know where I'm from.
d) BLUE (feat. ELTON JOHN) - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word: And it (get)
more and more absurd.
e) BLUE - U Make Me Wanna: That's why I'm here, I (write) this song.
f) BUSTED - What I Go To School For: I guess that's why my marks (get) so high.
g) ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Feel: Before I fall in love, I (prepare) to leave her.
h) EMINEM: Lose Yourself: He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out. He
(choke). How everybody (joke) now.
i) NICK CARTER - I Got You: They say I (look) for something that can't be found.

2.4.4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Put the verbs into the correct form (present progressive).


I (to starve)
I can tell when you (to lie)
I (to joke / only)
She (to go out) with a real cutie.
(you / to try) to pull my leg?
You (not / to fool) anyone.

7. What (to go on) here?


8. I (look forward) to seeing you
again.
9. What (you / to do)?
10. (I / to dream)?

3 Exercises on Simple Present and Present Continuous


3.1 Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present
continuous form:
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive)

2. Usually, I (work)

her kids to football practice.

as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)


French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep)

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain)

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always)

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)

because everybody (talk)

so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently)


a book about his adventures in Tibet.
I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. A: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?


to a movie tonight with some

B: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go)


friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally )


York. Their prices (be)
quite good.

printed by a company in New


inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is

10. This delicious chocolate (be)


Zurich, Switzerland.

made by a small chocolatier in

10

3.2 Put the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present
continuous form:
A Trekking Journal
November 12, 1997
Today (be)

the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I

am exhausted and my legs (shake)

; I just hope I am able to

complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)

me and my toes (bleed)

, but I (want, still)

to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)
so different, and I (try)
here. I (learn)

to adapt to the new way of life


a little bit of the language to make communication

easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)

foreign languages quickly.

Although I (understand, not)


gradually)

much yet, I believe that I (improve,


.

I (travel, currently)

with Liam, a student from Leeds University

in England. He (be)

a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always)


ahead of me and (complain)

that I am too slow. I

(do)
my best to keep up with him, but he is younger and
stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am getting old.
Right now, Liam (sit)

with the owner of the inn. They (discuss)


the differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I
the real name of the owner, but everybody

(know, not)
(call, just)

him Tam. Tam (speak)

English very well and he (try)

to teach Liam some words in

Nepali. Every time Tam (say)

a new word, Liam

(try)

to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam

to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just


(seem,also)
hope we don't get lost and have to ask for directions.

11

4 Present perfect simple

4.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + have/has* + 3rd form of verb
I have seen that movie.
rd
* has is used for the 3 person singular

Negative:
Subject + have/has + NOT + 3rd form of the verb
He has not done this yet.

Interrogative:
Have/has + subject + 3rd form of the verb
Have we scheduled this event?

4.2 Uses
Present perfect tense is usually used for past actions that are still somehow connected to the
present, and when the exact time of the action is not specified. There are several signal words like:
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

For finished actions that have an influence on the present


I have broken my arm.

For an action that stopped recently (already, just)


We have already set the table.

To put emphasis on the result


She has written five letters.

For an action that is not completed (yet, not yet)


John has not arrived yet.

For an action that has taken place once, never or several times before the
moment of speaking (once, never, ever)
Alex and his wife have never swum in the ocean.

12

4.3 Exercises
4.3.1 Write positive sentences using present perfect simple
Use signal words like: already, ever, just, never, yet, not yet, so far, till now, up to now, once, etc.
1. Bob / visit / his grandma
2. Jimmy / play / on the computer
3. Sue and Walter / wash / their car
4. Andrew / repair / his bike
5. Phil / help / Anne with math
6. Brad and Louise / watch / a film
7. Tamara / talk to / her best friend
8. Bridgette / draw / a picture
9. Carol / read / a computer magazine
10. Tom and Alice / be / to a restaurant

4.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).
1. I (not work)

today.

2. We (buy)

a new lamp.

3. We (not plan)

our holiday yet.

4. Where (be / you)

5. He (write)

five letters.

6. She (not see)

him for a long time.

7. (be / you)

at school?

8. School (not start)

yet.

9. (speak / he)

to his boss?

10. No, he (not have)

dinner yet.

13

5 Present perfect continuous/progressive


5.1 Forms
5.1.1 Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + have/has + BEEN + vb-ing
I have been working for two hours.
5.1.2 Negative:
Subject + have/has +NOT + BEEN + vb-ing
They have not been smoking.
5.1.3 Interrogative:
Have/has + subject + BEEN + vb-ing
Has she been drinking?

