ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

- PART I-

1st YEAR STUDENTS

AUTHOR: Adina CÂMPU

Introduction

The English Grammar Course attempts to revise and consolidate grammar points
at intermediate to upper intermediate level, also providing opportunities for students to
practice grammar structures and express themselves. To this end, each unit includes a
theoretical part which synthesizes essential information from outstanding books in
English morphology, followed by a wide range of exercises. The exercises are designed in
such a way that students should be able to solve them both individually and in pairs,
during the tutorials. The course also comprises regular tests, placed at the end of each
unit, which give students the possibility to check their knowledge. The grammatical
information provided in the course can be used for reference when needed or worked
through systematically.

Course objectives

The aim of this course is to provide students with comprehensive grammar

structures linked to parts of speech. At the end of this course, the long
distance-learning students will be able to:
 Operate with a wide range of new grammar structures;
 Use language accurately;
 Identify the appropriate form of the parts of speech required;
 Compare and contrast English and Romanian morphological
systems.

Competences Provided
After a thorough reading and after working through the exercises provided
here, students will be able to express themselves more accurately and more
correctly in the English language. Also, they will develop the ability to
distinguish clearly all the grammatical structures approached. All these will
ultimately contribute to their building up confidence in their capacity to
convey their exact thoughts and communicate without barriers.

Resources
Apart from the printed material, the course also requires the use of
monolingual and bilingual dictionaries. Areas from the course which might
be found problematic can be further studied using the bibliography provided
by the tutor.

Course structure
The course is structured in units, each of them including objectives, a
theoretical part with examples, followed by exercises and an end of unit test.

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Preliminary requirements
Being designed at intermediate to upper intermediate level, the course
requires students to have knowledge of English at pre-intermediate level.

Useful for
The course provides students with the opportunity to improve substantially
their knowledge of English, a fact which will enable them to understand
recent professional documents issued all over the world. This will obviously
contribute to perfecting their professional training and will keep them up-to-
date with everything new in the field.

The average time for individual study

Each unit of this course requires no more than 4-5 hours of individual study.

Evaluation
At the end of the semester, each student will receive a grade which will
reflect the results of a written test meant to assess the students’ acquired
knowledge (70% of the final grade) and students’ activity during the tutorials
(30% of the final grade).

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Contents

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................2
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PREREQUISITES.....................................................................6

UNIT ONE. THE VERB (1 )..............................................................................................7

I.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................7
I.2. Competences ...................................................................................................7
I.3. Present Tense Simple ......................................................................................7
I.4. Present Tense Continuous ..............................................................................8
I.5. Present Perfect Simple ...................................................................................8
I.6. Present Perfect Continuous ...........................................................................9
I.7. Summary ........................................................................................................10
I.8. Exercises ........................................................................................................10
I.9. End of unit test ...............................................................................................12
UNIT TWO. THE VERB (2)............................................................................................13
II.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................13
II.2. Competences ................................................................................................13
II.3. Past Tense Simple .......................................................................................13
II.4. Past Tense Continuous.................................................................................14
II.5. Past Perfect Simple......................................................................................14
II.6. Past Perfect Continuous..............................................................................15
II.7. Summary ......................................................................................................16
II.8. Exercises .....................................................................................................16
II.9. End of unit test ............................................................................................19
UNIT THREE. THE VERB (3).......................................................................................20
III.1. Introduction................................................................................................20
III.2. Competences..............................................................................................20
III.3. Future Tense Simple...................................................................................20
III.4. Future Tense Continuous............................................................................21
III.5. Future Perfect Simple ................................................................................21
III.6. Future Perfect Continuous.........................................................................22
III.7. Summary .................................................................................................... 24
III.8. Exercises ....................................................................................................24
III.9. End of unit test ..........................................................................................25
UNIT FOUR. MODAL VERBS.....................................................................................27
IV.1. Introduction.................................................................................................27
IV.2. Competences...............................................................................................27
IV.3. Characteristics............................................................................................27
IV.4. Specific usage of modal verbs ....................................................................28
IV.5. Summary .................................................................................................... 30
IV.6. Exercises ....................................................................................................30
IV.7. End of unit test ...........................................................................................33
UNIT FIVE THE PASSIVE VOICE..............................................................................35
V.1. Introduction..................................................................................................35
V.2. Competences.................................................................................................35
V.3. Definition and use........................................................................................35
V.4. Form ............................................................................................................36
V.5. The Agent......................................................................................................37

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 V.6. The Object....................................................................................................37
V.7.Verbs with limited use in the passive ............................................................38
V.8. Impersonal passive constructions................................................................38
V.9. Summary.......................................................................................................39
V.10. Exercises ....................................................................................................39
V.11. End of unit test ...........................................................................................40
BIBLIOGRAPHY .........................................................................................................42

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QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PREREQUISITES

Choose the right answer. Only ONE answer is correct.

1. I own a lot of information. Where did you get…..?

a. it; b. them; c. them both; d. them all.
2. When the team arrived, we were pleased to see … .
a. him; b. him or her; c. it; d. them.
3. The … were spread all over the hillside.
a. deer; b. deers; c. dear; d. dears.
4. Whenever you leave the country you have to go through the… .
a. custom; b. custom’s; c. customs; d. customs’.
5. This teacher … in our school for one year.
a. is; b. is being; c. has been; d. has been being.
6. When … school?
a. did he start; b. he started; c. he did start; d. did he started.
7. I know nothing about … .
a. tomorrow weather; b. tomorrow’s weather; c. the tomorrow weather; d.
the tomorrow’s weather.
8. Stop making noise! My son … now.
a. sleeps; b. has been sleeping; c. has slept; d. is sleeping.
9. He … to bed a few minutes ago.
a. goed; b. went; c. gone; d. has gone.
10. They did not know if they … in time or not.
a. will arrive; b. would arrive; c. arrive; d. have arrived.
11. The latest two … in the Middle East haven’t been dealt with properly by the heads of
the states concerned.
a. crisis; b. crises; c. crisae; d. crisises.
12. What time … back home?
a. comes your brother; b. your brother is coming; c. your brother does
come; d. does your brother come.
13. She will be cooking while the baby … .
a. sleeps; b. is sleeping; c. will sleep; d. will be sleeping.
14. My favourite football team … the cup.
a. is just wining; b. has just won; c. just wins; d. just has won.
15. Fire was one of … first important discoveries.
a. man’s; b. the man’s; c. men’s; d. mens’.
16. Although it was Sunday, there were a lot of … in the street.
a. passer-bys; b. passers-by; c. passers-bys; d. passer-by.
17. If she … , she wouldn’t be lying in bed now.
a. would have listened; b. listened; c. listens; d. had listened.
18. Jimmy will be very surprised when he … you here.
a. will see; b. sees; c. see; d. shall see.
19. I will not accept any advice from you; somebody else is going to give … to me.
a. it; b. them; c. they; d. its.
20. Tom would have played with us if he … free.
a. had been; b. will be; c. is being; d. were.

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UNIT ONE. THE VERB: PRESENT TENSES

Contents
I.1. Introduction.................................................................................................................7
I.2. Competences...............................................................................................................7
I.3. Present Tense Simple ..................................................................................................7
I.4. Present Tense Continuous...........................................................................................8
I.5. Present Perfect Simple ...............................................................................................8
I.6. Present Perfect Continuous .......................................................................................9
I.7 Summary .....................................................................................................................10
I.8 . Exercises .................................................................................................................10
I.9. End of unit test .........................................................................................................12

1.1. Introduction
This unit introduces essential elements regarding Present Tenses in
English.

I.2. Competences
On completion of UNIT ONE, students will be able to differentiate between
the four present tenses of the Indicative Mood and use them appropriately in given
contexts.

Study time for UNIT ONE: 4-5 hours.

