TENSES revision 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous: a.

. He usually (drink) coffee but today he (drink) tea. b. The Rotring (belong) to Mary. c. He (come) to see me tonight; we (go) on a trip to Sinaia next week and we (want) to make plans for it. d. I (live) in Ploiesti, but this week, as I (attend) a course in Bucharest, I (stay) with my uncle in Calea Floreasca. e. This course (contain) 14 chapters. f. Maria (come) from Spain this week; g. She (speak) French, English and Italian. h. What you (do) here? I (look) for my glasses. i. Where you (live)? I (live) in Scotland. j. This week we (study) the Middle Ages in the English Culture and Civilisation. k. This bottle (hold) boric acid. Dont touch it! l. Ann (resemble) her mother more and more. m. It (rain) now. It often (rain) in summer. n. Pardon me, sir, but I (think) you (stand) on my feet. 2. Decide which is the most appropriate form of the verb in the following sentences: a. Im thinking/ I think of you. b. She smells/ is smelling gas.; c. Mother is tasting/ tastes the soup to see if it needs more salt.; d. We have/ are having dinner now.; e. Could you call him back in twenty minutes as he has/ is having a bath right now. f. Whats wrong with you? Why are you looking/ do you look at me like this? g. The film is extremely long and boring. It lasts/ is lasting four hours. h. I think/ am thinking that something is wrong with the radiator in this room. It gets/ is getting colder and colder. i. What exactly does your job involve/ is your job involving? 3. Complete this postcard using the correct form of the verbs on the right: Greetings from Scotland! John and I ..... our spend summer in Edinburgh, at Edinburgh University, where we .. a good have time and at the same time we .. things about learn Scottish and Irish writers. People.. here come every summer to learn more about contemporary literature. I .. a paper on Samuel Beckett this week write and John .. a short story written by Angela read Carter. We .. up at half past eight every get morning and .. courses from ten to half past twelve. have 1

We .. at one, yet today, as we .. a eat, visit literature museum, we earlier. finish So its hard work. But I .. it here. We ..... like, have a post-office in front of the Centre, so I . here stop in order to mail your postcard. Love, Kate 4. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals and so that the meaning stays the same: a. The cost of the bus ticket is part of the transport fee. INCLUDES b. What is the weight of that bag you have as hand luggage? MUCH c. John has the bad habit of eavesdropping to other peoples conversation. ALWAYS d. Sunset is at 9.30 tonight. THE SUN e. What is inside this book? CONTAIN f. Im positive that you have no idea what the answer is. BET g. She works hard, so she doesnt have too much spare time. MEANS h. The war in Irak is over. COMES i. The number of people who own houses on the outskirts of the city is increasing. BUYING j. They are decorating my room now. HAVING 5. Choose the correct sentence: a. She has a car. /She is having a car. b. We think she is tall./ We are thinking she is tall. c. I am seeing a horse. / I see a horse. d. The sweater feels soft. / The sweater is feeling soft. e. She is looking angry. / She looks angry. f. I feel the sweater. / I am feeling the sweater. g. The dentist is seeing a patient. / The dentist sees a patient. h. The grocer is weighing sugar. / The grocer weighs sugar. i. I am looking at the picture. / I look at the picture. j. We think about her. / We are thinking about her. k. She is having dinner. / She has dinner . l. Ann is foolish today. / Ann is being foolish today. m. She is tasting the soup. / She tastes the soup. 2