5.2 Uses
There are several signal words like: for, since, all day, the whole week, how long? etc.

An action that began in the past and continues in the moment of speaking
I have been writing for two hours.

Finished action that influence the present


They have been working all morning.

Emphasize the duration or course of an action (not the result)


She has been baking for hours.

5.3 Exercises
5.3.1 Decide whether you have to use since or for.

since if the starting point is given (two oclock, last Friday, 1998)
for if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)

1. I have been waiting


2. Sue has only been waiting

4 oclock.
20 minutes.

3. Tim and Tina have been learning English

six years.

4. Fred and Frida have been learning French

1998.

5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together


6. I havent been on holiday

last July.
14

Valentines Day.

7. Mary has been saving her money


8. I havent eaten anything
9. You have been watching TV
10. We have been living here

many years.
breakfast.
hours.
2 months.

5.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive).
1

He (work)

I (wait)

Mary (live)

Why is he so tired? He (play)

How long (learn / you)

We (look for)
an hour.

I (live)

The film (run / not)


commercial break already.

How long (work / she)

in this company since 1985.


for you since two o'clock.
in Germany since 1992.
tennis for five hours.
English?
the motorway for more than
without electricity for two weeks.
for ten minutes yet, but there's a
in the garden?

10 She (not / be)

in the garden for more than an hour.

15

6 Exercises on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect


Continuous/Progressive
6.1 Put the verbs into the correct tense. (present perfect simple or
present perfect progressive)
1. I (play)

football for five years.

2. My team (win / only)

two matches so far.

3. The others (be / always)

better.

4. Are we not there yet? We (walk)

for hours.

5. But we (cover / only)


miles so far.

an area of five

6. I (finish/just)

my homework.

7. I (work)

on this essay since two o'clock.

8. Jane (go out)

with Bob for seven years.

9. Martin (date)

three girls this week.

10. How long (wait / you)

for us?

6.2 Put the verbs into the correct tense. (present perfect simple or
present perfect progressive)
Robin: I think the waiter (forget)

us. We (wait)
here for over half an hour and nobody (take)
our order yet.
by us at least

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk)


twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already)

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only)


here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not)
(sit)

yet! We
here for over half an hour staring at him.
us. He (run)

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even)

from table to table taking orders and serving food.


Michele: That's true, and he (look, not)
our direction once.

in

16

6.3 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses Present Continuous / Present Perfect
Continuous
1. It (rain)
because I want to go to the beach.

all week. I hope it stops by Saturday

2. A: Where is Gary?
B: He (study, at the library)

for his German test on

Wednesday. In fact, he (review)


day for the last week.

for the test every

at the fitness

3. You look really great! (You, exercise)


center ?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait)
since 1 P.M..

for you

5. A: What is that sound?


B: A car alarm (ring)

somewhere down the street. It

(drive)

me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring)


for more than twenty minutes.

6. Joseph's English (improve, really)

, isn't it? He

(watch)

American television programs and (study)


his grammar every day since he first arrived in San

Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.


7. A: You look a little tired. (You, get)
lately?

enough sleep

B: Yes, I (sleep)

relatively well. I just look tired

because I (feel)
A: I hope you feel better soon.

a little sick for the last week.

B: Thanks. I (take, currently)


should feel better in a couple of days.

some medicine, so I

17

6.4 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses Present Continuous / Present Perfect
Continuous
Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit
more about your background.
Mr. Harris: I (work)
in the insurance industry for over
ten years. I worked for Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half.
During that time, I heard many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I
for the new sales position.

(apply)

Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests.


Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the
Sierra Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete)
tennis tournament this weekend.

in a

Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play)

tennis ?
since high school. I love the sport.

Mr. Harris: I (play)

Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer
at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently)

with them on

the sea turtle project. We (try)


sanctuary near the bay.

to create a wildlife

Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently)
on the same project.
Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to
Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look)
somebody who is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico.
Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study)
elementary school.

for

Spanish since

Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate.

18

7 Past tense simple


7.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + 2nd form of verb (short infinitive +ED)
Alice saved that cat yesterday.
rd
* has is used for the 3 person singular

Negative:
Subject + DID + NOT + short infinitive
We did not recognize him.

Interrogative:
DID + subject + short infinitive
Did you see that?

7.2 Uses
A completed action in the past (usually with a time reference: yesterday, last year,
in 1996 etc.)

She washed the dishes an hour ago.

