7.

Verb Tense Exercise 4 Will / Be Going To

Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?
B: I (write) ________________ a letter to my friends back home in Texas.

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get) ________________ you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

3. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn) ________________ it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) ________________ Paris, Nice
and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) ________________ to the party. Oliver (be) ________________ there as well.

6. Ted: It is so hot in here!
Sarah: I (turn) ________________ the air-conditioning on.

7. I think he (be) ________________ the next President of the United States.

8. After I graduate, I (attend) ________________ medical school and become a doctor. I have
wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for
four people.
B: That man at the service counter (help) ________________ you.

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) ________________ down to the beach and go
swimming.


8. Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.


1. When Carol (call) _________________ last night, I (watch) _________________ my favourite
show on television.

2. I (work) _________________ for this bank for over thirty years, and I hope to stay here until I
retire!
3. Sharon (love) _________________ to travel. She (go) _________________ abroad almost every
summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) _________________ mystery novels and travel memoirs. He
(write) _________________ since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write)
_________________ seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) _________________ to
the train station, Susan (be) _________________ because she (wait) _________________ for us
for more than two hours alone.

6. Sam (try) _________________ to change a light bulb when he (slip) _________________ and (fall)
_________________.

7. Everyday I (wake) _________________ up at 6 o'clock, (eat) _________________ breakfast at 7
o'clock and (leave) _________________ for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get)
_________________ up at 6:30, (skip) _________________ breakfast and (leave)
_________________ for work late because I (forget) _________________ to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) _________________ the newspaper and Kathy (make) _________________
dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) _________________ the same thing. She (cook)
_________________ and he (read) _________________ the newspaper.

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) _________________ your studies and (find)
_________________ a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) _________________ anything.
I (study, still) _________________ and you (work) _________________ in some new high paying
job.

10. The students (be, usually) _________________ taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they
(teach) _________________ taught by Mr. Tanzer.

11. Jane talks on the phone.
Bob has talked on the phone for an hour.
Mary is talking on the phone. Who is not necessarily on the phone now?

12. I'm going to make dinner for Frank.
I'm making dinner for Judy.
I'll make dinner for Mary.
I will be making dinner for Tony. Who are you offering to make dinner for?











9. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

Claude and Anna ________________ (be) to the pictures. Now they ________________ (sit) in the bus
on their way home. Suddenly Anna (say) ________________ : "Oh, dear."
"What's the matter?" asked Claude.
"I ________________ (forget) my key," replied Anna.
Claude ________________ (look) at his watch. "Never mind. It ________________ (not be) late. It's only
eleven o'clock."
"But my parents always ________________ (go) to bed about 10.30." Anna looked terribly worried.
"I ________________ (know)," said Claude. "You can sleep on the sofa in the sitting-room in my home."
They ________________ (arrive) at Claude's home ten minutes later. Claude's landlady, Mrs Briggs,
________________ (be) still up. She ________________ (watch) television.
"This is Anna," said Claude, "she ________________ (forget) her key, so she ________________ (sleep) on
the sofa, if that (be) ________________ OK."
"Very well," said Mrs Briggs. " ________________ (she phone) her landlady yet?
"No, she ________________ (be) in bed at the moment," said Claude.
"All right." Mrs Briggs ________________ (smile). "Well, I ________________ (phone) Anna's landlady
first thing in the morning."

10. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

Our memory can play strange tricks; there is often a considerable difference between what we
________________ (remember) happening and what actually ________________ (happen). What we
remember ________________ (seem) to be a combination of what we ________________ (see) and
what we subsequently ________________ (think).
In this connection, there is an interesting account from the Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget, who
________________ (have) a vivid memory of an event when he was very young. 'I ________________
(sit) in my pram (=landau), which my nurse ________________ (push) in the Champs-Elyses, when a
man ________________ (try) to kidnap me. I was held in by the strap fastened round me, while my nurse
bravely ________________ (stand) between me and the thief. She ________________ (receive) various
scratches, and I can still vaguely see those on her face. Then a crowd ________________ (gather), a
policeman with a white baton ________________ (come) up, and the man ________________ (take) to
his heels. I can still see the whole scene and can even place it near the tube station. When I
________________ (be) about 15, my parents received a letter from my former nurse saying that she
________________ (want) to confess her past faults, and in particular to return the watch my parents
________________ (give) her on this occasion. She ________________ (make) up the whole, faking the
scratches.' Then Piaget ________________ (realise) that he ________________ (hear) the story as a child,
and that his imagination ________________ (construct) a visual memory of an event that
________________ (never happen)!

11. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

That evening, like every other evening, Jil ________________ (stay) at home. She ________________
(iron) her school uniform when the telephone ________________ (ring).
It ________________ (be) her best friend Sissy on the phone. "What ________________ (you do)
tomorrow evening?"
"Saturday night?"
"Yes. There's going to be a party. You must go."
"But Sissy, you ________________ (know) I ________________ (not go) to parties."
"Come on Jil, you're a junior college students now. Your parents should let you have a little freedom to
go to parties."
"No, it ________________ (not be) my parents," ________________ (admit) Jil. "It's me. I
________________ (not like) going to parties. It's ..."
"Come on Jil," ________________ (insist) Sissy, "How ________________ (you make) any friends if you
________________ (not socialise)?"
Jil ________________ (reply), " But I - I ________________ (never be) to a party. I mean, what
________________ (I wear)?"
"Didn't you read The Textbook?"
"What textbook?"
"The Teenage Textbook, woman. The one I ________________ (give) you for your birthday. Look, you
have to go. I ________________ (invite) all our old gang, as well as Rosie, Jillian, May, Linda and Toni.
There'll be also guys. Sean________________ (come) with Rick - ________________ (you know) him? He
used to have a crush on me. I ________________ (ask) Harry and Jason to come, too. Come on Jil."
"Well, OK," Jil ________________ (say) eventually. "I ________________ (come)."
"Great. I have to go now, Jil. I have to go call some other people. See you tomorrow in school. Bye-bye."
Sissy rang off.
That night, Jil ________________ (sit) in bed, wrapped up in her soft blue blanket, two big pillows
propping her up and her favourite pink bolster in her arms.
She ________________ (pull) out The Teenage Textbook from the chest of drawers beside her bed and
________________ (open) it to the lesson on parties. This is what it said: .......



Key to the exercises

1. Find the correct tenses. Mind the verbs in bold. Key.

They are riding a bike. present continuous
She looked at a picture. simple past
John would like some coffee. present conditional
I have just had a cup of tea. present perfect
Alice will learn French next year. will-future
She is going to tidy up the room. going to-future
Yesterday Emma didn't listen to music. simple past
Brian always sends text messages. simple present
Karen is making breakfast now. present continuous
Have you ever been to Africa? present perfect
He had seen that movie before me. past perfect
I was watching TV last night. past continuous
He would have certainly come to the party. past conditional

2. Signal words. Write the tense that is usually used with the following words. Key.

ever
present perfect
two weeks ago
simple past
just
present perfect
in 1998
simple past (because we are in 2009)
already
present perfect
yet
present perfect (in negative sentences and questions)
now
present continuous
sometimes
simple present
yesterday
simple past
every day
simple present
at the moment
present continuous
in ten years
will-future
last week
simple past

3. Find the correct tenses to the actions on the left. Key.

things in general.
simple present
actions began and finished in the past.
simple past
actions happening at the moment of speaking.
present continuous
actions happened in the past
the results of them are important in the present.
present perfect
actions in the present - one follows the other.
simple present
actions in the past - one followed the other.
simple past
actions started in the past and continue up to the present.
present perfect
this action was in progress when a new action interrupted it.
past continuous
repeated actions.
simple present (if present context) ; simple past (if past context)
predictions in the future.
will-future (if close future : going-to future)
actions express plans in the future.
going-to future or present continuous
fixed plans in the near future.
present continuous
timetable.
simple present


4. Verb Tense Exercise 1 Simple Past / Past Continuous

Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: What (you, do) were you doing when the accident occurred?
B: I (try) was trying to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

2. After I (find) found the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) immediately went/went immediately to the police and (turn) it in.

3. The doctor (say) said that Tom (be) was too sick to go to work and that he (need) needed to stay at home for a couple of days.

4. Sebastian (arrive) arrived at Susan's house a little before 9:00 PM, but she (be, not) wasnt there. She (study, at the library) was studying 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) was also watching television. That's all she ever does!

6. A: I (call) called you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) werent there. Where were you?
B: I (work) was working out at the fitness centre.

7. When I (walk) walked into the busy office, the secretary (talk) was talking on the phone with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) were
working busily at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) were discussing quietly methods to improve customer service.

8. I (watch) was watching 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) was in the room when John told me what happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not) wasnt listening .

