Mihai ION Basic English Morphology: Present (Practice)

1. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or continuous. Find verbs that fit
under the headings below.
1.

I __ (not intend) to spoil the experiment but I must tell you that the left switch __ (not
work).
2. What exactly you __ (mean) to say? You __ (kid), aren't you?
3. "Is the dip good?" "It __ (taste) a bit spicy." "It __ (not matter), they __ (love) hot food."
4. You __ (hear) this noise? The wind __ (blow) in the chimney.
5. Mother __ (seem) to be so tired. I __ (hope) she'll have some rest at the weekend.
6. I __ (hate) to tell you this but he __ (dislike) tea parties and never __ (bother) to
announce people that he __ (not come).
7. I __ (consider) this is a gross mistake.
I __ (refuse) to think it can ever happen again.
8. This __ (weigh) two kilos but if you __ (prefer) the other one, I __ (agree) to change it
for you.
9. I __ (not be) happy with this. I __ (try) hard to find another solution.
10. I __ (expect) you to behave yourself. You __ (have) your favourite toys, please let me
work for the next hour.
STATIVE VERBS THAT DO NOT OCCUR IN THE CONTINUOUS ASPECT
1. Verbs of the senses:
2. Verbs of the mind:
3. Verbs of emotion & feeling:
4. Verbs of possession:
5. Verbs of relation:

2. Put the verbs in italics under the right headings. Notice how they are different from the same
verbs in the simple aspect.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

I'm seeing mother to the station, then I'll be thinking about what you said and I'll come up
with a solution.
I'm seeing Paul's teacher tomorrow. Would you like to come?
They are expecting the weather to change soon, then they'll leave.
"I've been considering the possibility of buying a new car." "Why are you being a snob?
The old one is good enough for us."
Don't forget to come home earlier, we're having dinner in town with July's family.
The trial is far from being finished. They are still hearing the witnesses.
Betty is always smelling the roses that bloom overnight. She says they smell fresh.
"What's wrong?" "Well, I love this material but I'm just feeling it and I must say it feels
rough.
He had been tasting varieties of cheese all his life: that's his job. Still he can't make up
his mind which one tastes better.

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology: Present (Practice)

STATIVE VERBS THAT OCCUR IN THE CONTINUOUS ASPECT
1. with a change of meaning:
2. when expressing volition:
3. when not expressing an opinion:
4. expressing temporary behaviour:
5. in phrases:

3. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or continuous.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

My cousins __ (work) very hard: Thomas __ (study) for an exam and Lucy __ (practise) the piano for
her first concert.
"What your father __ (read) when he is on holiday?" "He __ (read) detective stories, but now he __
(read) a science-fiction book."
The pupils __ (understand) now the use of the two present tenses?
As soon as Mary __ (find) Michael's address, she will write a long letter to him.
Everybody __ (know) that the Danube __ (flow) into the Black Sea.
You can't talk to Jimmy now. He just __ (see) some specialists at the moment.
Grandmother __ (cook) in the kitchen now; she always __ (cook) in the afternoons.
Four times twenty __ (equal) eighty.
Look out! Something __ (burn) over there!
The teacher generally __ (sing) in English, but today she __ (sing) in French.
That little boy who __ (walk) past our gate __ (live) next-door.
We __ (spend) this week-end in the mountains. We __ (go) to the mountains nearly every week.
You always __ (forget) where your keys are!
My aunt __ (wear) that large hat because the sun __ (shine) brightly today.
Trains __ (travel) from Jassy to Bucharest in about five hours.
On her way to work, mother usually __ (meet) many children who __ (hurry) to school.
I __ (not know) why now you just __ (be) silly.
"I __ (see) that you __ (wear) your best clothes. You __ (go) to a party?" "No, I __ (go) to a
wedding." "And who is the unhappy man who __ (throw) away his freedom? You must tell him I __
(feel) sorry for him!" "He __ (speak) to you now!"
"What song Kate __ (sing) next?" "She __ (sing) an old Scottish song. She __ (sing) it very well"
Mother __ (think) this meat has gone bad. She __ (think) of buying some fresh beef.
This rule __ (apply) to any person who __ (apply) for this job?
I __ (weigh) your suitcase again since you say it __ (not weigh) more than 10 kilos.
Mary __ (not be) here because she just __ (have) a bath.
As you see, nothing else can be done. So, it __ (not matter) if you __ (hurry) or not.
Call the doctor quickly! This patient __ (die).
The child just __ (taste) some plums. He __ (know) that plums __ (taste) sweeter than apples.
Alice just __ (see off) one of her classmates and then she will be able to talk to you.
Mike __ (leave) his workshop at three o'clock in the afternoon, but this week he __ (work) later.
We __ (not like) onion when we __ (smell) it, but we __ (love) it when we __ (taste) it.
Water __ (consist) of hydrogen and oxygen.
That student __ (walk) very slowly because the bottle which he __ (carry) __ (contain) nitroglycerine
and nitroglycerine __ (explode) if it __ (be) shaken.
They say that Richard __ (play) the piano very well now.