Actions in the past taking place one after the other (narrative texts)
He came in, took off his coat and sat down.

An action in the past taking place in the middle of another action


I saw her while I was crossing the street.

Actions expressing habits in the past


He never went to school, he always skipped.

Actions expressing single duration (he Simple Past can be used with a duration
which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a long action often used with expressions
like "for two years," "for five minutes," "all day" or "all year.")

He lived in that town for three years.


James sat on the bench all day.

7.3 Exercises
7.3.1 Ask for the bold part of the sentence.
1. My friends swam in the lake.

2. He paid the bill.


19

3. The teacher pointed to the board.

4. They felt good.

5. He hurt his leg because he was not careful.

7.3.2 Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past).
1. Last year I (spend)

my holiday in Ireland.

2. It (be)

great.

3. I (travel)

around by car with two friends and we (visit)


lots of interesting places.

4. In the evenings we usually (go)

to a pub.

5. One night we even (learn)

some Irish dances.

6. We (be)

very lucky with the weather.

7. It (not / rain)

a lot.

8. But we (see)

some beautiful rainbows.

9. Where (spend / you)

your last holiday?

7.3.3 Write the verbs in simple past.


1

The first settlers (be)

They (call)

the Potawatomi.
this place Checagou (wild onion) because it (smell)
like onions.

Constructions on the Sears Tower (begin)

Until 1997, the Sears Tower (be)

in 1970.
the highest building in the world.

7.3.4 Write the verbs in simple past.


1

The University of Oxford (be)

The lecturers of the colleges (speak)

That's why Oxford English (become)


educated people.

In the 19th century, Lewis Carroll (write)


Wonderland' in Oxford.

Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) (study)

the first British university.


a very clear English.
known as the English of
'Alice's Adventures in
electrical engineering at Oxford.
20

8 Past tense continuous/progressive


8.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + was/were + vb-ing
I was going to the market.

Negative:
Subject + was/were + NOT + vb-ing
He was not eating.

Interrogative:
Was/were + subject + vb-ing
Were they crying?

8.2 Uses
An action in progress at a certain time in the past
Mom was cooking dinner yesterday at 6 oclock.

An ongoing action in the past interrupted by another action


He was watching TV when the phone rang.

Parallel actions (in the past)


While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

Repetition and irritation with "always"


I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

8.3 Exercise
8.3.1 Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive).
1. When I phoned my friends, they (play)

monopoly.

2. Yesterday at six I (prepare)

dinner.

3. The kids (play)


began to rain.

in the garden when it suddenly

4. I (practice)

the guitar when he came home.

5. We (not / cycle)

all day.
21

6. While Aaron (work)

in his room, his friends

(swim)

in the pool.

7. I tried to tell them the truth but they (listen / not)


8. What (you / do)

.
yesterday?

9. Most of the time we (sit)

in the park.

9 Exercises on Past Tense Simple and Past Tense


Continuous/Progressive
9.1 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses
1. A: What (you, do)

when the accident occurred?

B: I (try)

to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

2. After I (find)

the wallet full of money, I (go,

immediately)

to the police and (turn)


it in.

3. The doctor (say)

that Tom (be)


too sick to go to work and that he (need)
to stay at home for a couple of days.

4. Sebastian (arrive)

at Susan's house a little


there. She (study,

before 9:00 pm, but she (be, not)


at the library)

for her final examination in French.

5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also)
television. That's all she ever does!
6. A: I (call)
not)

you last night after dinner, but you (be,


there. Where were you?
out at the fitness center.

B: I (work)

22

7. When I (walk)

into the busy office, the secretary

(talk)

on the phone with a customer, several clerks

(work, busily)

at their desks, and two managers


methods to improve customer

(discuss, quietly)
service.

8. I (watch)
a mystery movie on T.V. when the
electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends.
9. Sharon (be)
in the room when John told me what
happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not)
.
10. It's strange that you (call)

because I (think, just)


about you.

11. The Titanic (cross)

the Atlantic when it (strike)

an iceberg.
12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily)
and (try)

to

sell their goods to naive tourists who (hunt)

for

souvenirs. Some young boys (lead)


their donkeys
through the narrow streets on their way home. A couple of men (argue) over the price of
over to a man who (sell) fruit

a leather belt. I (walk)


and (buy)

a banana.
the old woman who (be)

13. The firemen (rescue)

trapped on the third floor of the burning building.