10. It's strange that you (call) called because I (think, just) was just thinking about you.

11. The Titanic (cross) was crossing the Atlantic when it (strike) stroke an iceberg.

12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) was bargaining busily and (try) (was) trying to sell their goods to naive
tourists who (hunt) were hunting for souvenirs. Some young boys (lead) were leading their donkeys through the narrow streets on their way
home. A couple of men (argue) was arguing over the price of a leather belt. I (walk) walked over to a man who (sell) was selling/sold fruit and
(buy) bought a banana.

13. The firemen (rescue) rescued the old woman who (be) was trapped on the third floor of the burning building.

14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) was always leaving her dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually) was actually expecting me
to do them for her.

15. Samantha (live) lived in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) was living there when the Berlin Wall came down.

5. Verb Tense Exercise 2 Simple Past / Present Perfect
Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) have never seen that movie.

2. Sam (arrive) arrived in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I (know) have known each other for over fifteen years. We still get together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) has written ten very creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I (have, not) havent had this much fun since I (be) was a kid.

6. Things (change) have changed a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start) started working here three years ago, the company (have, only)
had only six employees. Since then, we (expand) have expanded to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I (tell) have told him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander) wandered off into the forest and (be) has been bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) have missed/missed the bus this morning. You (be) have arrived late to work too many times. You are
fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never) has never seen the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George (dream) dreamed/dreamt of going to California before he died, but he didn't make it. He (see, never) never saw the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) has become much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) took two or three
months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be) was very rough and often dangerous. Things (change) have changed a great deal
in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) have changed since the last time I (see) saw you. You (grow) have grown at least a foot!

13. This tree (be) was planted by the settlers who (found) founded our city over four hundred years ago.

14. This mountain (be, never) has never been climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try) have tried to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever)
has ever succeeded . The climb is extremely difficult and many people (die) died trying to reach the summit.

15. I (visit, never) have never visited Africa, but I (travel) have travelled to South America several times. The last time I (go) went to South America, I
(visit) visited Brazil and Peru. I (spend) spent two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) hiked for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly) flew over the Nazca
Lines.

6. Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect

Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. When I (arrive) arrived home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) had prepared a beautiful candlelight dinner.

2. Since I began acting, I (perform) have performed in two plays, a television commercial and a TV drama. However, I (speak, never) had never
spoken publicly before I came to Hollywood in 1985.

3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) had already begun without me. My boss (be) was furious with me and I (be) was fired.

4. When I (turn) turned the radio on yesterday, I (hear) heard a song that was popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) hadnt heard the song
in years, and it (bring) brought back some great memories.

5. Last week, I (run) ran into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) hadnt seen each other in years, and both of us (change) had changed a great
deal. I (enjoy) enjoyed talking to her so much that I (ask) asked her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for dinner.

6. When Jack (enter) entered the room, I (recognize, not) didnt recognize him because he (lose) had lost so much weight and (grow) had grown a
beard. He looked totally different!

7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however, their culture (disappear, virtually) had virtually
disappeared by the time Europeans first (arrive) arrived in the New World.
8. I (visit) have visited so many beautiful places since I (come) came to Utah. Before moving here, I (hear, never) had never heard of Bryce Canyon,
Zion, Arches, or Canyon Lands.







7. Verb Tense Exercise 4 Will / Be Going To
Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?
B: I (write) am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas.

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get) will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

3. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn) will turn it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) is coming to the party. Oliver (be) will be there as well.

6. Ted: It is so hot in here!
Sarah: I (turn) will turn the air-conditioning on.

7. I think he (be) will be the next President of the United States.

8. After I graduate, I (attend) am going to attend medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people.
B: That man at the service counter (help) will help you.

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) will walk down to the beach and go swimming.


8. Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.


1. When Carol (call) called last night, I (watch) was watching my favourite show on television.

2. I (work) have worked for this bank for over thirty years, and I hope to stay here until I retire!

3. Sharon (love) loves to travel. She (go) goes abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) has written mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) has written since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he
(write) has written seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) got to the train station, Susan (be) was furious because she (wait) had
waited for us for more than two hours alone.

6. Sam (try) was trying to change a light bulb when he (slip) slipped and (fall) fell.

7. Everyday I (wake) wake up at 6 o'clock, (eat) eat breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) leave for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) got up
at 6:30, (skip) skipped breakfast and (leave) left for work late because I (forget) forgot to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) is reading the newspaper and Kathy (make) making dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) were doing the same thing.
She (cook) was cooking and he (read) was reading the newspaper.

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) will have completed (futur antrieur) your studies and (find) (you) will have found a job. I, on the
other hand, (accomplish, not) wont accomplish anything. I (study, still) will still be studying (futur progressif) and you (work) will be working
in some new high paying job.