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology: Present (Practice)

33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.

We usually __ (get up) at 6.30, but this week we __ (be) on holidays and so we __ (get up) later.
I __ (smoke) a lot these days because I __ (study) for my final exams. I always __ (smoke) much
when I __ (study).
It __ (not matter) how often I __ (fail). But, if I __ (persevere), I will succeed sooner or later.
My son __ (have) his birthday party tomorrow.
Our house __ (smell) pleasant now because we have just had it repainted.
Mary is in the garden now. She ___ (smell) the roses.
"Father __ (want) to speak to my brothers at once. You __ (know) where they __ (be) now?" "Yes,
Tom __ (cut) some flowers in the garden and I __ (think) Richard still __ (repair) his bicycle."
Our dog usually __ (bark) at the neighbour's children. But look at that! Now it __ (be) friendly to
them.
Jack __ (be) sure that his new tie __ (suit) his grey costume.
I __ (not know) why I __ (see) strange things, although my doctor __ (assure) me that I __ (get)
better.
My brother and I __ (go) to the concert every Friday, but this Friday we __ (go) to some friends.
I __ (be) sure they left Paris two hours ago. I __ (wonder) whether they __ (travel) by air or by car.
Margaret __ (not come) here this afternoon because her father __ (be) very ill and she __ (mind)
him.

4. Translate into English (present simple/continuous):

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.

Cresc preurile. Carnea cost acum mai mult ca oricnd.

Sunt sigur c acum cinele ne aude deoarece se uit spre noi.
Dup cte tim, aceast cas i aparine acum.
Copacii nfloresc, aa c livada miroase plcut.
Thomas ne vede acum. Ne face semne cu mna.
Ea tocmai cumpr cteva cadouri pentru nepoii ei. i iubete att de mult!
Mereu mi d telefon i mi pune ntrebri stupide.
Acum c are musta, el seamn foarte mult cu tatl su.
"Iat c vine tramvaiul! l iei sau atepti autobuzul?" "Cred c am s-l iau. Dac nu voi lua acest
tramvai, voi ntarzia la teatru. i dac voi ntrzia, nu mi se va permite s intru."
Cele dou fete doar pretind c sunt prietene; de fapt ele se ursc.
M bucur c i place cadoul meu.
"Deranjeaz francheea mea?" "Cred c da. Omului de rnd nu-i place ntotdeauna s aud o prere
sincer."
"Ct timp stai n oraul nostru?" "Cred c nc dou-trei zile. Plec poimine. M duc i la prinii
mei."
M ntreb de ce nici bieii nici fetia nu dorm la aceast or. De obicei ei se culc mult mai devreme.
Fratelui meu i place s fluiere ceva vesel n timp ce conduce maina.
nchipuii-v c suntem n tren acum i cltorim spre Londra. Unul din cltori se uit pe fereastr,
altul citete o carte, a1i doi discut. Deodat se aude un zgomot teribil. Trenul se oprete brusc iar
bagajele cad unul dup altul.
"Ce caui?" "mi caut stiloul." "Mereu caui ceva! M ntreb cnd vei fi mai grijuliu cu lucrurile tale."
"De ce este aa de mult praf aici?" "Se demoleaz casele vechi din jurul nostru."
"Jane i Mary l conduc pe fratele lor la gar. De ce nu mergi i tu? tii c fratele lor spune o
mulime de glume aa c vei petrece cteva momente plcute."
"Sora ta arat foarte ngndurat. La ce se gndete?" "Sunt sigur c se gndete la vacana de var.
"Mergi undeva n seara asta, Robert?" "Nu, stau acas. Vecinii notri vin s se uite la televizor." "i
invii des la tine?" "Nu, se invit singuri ori de cte ori este un film bun."
Este smbt seara. Familia Smith este acas. Doamna Smith ascult un concert la radio, domnul
Smith citete ziarul, iar fiica lor, Juliet, se joac cu ppui1e. Ei i petrec aproape fiecare smbt
seara n acest fel.