I.3. PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE :

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to describe:
- general truths and states which are regarded as permanent;

- repeated actions or habits;

- exclamations introduced by “here/there”;

- explanations, demonstrations.

1. FORM:
 POSITIVE: V1, BUT V1 +s for the 3rd person singular;
 INTERROGATIVE: DO+V1
 NEGATIVE: DON’T+V1

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3. ADVERBS: (of frequency)
- every day; every week; every month; every year;
- usually, mostly, generally, rarely, seldom, frequently, always, never;
- sometimes, at times;

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student writes formulas every day.

INTERROGATIVE: Does the student write any formulas every day?
NEGATIVE: No, the student doesn’t write any formulas.

I.4. PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to:
 represent an action, viewed in progress (continuous) at the very time of speech
(present);
 represent an action viewed in progress (continuous) at the Time of speech
(present), even if not literally at the very moment of speaking;
 express a definite arrangement in the near future (immediate plans);
 express a non-habitual action;
 express a reproach.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB. + BE + V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: BE + SUB + V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB. + BE + NOT + V1-ing

3. ADVERBS: (of present moment)

- now, right now; this moment; at the time;
- at present, presently;

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student is writing a formula right now.

INTERROGATIVE: Is the student writing a formula right now?
NEGATIVE; No, the student isn’t writing a formula right now.

I.5. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

1. DEFINITION:

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 Is used to:
 express a completed action (perfect) still having an effect or result in the
moment of speaking (present);
 represent activities completed in the immediate past, often associated
either with “just” or no time reference at all;
 express activities completed in a period up till the moment of speech,
without being exact about the time;
 represent a completed action in an uncompleted time interval.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + HAVE/ HAS + V3
 INTERROGATIVE: HAVE/ HAS + SUB. + V3
 NEGATIVE: SUB + HAVE/ HAS + NOT + V3

3. ADVERBS: (of interval, time span, period, uncompleted time interval)

- just, yet, already, never, ever;
- for…, since…;
- lately, recently;
- this morning, this afternoon, this evening, this night, this week, this month, this
year, this, spring, this century;

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student has already written the formula.

INTERROGATIVE: Has the student already written the formula?
NEGATIVE: No, the student hasn’t written the formula yet.

I.6. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to:
 express an activity partly completed (perfect) but still in progress
(continuous) at the moment of speaking (present);
 express an activity begun in the past which has only just finished and is
relevant to the current situation;
 describe a repeated activity, in which case a nuance of reproach,
irritation, wonder can be present.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + HAVE/ HAS + BEEN+ V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: HAVE/ HAS + SUB + BEEN+ V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB + HAVE/ HAS + BEEN+ V1-ing

3. ADVERBS: (of interval of time)

- since...;
- for…;

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 EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student has been writing for an hour.

INTERROGATIVE: Has the student been writing for an hour?
NEGATIVE: No, the student hasn’t been writing for an hour.

I.7. Summary
This unit has approached the form and use of four tenses namely: present
tense simple and continuous and present perfect simple and continuous.

I.8. EXERCISES

1. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets:

The closest most of us (1-to get) to a daring dream, we suddenly (2 – to realize)

that we (3 – to stand) stark naked in a crowed shopping-center. So it (4-to seem) rather
unjust that some people can apparently will themselves into dreams of breathtaking high
adventure. The phenomenon (5 – to know) as lucid sleeping and (6 – to mean) the sleeper
(7 – to become) aware that he (8 – to dream) and can consciously (9 – to participate) in
and control his dream. It (10 – to compare) to (11-to have) your very own virtual reality
in your head.
“People typically lucid-dream about things that they always (12- to want) to do
as children, like flying”, (13 – to say) Charles McCreery from Psychophysical Institute in
Oxford, which (14-to research) lucid dreams for thirty years.
Other favourite lucid dreams are (15-to have) sex with a beautiful lover or (16-to
perform) outrageous stunts, such as (17-to leap) off cliffs for a thrill, safe in the
knowledge that you can come to no harm.
Aside from (18-to be) a secret recreation, some argue that lucid dreaming can
have an impact in waking life. It even (19-to creep) into therapists’ work. The theory is
that, (20-to train) to lucid dreams, people who have self-confidence problems or phobias
can practice difficult situations in the safety of a lucid dream.
It also (21-to use) to help alleviate nightmares, which (22-to plague) one million
people in Britain. Dr. Delia Cushway, a clinical psychologist, (23 – to recount) the case
of one woman she (25 – to see) who (25-to become) lucid when she had a nightmare in
which two ferocious growling Doberman dogs (26 – to bar) her way and (27-to threaten)
to attack. She simply (28-to say) to herself: “This is OK, this is only a dream!”, and(29-

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to push) past the dogs, (30-to let ) herself out of the door. In a subsequent dream, one of
the dogs (31-to lie) down beside her and (32-to put) its head in her lap.
Some psychotherapists (33-to warn) that (34-to interfere) with a dream narrative
might rob you of the clues that dreams (35-to throw) up, about what or who (36-to
trouble) you in your life.
Interest in lucid dreaming as a subject of research (37-to start) (38-to grow) in
the last 15 or 20 years and scientists (39-to develop) machines which allegedly (40- to
trigger) lucid dreams.

2. Choose the correct form to fill in the blanks:

1. Stop making noise! My son … for half an hour.

a. sleeps; b. has been sleeping; c. is sleeping.
2. What time … back home?
a. comes your brother; b. your brother comes; c. does your brother
come.
3. She will be cooking while the baby … .
a. sleeps; b. is sleeping; c. will sleep.
4. Tom will play with us if he … free.
a. is; b. will be; c. has been.
5. I … here for half an hour.
a. am; b. have been; c. have been being.
6. He ... with the company for three years now.
a. is b. has been c. has to be
7. John Dee ... for Best Motors in the Sales Department.
a. works b. work c. is working
8. Her mother’s business was difficult to keep going but it ... well at that moment.
a. has done b. was doing c. does
9. They have ... several hundred pounds on their advertising campaign.
a. yet spent b. now spending c. so far spent
10. My favourite football team … the cup.
a. is just wining b. has just won c. just has won.

3. Provide the right form for the verbs in brackets:

1. What's that noise? Somebody (practise)………………the piano.
2. We (go)……………….to the cinema this Friday.
3. They (go) …………………on holiday every winter.
4. The days (be)………………….longer in summer.
5. She often (talk)…………………to herself.
6. She (have)……………………a shower at the moment.
7. Right now she (run) ………………….down a hill.
8. Oak trees (grow)…………………very slowly.
9. My dog (not eat)………………….vegetables.
10.My brother (not like)……………………..animals.
11. Most people (not like)………………….to visit a doctor.
12. In his job he usually (stand) ……………………
13. I'm looking at that woman, she (wear)…………………….a nice dress.
14. I never (go)…………………….out in the evening.

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 15. He usually (work)………………………with paints and brushes.
16. Do you know anyone who (speak)…………………….Italian?
17. At work he usually (sit)………………………all day.
18. 'Where is Kate?' 'She (watch) ………………….TV in the living room.'
19. (you go)………………..to the party next Saturday?
20. (you ever work) ………………..at the weekend?