14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always)

her

dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually)


me to do them for her.
15. Samantha (live)

in Berlin for more than two

years. In fact, she (live)

there when the Berlin wall

23

9.2 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses
Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call)

. She said

me on her cell phone from her biology classroom at UCLA. I

she (call)

for class, but she said that the professor was at

asked her if she (wait)

to me. I couldn't believe

the front of the hall lecturing while she (talk)

a phone call during the lecture. I asked what was going on.

she (make)

She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (sleep, actually)
in class. Some of the students (talk)
about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her (draw)
a picture of a horse. When Angela (tell)
me she was not satisfied with the class, I (mention)
that my biology professor was quite good and (suggest)
that she switch to my class.
her professor yell, "Miss, are you

While we were talking, I (hear)

up the

making a phone call?" Suddenly, the line went dead. I (hang)

vegetables for

phone and went to the kitchen to make dinner. As I (cut)

Angela, but this time she

a salad, the phone rang once again. It (be)


wasn't sitting in class.

9.3 Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past
progressive).
1.

When I (do)

the washing-up, I (break)


a plate.

2.

While Tom (play)

the piano, his mother (do)


the washing-up.

3.

He (drink)

some juice and then he (eat)


a few chips.

4.

I (have)

dinner when I suddenly (hear)


a loud bang.

5.

When my father (work)

in the garden, an old friend (pass)


by to see him.

24

6.

She (go)
her textbook and (begin)

7.

to school, (take)
to learn.

When it (start)

to rain, our dog (want)


to come inside.

8.

When Jane (do)

a language course in Ireland, she (visit)


Blarney Castle.

9.

When I (be)

on my way home, I (see)


an accident.

10. I (not / understand)

what they (talk)


about.

25

out

10 Past perfect simple


10.1 Forms
Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + HAD + 3rd form of verb
I had seen that movie before she mentioned it.
rd
* has is used for the 3 person singular

Negative:
Subject + HAD + NOT + 3rd form of the verb
He had not finished his homework by the time she arrived.

Interrogative:
HAD + subject + 3rd form of the verb
Had we scheduled this event before our meeting?

10.2 Uses
An action taking place before a certain time/action in the past (putting
emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)
I had lived in Germany before I came to Romania.

Duration before a past date/event/action


We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

10.3 Exercises
10.3.1 Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple).
1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
2. He (not / be)

to Cape Town before 1997.

3. When she went out to play, she (do / already)

her homework.

4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make)

5. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on)


6. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order)

7. I could not remember the poem we (learn)

the week before.

8. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall)


9. (he / phone)

a week before.

from the tree.

Angie before he went to see her in London?

10. She (not / ride)

a horse before that day.


26

11 Past perfect continuous/progressive


11.1 Forms
11.1.1 Affirmative/Positive:
Subject + HAD + BEEN + vb-ing
I had been working for two hours before she left.
11.1.2 Negative:
Subject + HAD +NOT + BEEN + vb-ing
They had not been smoking for long before quit.
11.1.3 Interrogative:
HAD + subject + BEEN + vb-ing
Had she been drinking before she met him?

11.2 Uses

Duration between a date/event/action in the past


They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

Cause of something in the past


George was tired because he had been working.

11.3 Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect progressive).
1. We (sleep)
up.

for 12 hours when he woke us

2. They (wait)
when the train finally arrived.

at the station for 90 minutes

3. We (look for)
then we found it in the bathroom.

her ring for two hours and

4. I (not / walk)
suddenly began to rain.

for a long time, when it

5. How long (learn / she)


went to London?
6. Frank Sinatra caught the flu because he (sing)

English before she

in the rain too long.

27

7. He (drive)
out of petrol.
8. They were very tired in the evening because they (help)

less than an hour when he ran

on the farm all day.


9. I (not / work)
went to the disco at night.

all day; so I wasn't tired and

10. They (cycle)


sore in the evening.

all day so their legs were

12 Exercise with Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous


Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses
I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at
8:00. I (try)
to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't
want to miss it. By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have)
five cups of coffee and I (wait)
hour. I had to leave because I (arrange)
of the theater.

over an
to meet Kathy in front

When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already)


up the
tickets and she was waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait)
for more than half an hour. She said she (give, almost)
up and (go)

into the

theater without us.


Kathy told me you (be)
late several times in the past and that
she would not make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss)
several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe
her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be on time!

28

12.1 Present and Past Tense Review


Lars: Excuse me, which movie are you waiting for?
for the new Stars Wars Phantom Menace movie. In

Tony: We (wait)

here for more than five hours.

fact, we (wait)
Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive?