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology: Present (Practice)

23. Tata se scoal foarte devreme, dar el se spal, se brbierete i i ia micul dejun aa de ncet
(silenios) nct nu auzim nimic, dar l auzim cnd pleac de acas fiindc maina noastr este veche
i face un zgomot groaznic.
24. Ai nevoie de caiet chiar n aceast sptmn?
25. Toi ghizii notri vorbesc trei-patru limbi strine deoarece foarte muli turiti vin aici vara s-i
petreac o parte din vacan.
5. Put the verbs in parentheses into the present simple/continuous, present perfect
simple/continuous.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

I __ (be) glad I __ (finish) the paper. I __ (hand) it in tomorrow.

Well, I __ (get used to) it: she __ (always complain) about everything. She __ (complain)
about the new carpet, the one I __ (recently buy), for a month now.
Rod __ (learn) French this year but he __ (also take) German lessons for the last two year s.
Shari __ (tell) you she __ (leave) tomorrow, why you __ (not believe) her?
I __ (be) clumsy or what? It __ (be) the second time I __ (drop) this book.
Come on boys, father __ (come) and we __ (have) dinner now.
They __ (move) furniture around the house all through the day. No wonder they __
(complain) of terrible backaches.
They __ (just meet). Don't tell me they __ (have) their wedding ceremony next week!
"She __ (make) good progress, isn't she?" "Yes, she __ (work) a lot lately."
We __ (not ski) for ages. You __ (think) we __ (be still able to) climb down a steep slope?
No, I __ (not pretend). "I __ (not feel) well lately.
''You __ (still be) angry with him?" "I __ (already forgive) him. He __ (behave) stupidly
sometimes but he __ (not be) a bad guy after all."
"What you __ (do) tonight?" "I __ (go) dancing. Mary __ (tell) me about a new club that __
(just open) near the park."
I always __ (tell) Diana that a good husband __ (mean) more than good parents.

6. Translate into English (present perfect simple/continuous):

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Surorile mele tocmai au venit de la coal.

De ct timp dorm copiii?
A terminat Jack exerciiul? Au trecut doar zece minute de cnd i l-am dictat.
Ai ncercat vreodat s-l ajui?
Arthur exerseaz la pian de la ora 8.
Ce vor face fraii ti dup ce vor termina coala?
Noi muncim n grdin de mai bine de trei ore i nu am obosit nc.
Nu am auzit nimic de ei n ultima vreme.
Ai citit ultima poezie a colegului meu de banc?
Voi jucai cri de vreo dou ore, dar nu v-ai terminat nc temele.
Harry nu i-a oferit flori soiei de foarte mult timp.
De cnd tie David adevrul despre bunicul su?
M gndesc la cele spuse de ea de mai bine de dou ore i tot nu pot nelege ce s-a ntmplat acolo.
Am ncercat adesea s-i spun adevrul.
Ea nu l-a neles niciodat.
Ei i-au mbuntit mult pronunia anul acesta.
Ce muzee importante ale lumii ai vizitat pn acum?
De ct timp n-a mai fumat Christine?
Supa fierbe de la ora zece, dar nu este nc gata.
Prietenii mei vor pleca n strintate de ndat ce i vor cumpra main.

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology: Present (Practice)

7. Put the verbs in parentheses into the appropriate present tense.
Clara __ (1. go) to a summer school in England next month. She __ (2. deserve) it, she __ (3.
be) the best in her class, even in her school, now that I __ (4. come) to think of it. She __ (5.
learn) English for ten years now and she always __ (6. put) all her energy in everything she __
(7. do). She already __ (8. send) the application form but __ (9. not get) an answer yet. You __
(10. think) she may have problems in getting a scholarship? Fortunately, she __ (11. not need) a
visa, that, at least, __ (12. solve). Well, she __ (13. not complain) but I __ (14. think) she __
(15. be) a bit worried. You __ (16. know) her, she __ (17. not can) be still for a moment. If she
__ (18. not work) for school, she __ (19. be) at the church teaching the six-year-old group and
if she __ (20. not be) there, she's... oh, you __ (21. not hear) this one yet, it __ (22. be) her
latest: she __ (23. help) in as a nurse at St. Etienne Hospital. She __ (24. work) in the
afternoons, twice a week, but sometimes she __ (25. spend) the night there. She __ (26. say)
they really __ (27. need) her. Oh, she never __ (28. stop), dear darling. She __ (29. knit) scarves
and caps for the homeless all spring... to have them ready for next winter, she __ (30. say)...
and she __ (31. give) drawing lessons to the neighbours' children for a month. When she still __
(32. find) time to learn? I __ (33. not know). Well, I __ (34. think) she __ (35. come) now.
Don't tell her we __ (36. speak) about her. She __ (37. hate) it when I __ (38. rabbit on) about
her. She __ (39. say) she __ (40. not deserve) it.