I.9. End of UNIT TEST

1. Provide the correct form for the verbs in brackets:

1. What's the noise? Tim (practise)……………….the piano.
2. What are you doing? I (read)…………………a very interesting magazine.
3. We (go)…………………….on holiday in summer.
4. This animal (eat) ……………….meat.
5. Temperature usually (rise) ………………….. in the afternoon.
6. She can't talk to you right now. She (have) …………….a shower.
7. Ornithologists (study)………………birds.
8. Most of my friends (not like) ………………..visiting their relatives.
9. Look! He (drink)………………..beer.
10. Jane often (talk)………………..to herself.
11. It (get) cold…………………….now.
12. I'm looking at that girl. She (wear) …………………a nice jacket.
13. I wonder what's with Ann. She (look)………………very unhappy.
14. I never (drink) …………………..alcohol at lunch time.
15. He usually sits down and (use) …………………..a computer.
16. He usually (work) ………………..with paints and brushes.
17. He (spend) ………………….all his pocket money on sweets.
18. Do you know anyone who (speak) ………………….German?
19. At the moment he (stand) …………………..inside a telephone box.
20. (you go) ……………………to the meeting next Friday?

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UNIT TWO. THE VERB: PAST TENSES

Contents
II.1. Introduction.................................................................................................13
II.2. Competences................................................................................................13
II.3. Past Tense Simple .......................................................................................13
II.4. Past Tense Continuous.................................................................................14
II.5. Past Perfect Simple......................................................................................14
II.6. Past Perfect Continuous..............................................................................15
II. 7 Summary ......................................................................................................16
II.8. Exercises .....................................................................................................16
II.9. End of unit test ............................................................................................19

II.1. Introduction
This unit introduces essential elements regarding Past Tenses in
English.

II.2. Competences
On completion of UNIT TWO, students will be able to differentiate
between the four past tenses of the Indicative Mood and use them
appropriately in given contexts.

Study time for UNIT TWO: 4-5 hours.

II.3. PAST TENSE SIMPLE:

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to:
 represent simple actions completed at a definite time in the past;
 represent a series of actions in a sequence, often as part of a narrative;
 describe habitual, repeated actions in the past, and with verbs of permanent
characteristic.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + V2
 INTERROGATIVE: SUB + DID + V1
 NEGATIVE: SUB + DIDN’T + V1

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point, or period in the past)

- yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last century;
- ten years ago, before, on August 24th 1954;
- when ….past action;

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 EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student wrote that formula ten minutes ago.

INTERROGATIVE: Did the student write that formula ten minutes ago.
NEGATIVE: No, the student didn’t write that formula ten minutes ago.

II.4. PAST TENSE CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to:
 represent an action viewed in progress (continuous) before the moment of
speaking at some point in the past (past);
 describe a past repeated action causing annoyance;

1. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + WAS/WERE + V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: WAS/WERE + SUB + V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB + WAS/WERE + NOT SUB + WAS/WERE + V1-ing

2. ADVERBS: (of definite point or period in the past)

- yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last century;
- ten years ago, before, on August 24th 1954;
- when ….past action; at this time yesterday.

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student was writing the formula at this time yesterday.
INTERROGATIVE: Was the student writing the formula at this time yesterday?
NEGATIVE: No, the student wasn’t writing the formula at this time yesterday.

II.5. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE:

1. DEFINITION:
Is used to:
 represent an action completed (perfect) before another action or moment in the
past (past);
 denote an action that began before another moment in the past and continued up
to that time.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + HAD + V3
 INTERROGATIVE: HAD + SUB + V3
 NEGATIVE: SUB + HAD + NOT + V3

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3. ADVERBS: (of definite point in the past, and of interval)
- since…; for…;
- yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last century;
- ten years ago, before, on August 24th 1954;
- when/ before….past action; at this time yesterday.

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student had written the formula before he took the test.
INTERROGATIVE: Had the student written the formula before he took the test?
NEGATIVE: No, the student hadn’t written the formula before he took the test.

II.6. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:

Is used to represent a mostly completed action (perfect) that is still viewed in progress
(continuous) at a definite point in the past (past).

2. FORM
 POSIVE: SUB + HAD + BEEN + V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: HAD + SUB + BEEN + V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB + HAD + NOT + BEEN + V1-ing

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point in the past, and of interval)

- since…; for…;
- yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last century;
- ten years ago, before, on August 24th 1954;
- when/ before….past action; at this time yesterday.

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student had been writing for ten minutes, when the test was over.
INTERROGATIVE: Had the student been writing for ten minutes, when the test
was over?
NEGATIVE: No the student hadn’t been writing for ten minutes, when the test
was over.

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 II.7. Summary
This unit has approached four past tenses namely: Past tense simple and
Continuous and Past Perfect and Continuous.

II.8. EXERCISES

1. Fill in the gaps with the right form of the verbs in brackets:

1. Lord Manners was a rich and famous banker. When he (1. die), he (2. give) a
magnificent funeral which (3. attend) by hundreds of famous people. The
funeral was going to (4. hold) in Westminster Abbey. Many ordinary people
(5.stand) in the street to watch the procession. The wonderful black and gold
carriage (6. draw) by six black horses. Lord Manners’s relatives (7. follow) in
silence. “He (8. give) a royal funeral!” said one of the people present. Among
the crowd there were two beggars. They (9. watch) the procession with
amazement for some time when one of them turned to the other and (10.
whisper) in admiration: “Now, that’s what I call really living!”
2. I …1.(to fall asleep) while I was working because it took me a long time to
realize that the telephone…2.(to ring). When I answered it, my girlfriend said:
“You…3.(to forget) that we …4.(to go) to the cinema tonight? I …5.(to wait)
here for half an hour. If you…6.(to come) soon, we’ll miss the film”. I
suddenly remembered that Sally…7.(to give) tickets for the first performance
of a new film. “By the time I get there, the film…8.(to begin). Let’s go out to
dinner instead.”
3. Last week I …1.(to invite) my brother to dinner. When he…2.(to arrive), I
still…3.(to work) in the kitchen, for I quite…4.(not finish) ..5.(to prepare) the
salad. He told me he ….6.(to come) as soon as he …7.(to finish)his work at
the office. I told him…8.(make) himself at home, …9.(to add) that I …12.(be)
ready for him. The dinner …15.(to cook). My brother …16.(to say) that he …
17.(to go) ….18.(to send) his girlfriend to me for cooking lessons. I enjoy…
19.(work) in the kitchen, if somebody else …20. (to do) the washing up.

2. Give the correct forms of the verbs:

1. I (fall) when I (cross) the road.

2. I (drop) my bag when I (board) the plane.
3. I (get) wet while (walk) in the rain.
4. Whenever the politician (open) his mouth to speak the crowd (shout) insults.
5. While the maid (clean) the room a skeleton (fall) out of the cupboard.
6. As soon as he (get) under the shower, the doorbell (ring).
7. They (slip) and (fall) while they (climb) the mountain.

16
 8. While I (sightsee) in London I (hide) my money in my socks.
9. As they (fly) from Stockholm to Moscow, the starboard engine (burst) into
flames.
10. When she (have) lunch a waiter (drop) a plate of soup in her lap.
11. As it (rain) their mother (cancel) the picnic.
12. When he (cycle) downhill, the brakes (fail) and he only (avoid) a serious
accident by steering into a friendly rhododendron bush.