Tony: We (get) got here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people (stand, already)
here waiting for tickets when we arrived.
Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious?
Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this

Tony: Yeah, people (take)

in

particular showing has been sold out for over a week. We (wait, just)
line to get a good seat in the theater.
Lars: When did you buy your tickets?
Tony: I (buy)

them last week by phone. I (know)


tickets would be hard to get because I (hear)
on the news that a group of people in Los Angeles (wait)
in line for almost a month to buy some.

Lars: I don't believe that!


out in front of Mann's Chinese Theater in

Tony: It's true. They (camp)

to be the first

Los Angeles for about a month because they (want)


people to see the movie.

29

13 Table of English Tenses


tense

Affirmative/Negative/
Question

Use

Simple Present

A: He speaks.
N: He does not speak.
Q: Does he speak?

Present Progressive

A: He is speaking.
N: He is not speaking.
Q: Is he speaking?

Simple Past

A: He spoke.
N: He did not speak.
Q: Did he speak?

Past Progressive

A: He was speaking.
N: He was not speaking.
Q: Was he speaking?

A: He has spoken.
Present Perfect Simple N: He has not spoken.
Q: Has he spoken?

30

action in the present


taking place once,
never or several times
facts
actions taking place
one after another
action set by a
timetable or schedule
action taking place in
the moment of
speaking
action taking place
only for a limited
period of time
action arranged for the
future
action in the past
taking place once,
never or several times
actions taking place
one after another
action taking place in
the middle of another
action

Signal Words
always,
every ,
never,
normally,
often, seldom,
sometimes,
usually
if sentences
type I (If I
talk, )

at the moment,
just, just now,
Listen!,
Look!, now,
right now

yesterday, 2
minutes ago,
in 1990, the
other day, last
Friday
if sentence
type II (If I
talked, )

action going on at a
certain time in the past
actions taking place at
the same time
when, while,
action in the past that as long as
is interrupted by
another action
putting emphasis on
already, ever,
the result
just, never, not
action that is still going yet, so far, till
on
now, up to
action that stopped
now

Present Perfect
Progressive

A: He has been speaking.


N: He has not been
speaking.
Q: Has he been speaking?

Past Perfect Simple

A: He had spoken.
N: He had not spoken.
Q: Had he spoken?

Past Perfect
Progressive

A: He had been speaking.


N: He had not been
speaking.
Q: Had he been speaking?

Future I Simple

A: He will speak.
N: He will not speak.
Q: Will he speak?

31

recently
finished action that has
an influence on the
present
action that has taken
place once, never or
several times before
the moment of
speaking
putting emphasis on
the course or duration
(not the result)
all day, for 4
action that recently
years, since
stopped or is still going 1993, how
on
long?, the
finished action that
whole week
influenced the present
action taking place
before a certain time in
the past
sometimes
interchangeable with
past perfect
progressive
putting emphasis only
on the fact (not the
duration)

already, just,
never, not yet,
once, until that
day
if sentence
type III (If I
had talked, )

action taking place


before a certain time in
the past
sometimes
for, since, the
interchangeable with
whole day, all
past perfect simple
day
putting emphasis on
the duration or course
of an action
in a year,
action in the future that
next ,
cannot be influenced
tomorrow
spontaneous decision
If-Satz Typ I
assumption with regard
(If you ask
to the future
her, she will
help you.)

assumption: I
think,
probably, we
might ,
perhaps
Future I Simple
(going to)

A: He is going to speak.
N: He is not going to
speak.
Q: Is he going to speak?

Future I Progressive

A: He will be speaking.
N: He will not be
speaking.
Q: Will he be speaking?

A: He will have spoken.


N: He will not have
Future Perfect Simple
spoken.
Q: Will he have spoken?
A: He will have been
speaking.
N: He will not have been
Future Perfect
speaking.
Progressive
Q: Will he have been
speaking?

