Tense Revision

Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders PART A: TENSE REVISION A Simple present: Abverbs of frequency: usually, often, frequently, seldom, hardly, never, rarely, occasionally, once in a while, sometimes, at times, (every) now and then,every… Present simple usually refers to: + Facts that are always true Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius + Habits and schedules (in a timeable…) I usually get up very late in the morning Look at the board! It says that the plane for Paris leaves at 10:00 AM B Present continuous: Adverbs:now; right now; at the moment, right away, for the time being; at present; presently; currenty… Present continuous refers to: + actions which are in progress at the moment I’m doing my homework + these actions can be generally in progress but not actually happening at the time of speaking I’m learning to drive + Temporary actions which are not habitual My car has broken down, so I am working to work these days +Complaints about bad haits You are always complaining about my cooking *Note: some verbs not have a continuous form: believe; belong; doubt; like; love; matter; mean; understand; seem; suppose; want; wish; need; suspect… C Present perfect and present perfect continuous: Adverbs: since; for; lately; already; yet; recently; up to now; so far; several times; never…before…; ever; just… Present perfect refers to: + Recent events without a definite time given: I’ve just seen a ghost! + Actions in the past continue to the present: I’ve lived here for 19 years + Events that have not happened: I haven’t found my wallet yet Present perfect continuous refers to: + a state which lasts up to the present moment I’ve been waiting for you for over an hour + an emphasis on the actions’ duration My father has been working here for over 10 years *Note: The verbs: sit; lie; wait; stay prefer the present perfect continuous He’s been sitting there for hours doing nothing How long have you been staying here? Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders D Simple Past: Adverbs: ago; yesterday; last week; last month… Simple past generally refers to: + finished events in the past Susan went into the station and bought a ticket, I met Susan at the supermarket yesterday + Use in narration: When he was sleeping, the phone rang + Past habits or events: I always got up at six when I was a child *Note: “Used to” is used to describe past habits, usually in contrast with the present A time expression is not necessary I used to get up at six, but now I get up at eight *Note: These forms of “used to” I didn’t use to like beer Did you use to swim every day? E Past continuous: Past continuous generally refers to: + Actions at the definite time in the past: At o’clock last night, I was watching a football match + Actions still in progress, and is used for background description: There were a lot of people waiting in the station Some were sleeping on the benches, and others were walking up and down Susan was looking for Graham, so she didn’t sit down + An action that was happening when interrupted by another action: While Susan was trying to get to the platform, a man grabbed her bag + A repeated and annoying habit; in this case a frequency adverb is necessary: When Peter was younger, he was always getting into trouble + Events intended to take place, but did not happen: I was going to phone you, but I forgot How are you? I was going to phone you (but I didn’t) + Use with conditional sentences type 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t believe him F Past perfect and past perfect continuous: Past perfect continuous generally refers to: + An event in the past which happens before another event in the past: By the time I got to the station, the train had left + Use with conditional sentence type 3: If I had listened to him, I wouldn’t have ended up failing the exam to LHP Past perfect continuous generally refers to: + Emphasis on the duration of the actions: I had been living in a small village up to then Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders G Simple Future: Simple future generally refers to: + An action or event that is supposed to happen in the future: The company will make a profit next year + “Be going to” describe intentions or plans At the moment of speaking, the plans have already been made: I’m going to wait here until Carol gets back + predictions we make because we can see the cause of the event: Look out! There’s a bus coming! It is going to hit us *Note: Present continuous describes fixed arrangements, especially social and travel arrangements I’m sorry, I cannot help you I’m leaving tomorrow H Future continuous: Future continuous generally refers to: + an event which happens at a particular time in the future: This time next week we’ll be eating lunch on the plane + a future state or habit at a particular time in the future: In ten years’ time I expect I’ll be living in London And I’ll probably be cycling to work I Future perfect and future perfect continuous: Future perfect generally refers to: + an event which happens at the time which we look back from a future point: By 2010, Vietnam will have been a tempting market for foreign investments Future perfect continuous generally refers to: + an emphasis of the action which continues to happen at that time: By the end of the month, my father will have been working for this company for 20 years *Note:We can use “is/ are to sth” to desbribe a formal arrangements or obligation: All students are to assemble at the hall at 9:00 AM Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders EXERCISES Use the correct tense of the verbs given in parentheses: Peter (offer) another drink but I decided I (drink) enough Tim (sleep) in the downstairs bedroom only once He usually sleeps upstairs in the bedroom he shares with his mother Jane isn’t here yet I (wait) for her since noon, but she still (arrive, not) The weather (be) terrible lately It (rain) off and on for two days, and the temperature (drop) dramatically It (be) really cold today Just three days ago, the sun (shine) and the weather (be) pleasant The weather certainly (change) quickly here I never know what to expect Who knows? When everybody (wake) up tomorrow morning, maybe it (snow) Mr Brown (serve) in the Army from 1960 to 1980 Bill asked me to go over his apartment, but I (want, not) to leave the house because I (wait) for a phone call When a door-to-door salesperson (come) yesterday, Claudia (hear, not) the door bell because she (dry, in her room) her hair with her electric hair dryer Your eyes are red (You, cry) , darling? The next plane (take off) at 11:20 AM 10 Last Friday I (walk) to work when I (see) an old friend I (see, not) for a long time I (throw) my arms around him He (stare) with an open mouth To my horror, I (realise) I (mistake) for my friend 11 You (forget, always) what I’ve told you to do, 12 By the time we get there, I’m afraid the film (start) 13 This time next week I (be) on my honeymoon, and I (forget) all about my problems at work My husband and I (relax) by the pool and we (look) forward to spending a romantic dinner together 14 Don’t try to phone me By the time you (read) this letter, I (leave) 15 Within a week she (know) the fearful mistake she (make) 16 She (draw) to her, and (say) the words she (say) to the others 17 It was o’clock Eliza (be) suddenly awake It (rain) , the way it (rain) for days 18 We (walk) for hours and are very tired now 19 The last time he (see) in public, he (wear) a grey suit 20 For the last three years I (spend) every minute of my life on this problem 21 Here you are! What (you, do) at this time of the night? 22 Once you (do) the washing-up, go upstairs and clean up your room 23 My sister only (go) with her friends once in a while 24 I (make) a pudding cake for the first time 25 As soon as he (return) from New York, he’ll have meetings to attend 26 Tom (sit) in a corner with a book I (tell) that he (read) in very bad light 27 By the time we got back home, everything in the house (steal) 28 Where is my flower vase? – It (move) upstairs for more space down here 29 I (sit) down for a rest while the shoes (repair) 30 (You, still look) for an apartment? Why don’t you share with Peter? Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders ... obligation: All students are to assemble at the hall at 9:00 AM Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders EXERCISES Use the correct tense of the verbs given in parentheses: Peter (offer) another... to: + Emphasis on the duration of the actions: I had been living in a small village up to then Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders G Simple Future: Simple future generally refers to: +.. .Revision Exercises on Grammar for Graders D Simple Past: Adverbs: ago; yesterday; last week; last