3. Choose the correct form to fill in the blanks:

1. When she asked me I … a few days to think about it.
a. explain her I’d like; b. told her I’d like; c. told her I liked.
2. Last year, Mary asked me what she … buy me for Christmas.
a. could; b. was able to; c. can.
3. They did not know at that time that she … music so much.
a. liked; b. likes; c. was liking.
4. Jane said she would lend me the book after she … it.
a. finishes; b. had finished; c. will finish.
5. If she … , she wouldn’t have been lying in bed now.
a. would have listened; b. listened; c. had
listened.
6. He … to bed a few minutes ago.
a. goed; b. went; c. has gone.
7. They did not know if they … in time or not.
a. will arrive; b. would arrive; c. arrive.
8. He asked me … to stay.
a. how long was I going; b. how long I was going; c. how
long time I was going.
9. America Online said yesterday that its customers ... $ 1.2bn in purchases
between November 27 and December 26.
a. were spending b. had spent c. have been
spending
10. The shop assistant informed me that I ... to your office if I wanted a refund.
a. have to write b. had to write c. would have written
11. Every Monday she ... into my shop and buy her weekly order, which never
changed.
a. comes b. used to come c. was used to
come
12. There seemed to be a mistake but nobody realized where ....
a. had it come from b. it came from c. from it
came
13. Thomas tried to find out what other places ... visited.
a. have I b. had I c. I had
14. What ....... interested in?
a. he said he was b. did he say he was c. did he say
was he

4. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple or Past Continuous:

1. He (lie)…………….on the road when they found him.
2. Someone stole my cigarettes when I (not look)……………….

17
 3. She was a beautiful woman. She always (attract) ………………a lot of men.
4. I turned the radio off. Nobody (listen)…………………to it.
5. Mr. Brown (have)……………..a shower when I knocked on his door.
6. How much (it cost)………………to fly to Paris?
7. (you close)…………………….the door when you left?
8. (they get)…………………..our presents?
9. 'When (she start)…………..learning English?' 'Five years ago’.
10. I left the cinema before the film ended. I (not enjoy)……………….it.
11. (you go) …………………to the restaurant yesterday evening?
12. I got up at 7 and then I (have) …………………a big breakfast.
13. I (see)……………………..you walking in the park this morning.
14. She (wear)……………………..her new jacket when I saw her.
15. (you see)…………………….Jane last night?
16. Who (you wait)…………………..for when I arrived?
17. What (happen) …………………..after that?
18. When I was young I (want)………………….to be a pilot.
19. I waved at him, but he (look not) ……………….
20. She (sit) ……………………….on the chair and watching TV.

5. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets:
1.I ………………… (see) my first baseball game when I ………………… (live) in
New York.
2.How many pints of beer ………………… (he/drink) before he …………………
(leave) the pub?
3.It ………………… (rain) so we ………………… (decide) to stay at home all
afternoon.
4.By the time I ………………… (leave) university I ………………… (be) to France
fifteen times.
5.What ………………… (you/do) at the time the murder was committed?
6.When we ………………… (get) home we saw that someone …………………
(break) in to steal the DVD recorder.
7.He ………………… (send/passive) to prison four times before he
………………… (decide) that it would be better to go straight.
8.I didn't realise I ………………… (lose) my credit cards until I …………………
(try) to pay for dinner at the restaurant.
9.I ………………… (write) an email to my sister when she ………………… (ring)
me.
10. She was so upset by the news that she ………………… (drop) her tea and
………………… (start) crying.

18
 II.9. End of UNIT TEST

1. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple or Past Perfect:

1. When she (hear) …………….the noise she turned to see what it was.
2. When I saw her I knew we (never meet) …………….before.
3. When I looked at the lorry I could see that somebody (drive) …………….in.
4. The movie (start already)………………….when we arrived at the cinema.
5. The doctor examined her leg and (find)………………that she had broken it.
6. I was hungry because I (not eat)……………….since breakfast.
7. I was frightened because the police (come)………………..for my sister.
8. I was feeling very thirsty because I (drink) ……………….too much alcohol.
9. I told him twice that I (not know)…………………..him.
10. I told him I didn't know who (steal) …………………his pen.
11. I paid for the window because my son (break) ……………….
12. I felt really stupid because I (make)………………..a lot of mistakes.
13. I couldn't get in because I (lose) …………………my keys.
14. I (write)……………………a long letter to my mother yesterday.
15. He told me he (never see)………………….anything like that.
16. He told me he (never be)………………….to Australia before.
17. He started to read the newspaper he (buy)………………….an hour earlier.
18. He (spend) ……………………three years in Tahiti when he was a child.
19. Before he came to Warsaw he (live) …………………..in Prague.
20. After she (finish) ……………………breakfast she left the house.

2. Change the verbs in the following sentence into past tense.

1. Yesterday, I go to the restaurant with a client.
2. We drive around the parking lot for 20 minutes in order to find a parking
space.
3. When we arrive at the restaurant, the place is full.
4. The waitress asks us if we have reservations.
5. I say, "No, my secretary forgets to make them."
6. The waitress tells us to come back in two hours.
7. My client and I slowly walk back to the car.
8. Then we see a small grocery store.
9. We stop in the grocery store and buy some sandwiches.
10. That is better than waiting for two hours.

3. Correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Last night, Samantha have pizza for supper.
2. My pet lizard was died last month.
3. Yesterday I spend two hours cleaning my living room.
4. This morning before coming to class, Jack eats two bowls of cereal.
5. What was happened to your leg?

19
UNIT THREE. THE VERB. WAYS OF EXPRESSING
FUTURE TIME

Contents
III.1. Introduction................................................................................................20
III.2. Competences..............................................................................................20
III.3. Future Tense Simple...................................................................................20
III.4. Future Tense Continuous............................................................................21
III.5. Future Perfect Simple ................................................................................21
III.6. Future Perfect Continuous.........................................................................22
III.7. Summary .....................................................................................................24
III.8. Exercises ....................................................................................................24
III.9. End of unit test ..........................................................................................25

III.1. Introduction
This unit introduces essential elements regarding ways of
expressing future time in English.

III.2. Competences
On completion of UNIT THREE, students will be able to
differentiate between the different ways of expressing Future Time and use
them appropriately in given contexts.

Study time for UNIT THREE: 4-5 hours.

III.3. FUTURE TENSE SIMPLE:

1. DEFINITION:
It is used to denote actions which will take place in the future. The performance of the
future action may be caused by objective circumstances, by a mixture of the former and a
personal element, or it may depend on a condition;

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + V1
 INTERROGATIVE: WILL/SHALL + SUB + V1
 NEGATIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + NOT + V1

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point or period in the future)

- tomorrow;
- next week, next month, next year, next century;
- in 2055; in two years; after a few days; the following day;

20
 - when….future action;

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student will write the formula in ten minutes.

INTERROGATIVE: Will the student write the formula in ten minutes?
NEGATIVE: No, the student won’t write the formula in ten minutes.

III.4. FUTURE TENSE CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:
It is used to represent an action viewed in progress at one particular time in the future.

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + BE + V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: WILL/SHALL + SUB + BE + V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + NOT + BE + V1-ing

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point or period in the future)

- tomorrow; at this time tomorrow;
- next week, next month, next year, next century;
- in 2055; in two years; after a few days; the following day;
- when….future action;

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: The student will be writing a formula during the next two minutes.
INTERROGATIVE: Will the student be writing a formula during the next two
minutes?
NEGATIVE: No, the student won’t be writing the formula during the next two
minutes.

III.5. FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

1. DEFINITION:
It is used to represent a completed action (perfect0 at some point in the future (future);

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + HAVE + V3
 INTERROGATIVE: WILL/SHALL + SUB + HAVE + V3
 NEGATIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + NOT + HAVE + V3

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point or period in the future and of interval of time)
- tomorrow; at this time tomorrow;
- next week, next month, next year, next century;

21
 - in 2055; in two years; after a few days; the following day;
- when….future action;
- for…; since…; by…; already.

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: By 10 o’clock the student will have already written that formula.
INTERROGATIVE: Will the student have already written that formula by 10
o’clock?
NEGATIVE: No, the student won’t have written that formula yet by 10 o’clock.

III.6. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

1. DEFINITION:
It is used to represent a partly completed action (perfect) still viewed in progress
(continuous) at some point in the future (future).

2. FORM
 POSITIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + HAVE + BEEN + V1-ing
 INTERROGATIVE: WILL/SHALL + SUB +HAVE + BEEN + V1-ing
 NEGATIVE: SUB + WILL/SHALL + NOT + HAVE + BEEN + V1-ing

3. ADVERBS: (of definite point or period in the future and of interval of time)
- tomorrow; at this time tomorrow;
- next week, next month, next year, next century;
- in 2055; in two years; after a few days; the following day;
- when….future action;
- for…; since…; by…; already.

