GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Past tenses

Before you do these exercises, look at page 56 of the Reference section.

Form: Past simple 1 Complete the sentences using the correct past simple form of the verbs
in brackets.
1 When

you

your own business? (start)

2 Yesterday, I
for a
See page 80
mmon
co
e
m
list of so
s.
rb
ve
r
la
irregu

3 The engineer
4 I really
5 The company

work until 9 p.m. (finish)

over three hours trying to fix the photocopier. (spend)
the presentation skills seminar last week. (enjoy)
its profits by 15% last year. (increase)

6 The course

as much as we expected. (cost)

7 Unfortunately, we
8 My boss hates flying, so she

the project on time. (complete)

to Edinburgh by train. (go)

Form: Present 2 Find and correct the errors in these sentences. Two of the sentences
perfect
are correct.
1 I work at Colourlines since January.
ng is
The ed endi
\ in some
\Id
ed
nc
ou
on
pr
rs and
he
ot
verbs, \t\ in
ok in
\d\ in others. Lo see
ry to
your dictiona
onounced in
how ed is pr
these
om
fr
the verbs
s.
se
exerci

2 How long you have been a consultant?

3 I havent travelled abroad on business for two years.
4 I earned almost 1,000 in sales since June.
5 Im sorry, I didnt start on the new project yet.
6 Martin and I have worked together on four projects this year.
7 How long do you know my boss?
8 My new employers havent contact me recently about my starting date.

Use: Finished and 3 What is the difference in meaning between the sentences in each pair?
unfinished time 1 a Did you enjoy your holiday in Scotland?
b Have you enjoyed your holiday in Scotland?
2 a I didnt finish my application.
b I havent finished my application.
3 a I worked overseas for about ten years.
b I have worked overseas for about ten years.
4

Match the sentence halves. Then decide whether each one describes
events that:
A have finished
B started in the past and are continuing
1 My boss gave a speech last week

a in June, as the weather was bad.

2 I havent sent the e-mail yet about

b about economic developments.

3 The car broke down yesterday,

c the printers before lunch as we

agreed?

4 I didnt take my holiday

10

Past tenses

5 How many colleagues have you

invited

d to attend the marketing seminar?

6 Did you call

f the new HR policies.

e so I had to take the bus to work.

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Use: Time phrases 5 Complete the time phrases in the sentences using the words in the box.
Which verbs are in the past simple? Which are in the present perfect?
ago

already

already

ever

for

in

last

1 We only put a job advert in the local paper

never

since

this

yet

week, and weve

had over 50 applicants.

2 I received the consultancy contract three days
read it

, but I havent had time to

3 Ginny has only worked here

a year, but shes

become a director.

4 When did you join Steelcom?

Ive been here

2001.

5 Have you

been to France?

Ive

been, but Id love to go.

June and Ive already done two more

week.

www.CartoonStock.com

6 I sent off three bids

For heavens sake, Wilson!

Did I forget to send you home last night?

Consolidation 6 Complete the e-mail using the correct form of the verbs in the box.
be
past
For more on
ercise 2
Ex
e
se
,
tenses
d the
on page 54 an
ion on
ct
Spelling se
.
page 73

come

get

not/hear post promise

speak tell not/write

Hi Trudy
Im afraid I 1

all the reports yet. The production team 2

me their report two weeks ago, and I 3

Friday by e-mail. Marco from Sales 4
5

he 10

the marketing teams on

me yesterday that he

his teams report yet. Apparently, he only 6

from Paris on Wednesday and he 7

not/receive

from Sam in Logistics. When I 9

back

really busy since then. Also, I

to him back in June,

to send in his report in good time. Anyway, the result of

NOW TURN TO YOUR LEARNING JOURNAL AND MAKE NOTES ON THIS SECTION.

Past tenses

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