32

decision made for the


future
in one year,
conclusion with regard next week,
to the future
tomorrow
action that is going on
at a certain time in the
future
in one year,
action that is sure to
next week,
happen in the near
tomorrow
future
action that will be
finished at a certain
time in the future

by Monday, in
a week

action taking place


before a certain time in
the future
putting emphasis on
the course of an action

for , the last


couple of
hours, all day
long

14 Irregular Verbs

Base Form

Simple Past
Tense

Past Participle

awake
be
bear
beat
become
begin
bend
beset
bet
bid
bind
bite
bleed
blow
break
breed
bring
broadcast
build
burn
burst
buy
cast
catch
choose
cling
come
cost
creep
cut
deal
dig
dive
do

awoke
was, were
bore
beat
became
began
bent
beset
bet
bid/bade
bound
bit
bled
blew
broke
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burned/burnt
burst
bought
cast
caught
chose
clung
came
cost
crept
cut
dealt
dug
dived/dove
did

awoken
been
born
beat
become
begun
bent
beset
bet
bid/bidden
bound
bitten
bled
blown
broken
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burned/burnt
burst
bought
cast
caught
chosen
clung
come
cost
crept
cut
dealt
dug
dived
done
33

draw
dream
drive
drink
eat
fall
feed
feel
fight
find
fit
flee
fling
fly
forbid
forget
forego (forgo)
forgive
forsake
freeze
get
give
go
grind
grow
hang
hear
hide
hit
hold
hurt
keep
kneel
knit
know
lay
lead
leap
learn
leave

drew
dreamed/dreamt
drove
drank
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
fit
fled
flung
flew
forbade
forgot
forewent
forgave
forsook
froze
got
gave
went
ground
grew
hung
heard
hid
hit
held
hurt
kept
knelt
knit
knew
laid
led
leaped/lept
learned/learnt
left

drawn
dreamed/dreamt
driven
drunk
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
fit
fled
flung
flown
forbidden
forgotten
foregone
forgiven
forsaken
frozen
gotten
given
gone
ground
grown
hung
heard
hidden
hit
held
hurt
kept
knelt
knit
know
laid
led
leaped/lept
learned/learnt
left
34

lend
let
lie
light
lose
make
mean
meet
misspell
mistake
mow
overcome
overdo
overtake
overthrow
pay
plead
prove
put
quit
read
rid
ride
ring
rise
run
saw
say
see
seek
sell
send
set
sew
shake
shave
shear
shed
shine
shoe

lent
let
lay
lighted/lit
lost
made
meant
met
misspelled/misspelt
mistook
mowed
overcame
overdid
overtook
overthrew
paid
pled
proved
put
quit
read
rid
rode
rang
rose
ran
sawed
said
saw
sought
sold
sent
set
sewed
shook
shaved
shore
shed
shone
shoed

lent
let
lain
lighted
lost
made
meant
met
misspelled/misspelt
mistaken
mowed/mown
overcome
overdone
overtaken
overthrown
paid
pled
proved/proven
put
quit
read
rid
ridden
rung
risen
run
sawed/sawn
said
seen
sought
sold
sent
set
sewed/sewn
shaken
shaved/shaven
shorn
shed
shone
shoed/shod
35

shoot
show
shrink
shut
sing
sink
sit
sleep
slay
slide
sling
slit
smite
sow

shot
showed
shrank
shut
sang
sank
sat
slept
slew
slid
slung
slit
smote
sowed

shot
showed/shown
shrunk
shut
sung
sunk
sat
slept
slain
slid
slung
slit
smitten
sowed/sown

speak

spoke

spoken

speed
spend
spill
spin
spit
split
spread
spring
stand
steal
stick
sting
stink
stride
strike
string
strive
swear
sweep
swell
swim
swing
take
teach

sped
spent
spilled/spilt
spun
spit/spat
split
spread
sprang/sprung
stood
stole
stuck
stung
stank
strod
struck
strung
strove
swore
swept
swelled
swam
swung
took
taught

sped
spent
spilled/spilt
spun
spit
split
spread
sprung
stood
stolen
stuck
stung
stunk
stridden
struck
strung
striven
sworn
swept
swelled/swollen
swum
swung
taken
taught
36

tear
tell
think
thrive
throw
thrust
tread
understand
uphold
upset
wake
wear
weave
wed
weep
wind
win
withhold
withstand
wring
write

tore
told
thought
thrived/throve
threw
thrust
trod
understood
upheld
upset
woke
wore
weaved/wove
wed
wept
wound
won
withheld
withstood
wrung
wrote

torn
told
thought
thrived
thrown
thrust
trodden
understood
upheld
upset
woken
worn
weaved/woven
wed
wept
wound
won
withheld
withstood
wrung
written

15 Bibliography
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/use/exercises?use06
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm

Oana
Bargan
37

Digitally signed by Oana Bargan


DN: cn=Oana Bargan, c=RO,
o=Universitatea Al.I.Cuza Iasi,
ou=Faculatatea de Litere,
email=oanabargan@yahoo.com
Reason: I am the author of this
document
Date: 2006.12.16 11:32:13
+02'00'

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