EXAMPLE

POSITIVE: By 10 o’clock the student will have been writing that formula for ten
minutes.
INTERROGATIVE: Will the student have been writing that formula for ten
minutes by 10 o’clock?
NEGATIVE: No, the student won’t have been writing that formula for ten minutes
for ten minutes by 10 o’clock.

22
 III.7. Summary
This unit has presented ways of expressing future time in English and has
focused on four distinct tenses: future tense simple and continuous and future perfect
simple and continuous.

III.8. EXERCISES

1. Choose the correct form to fill in the blanks:

1. Donald … sixteen tomorrow.

a. will be; b. shall be; c. going to be.
2. Don’t you remember that we … to the cinema tonight?
a. would go; b. are going; c. go.
3. By the time we arrive, the film … .
a. shall have started; b. will start; c. will have
started.
4. You will ... in the arrivals hall by one of our representatives.
a. meet b. be meeting c. be met
5. They promised they … back soon.
a. will come b. would come c. are coming

2. Write a correct version for each of the following sentences:

1. As soon as I will get the answer, I’ll let you know.

2. After 1997, exports have been booming.
3. When I’ll get back, I’ll tell you all about it.
4. When examining it more closely, he realized the ticket was for the next day.
5. Once she will have understood the procedures, she’ll work much faster.
6. I’d no sooner taken my seat when the fire alarm went off.
7. As our bus didn’t leave for another hour, so we didn’t have to rush
8. All you have to do is tell me everything what happened.
9. He left the country at the age of 20 and it was only after several years when
he returned.
10. It’s not learning new words that I find difficult, and remembering them.

3. Use will or going to for the verbs in brackets:

1. I (get married)……………….next year.
2. These shoes are very dirty. I (clean) …………………..them.
3. As soon as I arrive, I (send) ………………..you a postcard.
4. This car is very old. I (buy) …………………….a new one.
5. I expect I (be)…………………..late.
6. If you don't leave, I (call)………………………the police.

23
 7. It is getting late. I think I (go)…………………….home.
8. What (you do)……………………..with all the money?
9. I must stay at home this afternoon because my father (call)
……………….me.
10. I (take) ………………the state exam next year.
11. If she helps you with your homework, I (tell) ………………the teacher.
12. These exercises are very difficult. If you want I (explain) …………….them.
13. I am quite cold. I (close)………………the window.
14. Go away I (sneeze)…………………
15. I (be)…………………thirty next month.
16. I'm sorry I must leave today. No problem. I (take) ……………….you to the
station.
17. I still don't have a present for Lucy. I think I (buy) ……………her a bag.
18. She (have) …………………….a baby in five months.
19. Hold on! I (help)…………………….you with these heavy bags.
20. I have a special plan for the weekend. I (learn) ……………..how to make a
cake.

4. Use appropriate tenses for the verbs in brackets:

1. Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch)
………….TV as well.
2. Tomorrow after school, I (go)…………….to the beach.
3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do)
………….paperwork and (talk)………….to annoying customers on the
phone, I (lie)……….on a sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?
4. We (hide)………….when Tony (arrive)…………..at his surprise party. As
soon as he opens the door, we (jump)………….out and (scream)
…………..,"Surprise!"
5. We work out at the fitness centre every day after work. If you (come)
…………over while we (work)…………..out, we will not be able to let you
into the house. Just to be safe, we (leave)…………….a key under the
welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.
6. While you (study)…………at home, Magda (be)……………….in class.
7. When I (get)……………..to the party, Sally and Doug (dance)……………,
John (make)…………….drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss)
………………..something controversial, and Mary (complain) ……………
about something unimportant. They are always doing the same things. They
are so predictable.
8. When you (get)…………….off the plane, I (wait)………………..for you.
9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) ……………
up tomorrow morning, the sun (shine)……………….
10. If you (need)……………..to contact me sometime next week, I (stay)
…………..at the Sheraton in San Francisco.

24
 III.9. End of UNIT TEST

1. Use Present Continuous or Future Simple:

1. Did you write to Ann? No, I forgot. I (write)……………..her tomorrow.
2. What (you cook)………………….for dinner this evening?
3. We (go)…………………….to the cinema tomorrow.
4. I (go)…………………to the museum this evening.
5. 'I need more money.' 'I (lend)………………….you some if you want.'
6. 'Have a nice time!' 'Thanks I (send)………………….you a postcard.'
7. It's cold in here. (you shut)……………………..the door, please?
8. I don't want to be at home alone. (you stay) …………………with me?
9. Jim has got a plan for Friday. He (play)…………………tennis with friends.
10. 'Have you phoned Jim?' 'No, I forgot. I (phone) ……………………him later.
11. Peter (meet)……………………….his friends this evening.
12. What time (Bill and Jerry come)…………………….tonight?
13. What time (you leave)……………………tomorrow afternoon?
14. I (work)………………………tomorrow so I can't go anywhere.
15. The French president (visit)…………………Britain next week.
16. (you do) ……………………..anything tonight?
17. I (get) ……………………….married next Saturday.
18. Have you heard? She (go)………………………to have a baby next week.
19. It must be very heavy. I (carry)………………………..it for you.
20. I (do)………………………my exams next week.

2. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. There may be more than one
possibility.

1. "What …………………when you leave university?" "I want to go back to

London"
a. do you do; b. are you going to do; c. are you doing; d. will you do
2. If the plane gets in late I …………………my train connection.
a. am missing; b. will miss; c. am going to miss; d. will be missing
3. It's half past eight and it takes twenty minutes to get to the station. My train
leaves in fifteen minutes. I …………………
a. am late; b. will be late; c. am going to be late; d. am being late
4. I've had twenty replies to the invitations I sent out, so I know twenty people
…………………
a. definitely come; b. are definitely coming; c. will definitely come; d. are
definitely going to come
5. I'm sure you …………………a lot better after a good night's sleep.
a. feel; b. are feeling; c. will feel; d. are going to feel
6. "Oh, no! I've spilt my wine." "Don't worry. …………………a cloth to wipe it
up."
a. I get; b. I'm getting; c. I'll get; d. I'll be getting
7. The plane doesn't leave until tomorrow afternoon, so I …………………the cases
in the morning.

25
 a. pack; b. will pack; c. am going to pack; d. am packing
8. "Can I come round after dinner?" "Yes, that's fine. I …………………anything."
a. don't do; b. won't do; c. won't be doing; d. won't have been doing
9. The match doesn't start till 9 o'clock, so we …………………a drink first.
a. will have; b. are going to have; c. are having; d. will be having
10. At the beginning of next month we …………………married for ten years.
a. are; b. will be; c. are going to be; d. will have been.

26
UNIT FOUR. MODAL VERBS

Contents
IV.1. Introduction.............................................................................................................27
IV.2. Competences...........................................................................................................27
IV.3. Characteristics........................................................................................................27
IV.4 Specific usage of modal verbs .................................................................................28
IV.5 Summary ..................................................................................................................30
IV.6. Exercises ................................................................................................................30
IV.7. End of unit test .......................................................................................................33

IV.1. Introduction
This unit introduces essential elements regarding modal verbs.

IV.2. Competences
On completion of UNIT FOUR, students will be able to use modal verbs
appropriately and make the difference between the type of action expressed by
each modal verb.

Study time for UNIT FOUR: 4-5 hours.

