VERB TENSES REVIEW I

PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) _______________________ her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) ___________________ 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)

SIMPLE PAST AND PAST CONTINUOUS

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 before 9:00 PM,

but she (be, not) _________________________ there. She (study, at the library)
______________________ for her final examination in French.

PRESENT PERFECT AND SIMPLE PAST

1. Tom (live) ______________________ in Zaragoza for the past 15 years.

2. Claire ______________________ (work) for S&B before she came to work for us.

3. Tom, ______________________ (you/finish) reading the paper yet?

4. I would love to visit Paris. I _____________________ (be/never) there.

5. Luis _________________________ (play) tennis for five years when he

___________________ (be) at school.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

1) This evening I ______________________ two letters to my parents (to write)

2) My daughter _____________________ letters to her friends for hours (to write)

3) This morning I _______________________ breakfast for my wife (to prepare)

4) Today Lucy _________________________ her boyfriend three times (to phone)

5) My friends __________________________ around Italy for five months (to travel)

PAST SIMPLE AND PAST PERFECT

1. Yesterday a boy (destroy) ______________________ the snowman that we (build)

2. Jimmy (tell) ______________________ us about the film that he (see)
3. We (find) ________________________ the mobile phone that Marwin (lose)
4. He (sing) _________________________ a song that I (hear / never)
________________________ before.
5. Cathrine (open) _________________________ the window that I (close / just)

MIXED PRESENT AND PAST TENSES:

1. He ______________________ (SIT) on the bank fishing when he ____________________

(SEE) a man’s hat floating down the river.

2. I _________________________ (BUY) a house last year, but I ____________________ (NOT

SELL) my old house yet, so at the moment I __________________ (HAVE) two houses.

3. What _________________________ (HE / DO) to his car now? / - I _____________________

(THINK) he ________________________ (POLISH) it.

4. My sister always __________________________ (EAT) eggs and toast for breakfast.

5. Sarah ________________________ (GO) to the jazz festival last night.

6. We ___________________________ (MEET) only yesterday and we ___________________

(ALREADY DECIDE) to get married.

7. Nan ________________________ (HAVE) a bath at the moment.

8. Yesterday I __________________________ (BUY) a new watch as my old one
______________________ (BE) stolen.

9. The birds ___________________________ (START) singing at about 6 am every day.

10. Violets _____________________________ (BLOOM) in the spring.

FUTURE SIMPLE, FUTURE CONTINUOUS, BE GOING TO AND PRESENT

CONTINUOUS

1. Oh! I left the keys on the kitchen table. I … them.

a. will get b. am getting c. am going to get

2. She … probably … to live with her parents for many years.

a. will … be continuing b. is … continuing c. will … continue

3. Who … the dishes tonight?

a. will be washing b. is washing c. will wash

4. Don’t leave the door open. The dog … away!

a. is running b. will be running c. will run

5. We … for coffee later.

a. will meet b. is going to meet c. are going to meet

6. By this time tomorrow, she … around Venice.

a. will walk b. is walking c. will be walking

7. What do you think … at the party?

a. will happen b. will be happening c. is going to happen

8. I … a pill because I don’t feel well.

a. will take b. am going to take c. will be taking

PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE (FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE
OR CONTINUOUS.)

1. By 2018 we (live) ___________________________ in Madrid for 20 years.

 2. He (write) ___________________________ a book by the end of the year.
3. _________________________________(finish, you) this novel by next week?
4. He (read) _____________________________________ this book for 15 days by the end of
this week.
5. They (be) ______________________________ married for 40 years by the end of this month.
6. 9 o'clock, we (finish) __________________________________ our homework.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE VERBS IN BRACKETS. USE A FUTURE

TENSE. THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE CORRECT ANSWER.

1. Do you think Stephanie ……………………… (agree) to babysit tomorrow night?

2. Can you believe that by this time tomorrow, we ……………………… (sit) on a plane to New York?

3. Brad ……………………… (cook) dinner next time because I cooked this time.

4. I ……………………… (write) a letter to complain about your company.

5. Why ……………………… you ……………………… (not come) to the party tonight?

6. This time next year, we ……………………… (not go) to school any more!

7. Hurry up or we ……………………… (be) late for the film!

8. ……………………… Robert ……………………… (arrive) home in time for the party

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE VERBS IN BRACKETS. USE A PRESENT, PAST
OR FUTURE TENSE.

1. When you get home from the shop, I ……………………… (help) you carry in the bags.

2. By the end of the school year, I ……………………… (speak) French very well.

3. ……………………… you ……………………… (pay) the water bill yesterday?