n. The actor is appearing on TV. / The actor appears on TV. 6. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple present or the present continuous tense. a. You cannot see Mary now: she (see) her boyfriend. b. They wont go out as it (snow) and they (not have) warm clothes. c. Hardly anyone (wear) tight pants nowadays. d. George cant watch his favourite TV program now because his father (watch) a movie. e. Shes busy at the moment. She (put) the baby to sleep. f. This novel is about a boy who (desert) his friends and (go) to enrol in the army. g. The train that we (look) at right now just (leave) for Arad. h. What George (do) to his computer now? ~ I (think) he (format) it. i. Why you (listen) to this song, Mary? You (not listen) to this type of music as a rule. j. That play (come) to our theatre next week. You (want) to see it? 7. Ask questions about the underlined parts of the following sentences. a. The two friends are listening to a rock concert. b. The milkman comes to our house twice a week. c. The children are playing at hide-and-seek. d. I usually read two books a week when I have time. e. Our guests are talking to us in Russian. f. It takes five hours to reach the top of the mountain. g. She is wearing a strange, yellow dress. h. My father usually comes home from work by car. i. The family are celebrating the birth of their newest member. j. Tom never washes his trousers until somebody tells him to. 8. Translate into English using the Present Simple or Continuous. a. Vacana de var ine dou luni. n fiecare var mergem cinci zile la munte. b. E smbt i facem curat n cas. Eu fac paturile iar sora mea terge praful din camer. c. Bunica uit ntotdeauna unde-i pune pantofii i de fiecare dat cnd are nevoie de ei i caut prin toat casa. d. Lum micul dejun. Mama bea cafea, iar tata mnnc omlet. e. Nu spune niciodat nimic interesant. f. n mod obinuit ne petrecem sfritul de sptmn ntr-un sat din apropierea Clujului. De data asta ns rmnem acas pentru c ateptm nite musafiri. g. Prietenii ti te ateapt n faa cinematografului dar tu ntotdeauna citeti la ora aceasta. 1. Decide which is the correct verb form: a. I saw/was seeing a very good programme on TV last night. b. While I was learning/ learnt for my French exam, somebody was knocking/ knocked at the door. c. How did you cut/ were you cutting your finger? While I was fixing/ fixed the wire, I was dropping/ dropped the knife. d. I was listening/ listened to the news on the radio when the phone was starting/ started to ring. 3

e. An American jet pilot was taking off/ took off from Washington, but the jets engines went/ were going wrong. f. We made / were making about 50 text analyses last year. g. Latin played/ was playing an essential part in the development of languages such as Romanian, Spanish, Italian, or French. h. Our crew included/ was including a linguist, a writer and an English interpreter. i. When the house was decorated, the entire family moved/ was moving in. j. The first important breakthrough was replacing/ replaced radios with television sets in the 50s. 2. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word or words in capitals. Do not alter the form of the words in any way and do not change the meaning of the sentence: a. To get to the office on time I had to wake up at 5:30 every morning. MEANT b. I didnt exactly like swimming in those days. WAS c. There was someone to meet him on arrival. WHEN d. I didnt know about your departure. THAT e. I intended to invite you at my party, but Im afraid that I completely forgot (it). GOING f. When you passed by the town hall clock, did you notice the time? WHAT g. I had to go past your house so I decided to drop in. PASSING h. Someone was painting our house at that moment. HAVING i. Someone stole Dianas bag yesterday. HAD j. The smell of the cheese stopped my eating the breakfast. PUT 4. Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or continuous: a. She lit the fire at 8.00 and it (burn) brightly when Mike came home at 9.00. b. Mother (make) a cake when the light (go) out. c. He (watch) the movie when the phone (ring). He (turn) down the sound and (go) to answer it. d. The admiral (study) the battle plans when he (receive) news of the invasion. He (insist) on finishing his task. e. They suddenly (realize) that they (fly) with the wrong plane. f. I just (open) the door when the wind (blow) and (break) all the windows in the room. g. He (dig) his garden when he accidentally (cut) three of his toes. h. This (annoy) the bull, which immediately (begin) to chase Mr. Smith. 4