IV.3 CHARACTERISTICS

MODAL VERBS: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, SHALL, SHOULD, WILL, WOULD,
MUST
Characteristics Examples
1. are not followed or preceded by “to”, She can dance very well.
except for ought, which is followed by
“to”;
2. have the same form for all persons and I should go./ She should go.
tenses;
3. the construction modal verb + perfect He must have arrived earlier.
infinitive describes an event, activity or
situation that may/may not have
happened in the past;

4. some modal verbs have another modal “I can speak English.” She said she could
verb counterpart for the past: can could, speak English.

27
may/ might, shall/ should, will/ would;
5. in questions, the modal verb comes
before the subject;
6. form the negative by adding “not” after
the modal verb;
7. can/ may/ must have corresponding
paraphrases.
Shall I help you?
You should not panic.
You can sing./ You are able to sing.
You may go./ You are allowed to go.
You must wait./ You have to wait.

IV.4 SPECIFIC USAGE OF MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERB USAGE EXAMPLE

1. WILL - to construct the Future Tense of
regular and irregular verbs;
- to show that a decision has
been made;
2. SHALL - to construct the Future Tense of
regular and irregular verbs, for
the 1st person singular and
plural;
- to make a suggestion/offer in
the form of a question
3. CAN - equivalent with “to be able to”;
- to describe ability/willingness
to do something now;
- to ask for permission;
- to express perception with
certain verbs;
- CAN’T + HAVE is used to
make deductions about past
actions.
4. COULD - to describe ability/willingness
to do something in the past;
- to express perception in the
past with certain verbs;
- COULD+ HAVE expresses
possibility or uncertainty about
past actions.
5. MAY -equivalent with “to be allowed
to/ to be permitted to”;
- to express a possibility/make a
suggestion at the present time or
in the future;
- to give/ask for permission;
- MAY + HAVE expresses
possibility or uncertainty about
past actions.
They will visit our country next
year.
I will repair the roof
immediately.
I shall take this into account by
all means.
Shall I help you?
Bill can drive a car very well.
Can Mary use your computer,
this evening?
He can hear the music.
Jim can’t have noticed you.
My parents could play golf
twenty years ago.
He could hear the music.
You could have been hurt!
If you return tomorrow, you
may see Mr Smith.
May I use your pen?
He may not have received the
letter.

6. MIGHT - to express a possibility/make a You might catch the train if

28
 suggestion at the present time or
in the future; might suggests less
certainty than may;
- MIGHT + HAVE expresses
possibility or uncertainty about
past actions.
7. MUST - equivalent with “to have to”;
- to explain obligation or
necessity where there is no
choice;
- to assume knowledge of a fact
or information;
- MUST + HAVE is used to make
deductions about past actions.
8. WOULD - to describe or talk about a
situation/activity that is imagined
or thought about;
- to ask for or supply factual
information;
- to issue or accept an invitation
9. SHOULD - to express suggestion/ advice; -
to express thoughts and personal
opinions aloud;
- SHOULD + HAVE expresses
the speaker’s feeling that a
mistake has been made.
10. OUGHT TO - to advise or make
recommendations, involving the
idea that something is deserved
or a moral obligation.
- loses to in the negative, in the
informal style.
11. NEED TO - to express necessity. It can also
be used as non-modal verb:
when used as a modal verb, it is
followed by the short infinitive.
When used as a full verb, it takes
a long infinitive.
- in the negative, it expresses the
lack of obligation.
29
you hurry up.
She might have missed the
train.
You must buy a ticket to use
the train.
Martin must like his job, he
has worked in that office for
ten years.
I must have left my wallet in
the car.
I would like to visit Canada
soon.
Would you please tell me the
price of a ticket to the
museum.
Would you like to come to
New York with me?
You should see a doctor.
I think Brian should look f a
job now.
You should have helped him
yesterday.
You ought to stop smoking.
You ought not take such risks
when the children are with
you.
I needn’t buy all that stuff
now.
I don’t need to buy all that
stuff now.
You needn’t hurry up.
 EXAMPLE

He can speak English. = He is able to speak English.

Can he speak English? = Is he able to speak English?
He cannot/ can’t speak English. = He is not able to speak English.

You may go. = You are allowed to go.

May I go? = Am I allowed to go?
You may not go. = You are not allowed to go.

You must hurry up. = You have to hurry up.

Must you hurry up? = Do you have to hurry up?
You needn’t hurry up. = You don’t have to hurry up.

Let’s remember...

 in the structure MODAL VERB + HAVE + V3, the verb HAVE

never changes its form;
 with a first person subject, “must” involves “self-obligation”,
whereas “have to” involves “obligation by external forces;
 negative obligation is expressed by means of “must not”, while for
the lack of obligation we use “needn’t”/ “don’t have to”.

IV.5. Summary
This unit has presented the characteristics and specific usage of modal verbs
along with listing them for users.

IV.6. EXERCISES

1. Complete each sentence with one verb:

can could may might should ought to shall will
EXAMPLE

1. could

1. It is said that he ………………..read at the age of three.

2. You ………………..take a pullover in case it gets cold.

30
 3. It's going to rain all afternoon. …………………we visit our friends?
4. Scott ………………..be 21 at the end of the year.
5. Julie said the traffic was heavy, so she …………..be late for the meeting.
6. You look a bit confused. ………………. I help you?
7. You were so rude. You …………………..be ashamed of yourself!
8. I don't know the meaning of this word. ………………I borrow your
dictionary?
9. Jane is in hospital. You ………………..visit her.
10. I can see you have a lot of luggage. ……………….I help you?
11. However angry you are, you ………………… never talk to people like that.
12. This report is urgent – you …………………. finish it by four o’clock.
13. …………………. I help you with the report?
14. John ……………not have gone home, his PC is still on!
15. You …………….. have checked the data, I did it yesterday.
16. Something bad ……………. have happened to Joan, she has never been late
like this.
17. You ………………….. have deleted the file, you ……………… need it later.
18. The secretary ………………… have already left, but I am not sure. Check her
office.
19. ……………..you be so kind as to help me?
20. We all …………………………visit our friends when in need.

2. Choose the most suitable answer:

EXAMPLE

1. d
1. You……………………………told them that! I asked you to keep quiet!
a. mustn't have; b. mightn't have; c. wouldn't have; d. shouldn't have.
2. He……………………..it; he was with me all the time.
a. can’t have done; b. mightn’t have done; c. won’t do; d. can’t do.
3. It…………………….have been a good idea to asked her before you just jumped
in.
a. should; b. could; c. may; d. might.
4. I can't imagine that you ……………………….to do something so stupid.
a. can have thought; b. couldn’t have thought; c. could have thought; d. may
not have thinking.
5. ……………………you have left the keys in the car?
a. may; b. could; c. must; d. mustn’t.
6. You ………………………..have helped me a little more - you weren't doing
anything.
a. may; b. could; c. must; d. can.
7. I ……………………………say this much for him: he's very generous.
a. might; b. will; c. may; d. could.
8. You …………………….have posted my letters for me while you were in the post
office.
a. mustn’t; b. might; c. can; d. won’t
9. He…………………….., though I warned him not to.

31
 a. would go; b. must go; c. can have gone; d. would have gone.
10. Well, you ………………………..have sold him the car if you didn't think he
would pay you.
a. can’t; b. may not; c. mustn’t; d. should not.
11. That house is too expensive for us. We …………..it.
a. shouldn’t buy; b. shouldn’t have bought; c. don’t have to buy; d. can buy.
12. The police officer says that the injured victims of the car crash…………….. be
removed before the ambulance arrives.
a. needn’t; b. haven’t to; c. couldn’t; d. mustn’t.
13. There was an explosion in the coal mine but all colliers ……………..escape.
a. could; b. can; c. couldn’t; d. may not.
14. Jean looked really sad after Jimmy had turned her down. She …………….be
still in love with him.
a. can; b. mustn’t; c. may not; d. should.
15. Yesterday Tony Blair defended an intervention in Iraq. He ……………..it.
a. must have done; b. mustn’t have done; c. shouldn’t have done; d. shouldn’t
do.
16. My baby has a skin infection. The doctor says that …………….give him a bath.
a. mustn’t; b. couldn’t; c. would; d. shall.
17. Even for a great champion like Roger de Vlaeminck winning Paris-Roubaix
four times wasn't a piece of cake but at last he ……………………do it.
a. was able to; b. must; c. may; d. was to.
18. Mrs. Wilson is suspected of having strangled her husband despite her age and
blindness. She …………………………him.
a. can’t have killed; b. must have killed; c. should have killed; d. could kill.
19. Our teacher says that this novel has an incredible plot. Therefore we…….read
it.
a. may not; b. can’t; d. should; d. may.