4. We ……………………… (not usually eat) a big meal in the evening.

5. While he ……………………… (reach) for his cup of coffee, he accidentally knocked it over.

6. Next week, Emma ……………………… (visit) me.

7. Today, our teacher ……………………… (take) us to the British Museum in London .

 8. I want to learn French. But I .............................yet. (not start)

9 We didn't want to spend our holiday in Stroblbecause .............. already ................. there.
(be)

10 What ................ you ....................................... ?You are so dirty! (do)

11. I (not/know) ………………………….. much about art, but I like some artists.

12 I (wait) …………………………………. for ages when finally the bus arrived.

13 I (receive) ……………………………….. a postcard from Jane yesterday.

14 I (correct) ……………………………….. all morning, I’m exhausted.

MAKE QUESTIONS. THE UNDERLINED WORDS ARE THE ANSWERS.

1. She goes to school everyday. ......................................................................................................... ?

2. I woke up at seven yesterday ......................................................................................................... ?

3. We’ll wash these clothes tomorrow. ............................................................................................ ?

4. They have had the same car for twelve years

...........................................................................................................................................................................
........... ?

5. Peter has broken the window. ....................................................................................................... ?

6 Peter has broken the window. ........................................................................................................ ?

7 I visited my grandmother on Saturday. ...................................................................................... ?

8. They never make grammar notes ................................................................................................. ?

9 It costs a hundred pounds. ................................................................................................................

?
The X Factor

Tens of millions of television viewers around the world have become familiar with the
musical talent show The X Factor, which originated in Britain in 2004 and has since become an
international franchise. In some countries the name is different — for example, Factor X in
Spain and XSeer Al Najah in Arabic-speaking countries — but the format is usually the same:
aspiring pop singers or groups compete in front of a Nsmall group of judges, and a large studio
audience, for the prize of a lucrative recording contract.

The British version of the show has been enormously successful. Broadcast on
Saturday evenings between August and December, it is watched by an average of around 13
million people — more than a fifth of the population. The studio audience is extremely
enthusiastic (at times almost hysterical) and the four judges, who give their opinions
immediately after each performance, are usually jeered if they make negative comments. The
TV audience votes by telephone for their favourite act, and on Sunday evening the results are
announced in a follow-up show. The two acts who receive the fewest votes from the public
normally have to perform again in the followup show, and then their fate is in the hands of the
judges: the one the judges think has sung better stays in the competition, but the loser is
eliminated.

As the competition progresses, the performers are in the public eye for far longer than
two evenings a week: their talents (or lack of), personalities and off-stage behaviour are also
discussed endlessly by gossip magazines and tabloids, their faces frequently appearing on the
front pages. Feelings run so high that campaigns for or against certain contestants are
launched on social networking sites.

In Britain, winning The X Factor guarantees that a singer or group will be able to make
a lot of money from their music, at least in the short term. In most years, for example, the
debut single by the winner, released in December, has reached the top of the singles charts by
Christmas.

Some people, however, think the programme has too much influence on the music-
buying public, which is why in 2009 there was a successful campaign to encourage people to
buy an alternative single and thereby ensure the song by The X Factor’s winner wouldn’t be
number one at Christmas. The campaign is being repeated this year. Another kind of protest
against the 2010 competition was when a lot of people tried to undermine it by voting every
week for the contestant with by far the worst singing voice — he was finally eliminated only in
late November.

Exercise 1

Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F), or if the text doesn’t say (D).

1. The contestants on the British version of The X Factor perform in London.

2. The winner in 2010 was the contestant with the worst singing voice.

3. There are three judges.

4. The song by the winner of the 2009 competition was number one at Christmas that year.

5. The studio audience usually likes it when the judges make negative comments.

6. The TV audience for the programme increases as the competition progresses.

7. The judges decide which two acts have to perform again in the follow-up programme on
Sunday evening.

8. The judges are the same people every week.

9. Spain has its own version of The X Factor.

10. Every country in Europe has its own version of The X Factor.

Exercise 2

Answer the questions below.

1. What kind of British newspapers endlessly discuss the contestants on The X Factor?

2. What do the winners of the competition receive?

3. When was the programme first shown on British TV?

4. On average, what proportion of the British population watches The X Factor on a Saturday
evening?

5. What example of the show’s ‘influence on the music-buying public’ is given in the text?

6. In what way have campaigns in 2009 and 2010 tried to undermine this influence?
 Answers

Exercise 1

1. D 2. F 3. F 4. F 5. F 6. D 7. F 8. D 9. T 10. D

Exercise 2

1. Tabloids.

2. A lucrative recording contract.

3. 2004.

4. More than a fifth.

5. The fact that in most years since The X Factor first appeared on British TV, the

winner’s debut single has quickly reached number one in the singles charts.

6. By encouraging people to buy an alternative single (‘Killing in the Name’ by the

American band Rage Against the Machine in 2009, and believe it or not, a studio

recording of pure silence in 2010) and thereby ensuring the song by The X Factor’s
winner wouldn’t be number one at Christmas.
 ill the gaps with the verb in brackets using the past perfect continuous or the past
perfect simple.

