25/2/2016 Narrative tenses worksheet Exercises 2 Narrative tenses worksheet Exercises 2 (www.vivquarry.com) Put the verb in brackets into the correct form in the gap AFTER the verb. Where no verb is given, put one of the following linking words into the gaps While / finally / and / although / however / as soon as / but / then / before / when (there's one linking word you don't need to use) The Unlucky Burglar One evening Paul (watch) the television (eat) his supper the door suddenly (open) and a burglar (come) in. He (wear) a mask and (carry) a sack. doing anything else he (tie) Paul to the chair. he went upstairs to look for money. he (not find) any money he (find) a lot of jewellery, which he (put) into his sack. In his rush to get downstairs he (not see) the dog (lie) at the bottom of the stairs, and he (fall) over it, losing his glasses the burglar (look for) them, Paul (try) to free himself Paul (manage) to escape and he (phone) the police the burglar (find) his glasses he (run) out of the house unfortunately for him, the police (wait) for him at the end of the garden Put the verb in brackets into the correct form. Where possible, use 'used to' and 'would' Charles Dickens Charles Dickens (born) in 1812 in Portsmouth. The family (move) to London in 1823. When he was twelve he (work) in a blacking factory. He worked by a window facing the street and passersby (pause) and watch him at work. Every day he (trudge) through the London streets from Camden Town to Southwark. His family (be) very poor. His mother (hope) to open a small school. While she (try) to do this, her husband (send) to prison for being £40 in debt. When Charles (be) twentyfour, his first work, sketches by Boz, (publish). This (follow) by Pickwick Papers with which he (achieve) financial security and popularity. For the rest of his life, work simply (pour) from his pen. He (die) of a stroke in 1870 Put the verb in brackets into the correct form. Where both the past simple and past perfect simple are possible, write 'BOTH' 1. Until I (explain) the situation to her I felt guilty 2. After I (finish) my lunch I went back to work 3. When the police (interview) me they let me go home 4. As soon as I got home my brother (go out) 5. The children had to stay in until the rain (stop) 6. When I (see) John coming towards me I walked in the other direction 7. I phoned my mother to find out why she (not write) for so long http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/narrex2.html 1/2 25/2/2016 Narrative tenses worksheet Exercises 2 8. We stayed in our seats until the film (finish) Continue the following sentences using the words in bracket in either the past perfect simple or continuous 1. My landlord threw me out of my flat because (not pay the rent for six months / and break all the windows) 2. When I eventually got to the meeting I was bad tempered and exhausted! I (sit in traffic jam 45 minutes / motorist bump into me / and get completely lost) 3. By the time 5 o'clock arrived Brenda was furious. She (wait for an hour / drink six cups of tea / and they still not arrive) 4. I was so depressed that I couldn't do the exam. I (study every day for two months / and give up see my friends) Put the verb in brackets in an appropriate form of the future in the past 1. "Henry! Good Lord! I forgot that you (come) to dinner. I'm sorry, come in." 2. The police (charge) me with speeding, but I told them that I'd never driven a car 3. The beginning of the film was terrible. I hoped it (get better) 4. I went to bed early as I was (leave) for Rio the next day 5. Tom was sensible and his mother knew he (take) care of himself 6. "You (show) me your holiday photos but we were interrupted." 7. "Our last holiday was a disaster. We (travel) to Austria, but I broke my leg." 8. I (just/ring) the receptionist about the tv when an engineer arrived to fix it 9. I had invited them to come to the party at 9 o'clock, but I knew they (be late) 10. "Last time I saw you, you (emigrate) to Canada! Did you?" Narrative tenses worksheet Back to Grammar worksheets Home http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/narrex2.html 2/2