3. Put the following sentences in the past and future:

EXAMPLE

1. I had to begin./ I will have to begin.

1. I must begin.
2. You don’t have to come.
3. You can’t mean it.
4. You should help me.
5. The data must be wrong.
6. I can’t speak German.
7. We may use calculators at the exam.
8. You may be right.
9. I can carry the bag for you.
10. You must listen to your parents.

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 IV.7. End of UNIT TEST

1. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal verb:

1. You …………run faster if you weren't so lazy.
2. It's too cold. I …………..close the window.
3. He ……………be friendly, but he is usually unfriendly.
4. We …………..watch TV so much.
5. You …………………leave the class before 1 o'clock.
6. Stop smoking! You really ……………not smoke.
7. We …………………not climb those mountains when we were kids.
8. I have no time. I …………….leave now. My parents are waiting for me.
9. You failed in your final test. You ………….have studied harder.
10. Sami …………………lift that heavy table. He is too weak.
11. You …………….. have connected these two wires. It’s so dangerous.
12. The dog is barking because it ………….have heard something.
13. I didn’t take any risk, so I ……………..have been injured.
14. Sorry I have forgotten your birthday. I …………..have looked in my
notebook.
15. He told us he …………..be there tomorrow.
16. David ………………have taken your books by mistake.
17. You are an adult. You …………………..have done it.
18. Let’s end the conversation now. I ………………………go.
19. It …………………be a good idea to take a holiday.
20. She looks great! She ……………………be over 40.

2. Fill in the gaps with one of the following modal verbs:

can could have to must might should

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He ……………………

be exhausted after such a long flight. He …………………..prefer to stay in
tonight and get some rest.
2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you
…………………..walk downtown and explore the waterfront.
3. Hiking the trail to the peak ………………………..be dangerous if you are not
well prepared for dramatic weather changes. You ……………….research the
route a little more before you attempt the ascent.
4. When you have a small child in the house, you …………………leave small
objects lying around. Such objects …………….be swallowed, causing serious
injury or even death.
5. Dave: …………………..you hold your breath for more than a minute?
Nathan: No, I can't.
6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It …………………….have cost a
fortune.
7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough
water, they ……………………….die.
8. I …………………speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in
Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the

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 language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I
…………………just say a few things in the language.
9. The book is optional. My professor said we …………………….read it if we
needed extra credit. But we …………….read it if we don't want to.
10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It ……………………be in this drawer but it's not
here.
Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer.
It ………………..be in there. That's the only other place it ……………..be.
11. You ……………………..take your umbrella along with you today. The
weatherman on the news said there's a storm north of here and it
………………….rain later on this afternoon.
12. ………………………we pull over at the next rest stop? I really
…………………..use the bathroom and I don't know if I …………….hold it
until we get to Chicago.
13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He ……………..have left it
here last night.
14. Ned: ……………..I borrow your lighter for a minute?
Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you …………………keep it if you want
to. I've given up smoking.
15. I ……………………..believe she said that to Megan! She ……………………
insult her cooking in front of everyone at the party last night. She
……………………have just said she was full or had some salad if she didn't
like the meal.
16. Do you …………………………..chew with your mouth open like that? Geez,
it's making me sick watching you eat that piece of pizza.
17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still
warm! Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer ………………
be someone in this room. It ………………..be any one of us!
18. Ted: I don't know why Denise starting crying when I mentioned the wedding.
Pamela: It ………………….have been what you said about her brother. Or,
perhaps she is just nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.
19. ………………..you always say the first thing that pops into your head?
………………..you think once in a while before you speak?
20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of
this room. It ……………………………be lying around here somewhere.
Where ………………………………it be? be swallowed, causing serious
injury or even death.

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UNIT FIVE. THE PASSIVE VOICE

Contents
V.1. Introduction..................................................................................................35
V.2. Competences.................................................................................................35
V.3. Definition and use........................................................................................35
V.4. Form ............................................................................................................36
V.5. The Agent......................................................................................................37
V. 6. The Object..................................................................................................37
V.7. Verbs with limited use in the passive ...........................................................38
V.8. Impersonal passive constructions................................................................38
V.9. Summary ......................................................................................................39
V.10. Exercises ....................................................................................................39
V.11. End of unit test ...........................................................................................40

V.1. Introduction
This unit introduces essential elements regarding the use of the
passive voice in English.

V.2. Competences
On completion of UNIT FIVE, students will be able to make
changes from active into passive constructions and choose the correct
voice in a given context.

Study time for UNIT SIX: 4-5 hours.

V.3. DEFINITION AND USE

Voice is a grammatical category which makes it possible to view the action of a

sentence in two ways without change in the facts reported.

EXAMPLE

They have solved the situation./ The situation has been solved.
Someone stole my bike./ My bike was stolen.

Passive voice is used:

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  to focus on the action when the agent is either not important, unknown or
obvious;
The criminal was sentenced to life imprisonment.
I was born in 1981.
Coffee will be made available before lunch.
My nephew has been arrested twice this year.

 the agent is ‘people or things in general’;

 to focus on new information by making it the topic of the sentence;

Three basic types of stalker have been identified.

 to make a statement more impersonal and formal by avoiding the use of

personal pronouns or vague words;
It is generally recognized that smoking is bad for your health.
This paper cannot possibly be finished in two hours. (the paper is the problem
not our incompetence)

 to avoid the use of “you” in orders and rules:

All applications must be handed in before the end of the month.

 in scientific and formal pieces of writing to highlight the objectivity of the

discourse
The time taken to travel between the units is calculated by the microprocessor.

V.4. FORM

When rewriting active sentences into passive voice, one should consider the
following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence
(or is dropped).

TENSE SUBJECT VERB OBJECT

Present simple Active Mary Writes a letter.
Passive A letter is written by Mary.
Present Active Mary is writing a letter.
continuous Passive A letter is being written by Mary.
Present perfect Active Mary has written a letter.
simple Passive A letter has been written by Mary.
Past simple Active Mary Wrote a letter.
Passive A letter was written by Mary.
Past Active Mary was writing a letter.
continuous Passive A letter was being written by Mary.
Past perfect Active Mary had written a letter.
simple Passive A letter had been written by Mary.
Future simple Active Mary will write a letter.

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 Passive A letter will be written by Mary.
To be going to Active Mary is going to write a letter.
Passive A letter is going to be by Mary.
written
Modal verbs Active Mary should write a letter.
Passive A letter should be written by Mary.

V.5. THE AGENT

The agent in a passive sentence is the same person or thing as the subject of an
active sentence. It is usually introduced by “by”.
The student learned the lesson well.
The lesson was learned well by the student.
EXAMPLE

The agent is only expressed when it is important to say who or what something is
done by. In most passive sentences there is no agent as we have no interest in who
or what performs the action.
EXAMPLE

A new mall has just been opened.

The car has been damaged again.
I’m always being blamed for other people’s mistakes.