1 When the student revolution came, I

_____________________________________ there for 6 months. ( work )

2 Before Jim finally decided to go to Thailand, he

_____________________________________ about it for months. ( think )

3 They _____________________________________ all the chocolate cake by

the time Michael got to the party. ( eat )

4 I _____________________________________ Scarlett Johansson on three

previous occasions. Lucky me! ( met )

5 The forensic evidence shows that he

_____________________________________ his nose just before he was murdered. ( pick )
 6 When the doctor told him his liver was seriously bad, he
_____________________________________ hamburgers for a month. ( eat )

7 Prior to the explosion, the fat man

_____________________________________ seven large chocolate cakes. ( eat )

8 When they cancelled the flight to Alicante, the storm

_____________________________________ all afternoon with no sign of abating. ( rage )

Future Tenses Exercise

1. The train __________ (to arrive) at 12:30.
2. We __________ (to have) dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.
3. It __________(to snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I __________ (to meet) my friend.
5. Paul __________ (to fly) to London on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I __________ (to drive) you to the station.
7. The English lesson __________ (to start) at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you __________ (to finish) by 4pm, we can go
for a walk.
9. I __________ (to see) my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it __________ (to rain) in a few minutes.
11. When they __________ (to get) married in March, they __________ (to be) together
for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I __________ (to open) the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher __________ (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?
14. When I __________ (to see) you tomorrow, I __________ (show) you my new book.
15. After you __________ (to take) a nap, you __________ (to feel) a lot better
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you __________ (to finish) your
work.
17. I __________ (to buy) the cigarettes from the corner shop when it __________ (to
open).
18. I __________ (to let) you know the second the builders __________ (to finish)
decorating.
19. Before we __________ (to start) our lesson, we __________ (to have) a review.
20. We __________ (to wait) in the shelter until the bus __________ (to come).
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones __________ (not be) back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I __________ (to live) in Brighton for four years.
23. I don’t think you __________ (to have) any problems when you land in Boston.
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she __________ (to be) pregnant for nine
months.
25. By the time we get home, they __________ (to play) football for 30 minutes.
26. In three years I __________ (to live) in a different country.
27. When you __________ (to get) off the train, I __________ (to wait) for you by the
ticket machine.
28. __________ (to take) your children with you to France?
29. This time next week I __________ (ski) in Switzerland!
30. Now I __________ (to check) my answers.
Future tenses Exercise Answers
1. The train arrives at 12:30.
2. We are going to have dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.
3. It will snow in Brighton tomorrow evening. (or is going to snow)
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I am meeting my friend. (or am going to meet)
5. Paul is flying to London on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I will drive you to the station.
7. The English lesson starts at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you finish by 4pm, we can go for a walk.
9. I am going to see my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it is going to rain in a few minutes. (or will rain)
11. When they get married in March, they will have been together for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I will open the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher will have marked our homework by Monday morning?
14. When I see you tomorrow, I will show you my new book.
15. After you take a nap, you will feel a lot better. (or have taken)
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you have finished your work.
(or finish)
17. I will buy the cigarettes from the corner shop when it opens.
18. I will let you know the second the builders have finished decorating. (or finish)
19. Before we start our lesson, we are going to have a review. (or will have)
20. We will wait in the shelter until the bus comes.
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones won’t back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I will have been living in Brighton for four years.
23. I don’t think you will have any problems when you land in Boston. (or are going to
have)
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been pregnant for nine
months.
25. By the time we get home, they will have been playing football for 30 minutes.
26. In three years I am going to live in a different country. (or will live)
27. When you get off the train, I will be waiting for you by the ticket machine.
28. Are you going to take your children with you to France?
29. This time next week I will be skiing in Switzerland!
30. Now I will check my answers. (or am going to)

VERB TENSES REVIEW II

PRESENT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

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) ______________________ to adapt to
the new way of life here. I (learn) _______________________ a little bit of the language to
make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not) ___________________ foreign
languages quickly. Although I _______________________(understand, not)

much yet, I believe that I____________________ (improve, gradually) .

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 (know, not) ______________________ the real name of the owner, but everybody
(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 (seem, also) ____________________
to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don't get lost and have to ask for
directions.

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 (discuss, quietly)

methods to improve customer service.

8. I (watch)

a mystery movie on TV 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 a leather belt. I (walk)

over to a man who (sell)

fruit and (buy)

a banana.

13. The firemen (rescue)

the old woman who (be)

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 came down.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND SIMPLE PAST

6. Can you help me? I ________________________ (finish) my homework, but I still

don't understand this exercise.
7. He ______________________ (work) in Germany for 3 years. He
___________________ (begin) work as soon as I arrived.
8. I'm not hungry, I'm afraid. I _____________________ (eat/already).
9. When Claude was at school, she _______________________ (learn) to play the
saxophone. She _______________________ (play) it ever since.
10. My brother _______________________ (grow) a moustache since I last saw him.