10. The students (be, usually) are usually taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (teach) are being taught by Mr. Tanzer.

11. Jane talks on the phone.
Bob has talked on the phone for an hour.
Mary is talking on the phone. Who is not necessarily on the phone now? Jane

12. I'm going to make dinner for Frank.
I'm making dinner for Judy.
I'll make dinner for Mary.
I will be making dinner for Tony. Who are you offering to make dinner for? Mary

(on emploie will pour loffre spontane; Im going to make dinner for Frank relve de lintention, tout simplement)
9. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

Claude and Anna had been (be) to the pictures. Now they were sitting (sit) in the bus on their way home. Suddenly Anna (say) said : "Oh, dear."
"What's the matter?" asked Claude.
"I have forgotten (forget) my key," replied Anna.
Claude looked (look) at his watch. "Never mind. It isnt (not be) late. It's only eleven o'clock."
"But my parents always go (go) to bed about 10.30." Anna looked terribly worried.
"I know (know)," said Claude. "You can sleep on the sofa in the sitting-room in my home."
They arrived (arrive) at Claude's home ten minutes later. Claude's landlady, Mrs Briggs, was (be) still up. She was watching (watch) television.
"This is Anna," said Claude, "she has forgotten (forget) her key, so she will sleep (sleep) on the sofa, if that is (be) OK."
"Very well," said Mrs Briggs. " has she phoned (she phone) her landlady yet?
"No, she is (be) certainly in bed at the moment," said Claude.
"All right." Mrs Briggs smiled (smile). "Well, I will phone (phone) Anna's landlady first thing in the morning."

10. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

Our memory can play strange tricks; there is often a considerable difference between what we remember (remember) happening and what actually
happened (happen). What we remember seems (seem) to be a combination of what we saw (see) and what we subsequently thought (think).
In this connection, there is an interesting account from the Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget, who had (have) a vivid memory of an event when he was very
young. 'I was sitting (sit) in my pram (=landau), which my nurse was pushing (push) in the Champs-Elyses, when a man tried (try) to kidnap me. I was held in
by the strap fastened round me, while my nurse bravely was standing (stand) between me and the thief. She received (receive) various scratches, and I can
still vaguely see those on her face. Then a crowd gathered (gather), a policeman with a white baton came (come) up, and the man took (take) to his heels. I
can still see the whole scene and can even place it near the tube station. When I was (be) about 15, my parents received a letter from my former nurse saying
that she wanted (want) to confess her past faults, and in particular to return the watch my parents had given (give) her on this occasion. She had made
(make) up the whole, faking the scratches.' Then Piaget realised (realise) that he had heard (hear) the story as a child, and that his imagination had
constructed (construct) a visual memory of an event that had never happened (never happen)!


11. Miscellaneous. Fill the blanks with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

That evening, like every other evening, Jil stayed (stay) at home. She was ironing (iron) her school uniform when the telephone rang (ring).
It was (be) her best friend Sissy on the phone. "What are you doing (you do) tomorrow evening?"
"Saturday night?"
"Yes. There's going to be a party. You must go."
"But Sissy, you know (know) I dont go (not go) to parties."
"Come on Jil, you're a junior college students now. Your parents should let you have a little freedom to go to parties."
"No, it isnt (not be) my parents," admitted (admit) Jil. "It's me. I dont like (not like) going to parties. It's ..."
"Come on Jil," insisted (insist) Sissy, "How do you make (you make) any friends if you dont socialise (not socialise)?"
Jil replied (reply), " But I - I have never been (never be) to a party. I mean, what am I going to wear (I wear)?"
"Didn't you read The Textbook?"
"What textbook?"
"The Teenage Textbook, woman. The one I gave (give) you for your birthday. Look, you have to go. I have invited (invite) all our old gang, as well as Rosie,
Jillian, May, Linda and Toni. There'll be also guys. Sean is coming (come) with Rick do you know (you know) him? He used to have a crush on me. I have
asked (ask) Harry and Jason to come, too. Come on Jil."
"Well, OK," Jil said (say) eventually. "I will come (come)."
"Great. I have to go now, Jil. I have to go call some other people. See you tomorrow in school. Bye-bye." Sissy rang off.
That night, Jil sat (sit) in bed, wrapped up in her soft blue blanket, two big pillows propping her up and her favourite pink bolster in her arms.
She pulled (pull) out The Teenage Textbook from the chest of drawers beside her bed and opened (open) it to the lesson on parties. This is what it said: .......