V.6. THE OBJECT

There are verbs (give, tell, send, show, lend, get, bring, buy, hand, offer, pay, teach,
write) which can be followed by two objects, a Direct Object and an Indirect one.
These verbs can have two passive forms because either of the objects can become
subjects.
EXAMPLE

( IO) ( DO )
Active = He sent her a letter.
Passive = A letter was sent to her.
Passive = She was sent a letter.

( DO) ( IO )
Active = They gave the award to a famous actor.
Passive = The award was given to a famous actor.
Passive = A famous actor was given the award.

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V.7. VERBS WITH LIMITED USE IN THE PASSIVE

 we cannot use intransitive verbs in the passive because they don’t have an
object that can be changed into the subject
Active = Dinosaurs disappeared many ages ago.
*Passive = Dinosaurs were disappeared many ages ago.

 the verbs “to suggest” and “to explain” cannot change the indirect object to
subject:
Active = We explained him the procedure.
Passive = The procedure was explained to him.
* Passive = He was explained the procedure.

 some verb phrases with two objects cannot be passive at all:

Let me wish you the best of luck.
The album earned them a fortune.
I bear him no ill will.

 after some verbs, the Direct Object can be followed by a noun or adjective
which describes the object:
Active = They elected him President.
Passive = He was elected President.
Active = We considered him a genius.
Passive = He was considered a genius.

V.8. IMPERSONAL PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

After verbs referring to mental processes, such as think, say, believe, feel, presume,
understand, know or reporting verbs , such as claim, mention, request, point out,
rumour the passive can be formed in two ways:
a) It + passive verb + “that” Clause
b) Subject + passive verb + Present/Perfect Infinitive.
The latter construction is generally used in written English. It is often used in
newspaper reports to avoid mentioning the source of the information. Consider the
following examples:
EXAMPLE

It is believed that the elections have been forged.

The elections are believed to have been forged.
It is thought that they have left the country.
They are thought to have left the country.
It is considered that he is a very dangerous man.
He is considered to be a very dangerous man.
It is said that exercising improves physical health.

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 Let’s remember...

 In spoken English we sometimes use the verb “to get” instead of “to be” in
he passive:
e.g. They got punished for making too much noise.
 Note that Present perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous are not
used in the passive voice;
 passive forms can be used for Present infinitive, perfect infinitive, present
gerund, perfect gerund;
e.g. He wants to be taken seriously all the time.
He was pleased to have been awarded the first prize.
I enjoy being given flowers.
Having been informed, she can now consider the matter.

V.9. Summary
This unit has been a discussion of the way in which the passive voice is used
in English. It provides reasons for using it, examples of the carious forms it might
take, restrictions of its usage and special constructions with the passive.

V.10. EXERCISES

1. Rewrite the sentences in passive voice:

1. Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.
2. My father is washing the car.
3. Farmer Joe is milking the cows.
4. She is taking a picture of him.
5. I am writing a poem.
6. We are not playing football.
7. He is not wearing a tie.
8. Is she preparing the party?
9. Are they talking about the meeting?
10. Is she watering the flowers?

2. Choose the most suitable tense:

Mickey Mouse (1) is born/was born on Walt Disney’s sketchpad in March
1928. The first cartoon, “Plane Crazy”, (2) was premiered/premiered two month later
on Sunset Boulevard. It was on November 1928 that Mickey Mouse (3) has officially
born/was officially born. He (4) is featured/was featured/had been featured in
“Steamboat Willie”, a film that (5) had been screened/is being screened/was screened
at the Colony Theatre in New York and (6) was first animated/had been first

39
animated/will be first animated movie to use syncronised sound. Minnie Mouse,
Mickey’s girlfriend, (7) was also featured/will be also featured/is being also featured.
The now familiar falsetto voice of Mickey (8) has been provided/is provided/was
provided by Walt Disney himself.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs nearly bankrupted the company and (9) will
be finally/was finally released/is finally released in December 1937.

3. Complete the text using the active or passive forms of the verbs from the box:

load set return forget go lock take pick

Mickey made some purchases at Sears Roebuck and Company – that the was to pick
up at the store loading deck. While…1… the goods into his car, he …2… his briefcase
containing 589,71 dollars on the loading dock and …3… it. The briefcase …4… by a
Sears employee and …5… inside. The next day the briefcase …6… to Mickey, but the
money …7… Mickey contended that the defendant was liable because, as a bailee, the
briefcase …8…. . In a safe place.

4. Identify the errors and correct them.

A third trend indirectly affecting school order is the increasing sensitivity of public
schools to the rights of children. A generation ago it was possible for principals to
rules schools autocratically, to suspend or expel students without much regard for
procedural niceties. Injustices occurred; children are “pushed out” of schools
because they antagonized teachers and principals. But this arbitrariness enabled
school administrators to control the situation when serious misbehaviour was
occurred. Students’ assaults on teachers punished so swiftly that such assaults were
almost unthinkable. Even disrespectful language was unusual. Today, as a result of
greater concern for the rights of children, school officials required to observe due
process in handing student discipline.

V.11. End of UNIT TEST

1. Put the verb in the passive:

1. Much of this town ………………(destroy) by fire in the 16th century.
2. Next year, a new school ……………………..(build) here to hold about 1,000
students.
3. Today, around 9 o'clock, a famous painting …………………….(steal) from a
museum by an armed gang and the Police are already questioning the museum
employees.
4. My brother's friend ……………………….(bite) by a dog last spring and had to
……………………(take) to hospital.
5. Today, Argentina and Chile…………………..(expect) to vote on a treaty.

40
6. A special prize ……………………..(give) to the person who will have helped us
find the culprit.
7. He ……………………..(tell) to work harder if he wanted to keep his job.
8. This work must ……………………(do) immediately.
9. English ………………………(speak) all over the world.
10. She ……………………..(say) to be living in Spain now.

2. Turn into the passive voice:

1. They built this castle in 1756. This castle…………………………in 1756.
2. The mechanic has repaired my car. My car ……………………………….
3. They will obey him, don't worry! He …………………………,don't worry.
4. They are painting the kitchen. The kitchen ………………………
5. They had prepared everything for the party. Everything ………………for the party.
6. Hemingway wrote this novel in 1932. This novel ………………….by Hemingway in
1932.
7. They make such shirts in China. Such shirts …………………………..in China.
8. People must not take their cameras inside the factory. Cameras ……………inside
the factory.
9. The gardener has watered the flowers. The flowers ………………….
10. I finished my work at 2 pm. My work …………..at 2 pm.

3. Underline the correct form of the verbs:

It was a hot summer day in a large industrial city. The temperature had soared into the
90’s and the humidity was just as high. It soft, gentle breeze (1) would have been
welcome/ was welcome, but never came. Instead the air (2) was felt/ feeling heavy, and
people reacted strongly. Their eyes teared, their throats (3) were hurned/ hurning and
their lungs (4) became congested/ congesting. Some (5) had to be rushed/ having
rushed to hospitals, others (6) were forced/ were being forced to stay inside.
The same scenario began repeating itself in city after city throughout the country. Air
pollution which (7) was brought about/ was been brought by increased industrial
development, was affecting people’s health. They became angry that air pollution was
ruining their lives and felt that the government should do something about it. People
from various states claimed that pollution (8) should be controlled/ will be controlled.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Leech, Geoffrey and Jan Svartvik. A Communicative Grammar of English.

Singapore: 1993
2. Prodromou, Luke. Grammar and Vocabulary for First Certificate. Edinburgh:
Longman, 2009;
3. Radu, Lucian si C. Milotoiu, L. Sasu, C. Antonaru, M. Andrei, A. Farcas, R.
Popa, M. Ion. Gramatica Practica a Limbii Engleze. Brasov: Editura
Universitatii Transilvania, 2005;
4. Side, Richard and Guy Wellman. Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge
Advanced and Proficiency. Edinburgh: Longman, 2002.

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