i. As they (walk) along the road they (hear) a car coming from behind them. j. Tom (turn) round and (hold) up his hand. The car (stop). k. I (find) this ring as I (dig) in the garden. It looks very old. I wonder who it (belong) to? l. A little later the teacher (notice) that smoke (rise) from this desk. You (smoke) when I (come) in? he (ask). m. He (say) that he (build) himself a house and that he (think) it would be ready in two years. n. Why you (lend) him that book? I still (read) it. Im sorry. I (not know) that you still (read) it. o. At 3 a.m. Mrs. Pitt (wake) her husband and (say) that she (think) that someone (try) to get into the house. 5. Translate into English using the simple and continuous past tense whenever necessary: a. M uitam la televizor cnd a sosit potaul. b. n timp ce Diana asculta un concert la radio, cineva a btut la u. c. Anul trecut pe vremea asta eram la Predeal; acolo mi petreceam vacana de iarn i schiam n fiecare zi. d. Cum s-a ntmplat exact accidentul? Mergeam de la Bucureti la Ploieti i tata tocmai ne povestea despre accidentul unor prieteni de-ai lui cnd deodat n faa mainii a srit un cine. e. ncercau s gseasc drumul ctre centru cnd au dat peste un tnr care s-a oferit s i nsoeasc i care i-a condus la obiectivele turistice cele mai importante ale oraului. f. Dan se gndi c trebuia s se apuce de lucru, era cu mult n urm, dar tocmai n momentul cnd lua aceast hotrre veni un prieten i-l invit la un meci de fotbal. g. Te-am zrit alaltieri n mulimea de oameni care atepta s se deschid sala de spectacol, dar dei am ncercat s-mi croiesc drum pn la tine, a fost de-a dreptul imposibil. h. De ce boli ai suferit cnd erai mic i cnd ai fost ultima oar la medic? 1. Complete this conversation by putting the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or simple past: Maria: Hello, Dan. Dan: Hello. I (not hear) from you for a long time. Maria: I (see) you in town two or three weeks ago, but you (not see) me. I (be) on a tram. Dan: Well, how are you? I remember that you were learning for your English Phonetics test. . you (pass) it yet? Maria: Yes, I have. I (pass) in December. I (not pass) my Lexicology exam yet. But what about you, Dan? Anything exciting (happen) to you lately? Dan: No, not really. My brother is still out of work. Maria: He (graduate) from school in autumn? Dan: Yes. He (not do) very well in his exams and he (not find) a job yet. Maria: Are you still working at Scotts? Dan: Yes. They just (give) me a pay rise. Maria: Well, thats one piece of good news. 2. Insert the Present Perfect or Past Indefinite: a. Thomas (to meet) her for the first time the day he turned 20. b. I (to see) my friends name in the papers quite often lately. 5

c. As far as I know, Mr Black (not to return) from the dentists; he (to leave) quite a long time ago. d. They (to stand) in silence for a few minutes; she (to speak) at last. e. Mike, here is your cake; you (not to eat) it. f. I dont know why but I have the feeling that something (to happen). g. She (to begin) reading at 8 this morning and (to go) on reading until 11 oclock when she (to stop) and (to have) something to eat. She (to read) about nine hours today, and (to translate) more than 25 pages. h. When I (to buy) my car I (to ask) the company to confirm my insurance by telephone. The company (to tell) me to wait for the response, but I (to wait) a month now and the confirmation still (not come). 4. Fill in with a suitable verb either in the Past Tense or Present Perfect: a. You () all your life in this luxurious mansion? b. When I () school I () my hair and () it short ever since. c. My sister () several poems. She just () her second ode. d. For your information I () home at 8 in the morning and () just before noon. e. John cannot send the letter since he () it. He () writing it at 5 and its 8 already. f. As a child, I () catch a cold every month. Now I (...) a cold for more than two years. g. It () very hot this summer, I wonder when its going to get colder. h. The movie () at 12 and () for two hours. Everybody enjoyed it. i. What are we going to do? We () the train and the next one leaves in the morning. j. You () her an e-mail yet? Yes, I () it when you () at school. 6. Translate into English: a. Te-am cutat ieri vreo dou ore i te-am cutat i astzi. Pe unde ai umblat? b. Cu ani n urm cretea porumbei i lilieci dar acum s-a apucat s planteze ananas. c. Vecinul meu a scris i cteva poveti de adormit copiii; evident, le-a scris cnd era foarte tnr. d. Am but i am dansat pn acum, c de mncat am mncat diminea. e. Nu am vzut n viaa mea atta suferin ct am vzut azi la acest azil de btrni. f. S-a purtat foarte frumos cu mine de cnd i-am spus c i vnd lui maina mea. g. Cumnatul meu a spart ieri casa fostului su director; dup aceea s-a fcut nevzut i de atunci poliia l caut fr ncetare. h. Tocmai am aflat vestea conform creia preedintele acelei ri a czut victim unui atac terorist. i. Vi se pare curios c tocmai i-a luat lucrurile i a plecat, dup ce l-ai njurat c nu a avut bani s plteasc chiria? j. Sigur, domnule, John i-a pltit datoria. i-a pltit-o nc de cnd a luat salariul. 4. Rewrite each sentence, beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same: a. Its a long time since I last saw such a good movie. I havent seen .. b. We havent seen each other for ages. Its ages c. I bought my car in 1992 and Im still driving it. Ive been 6

d. I havent been to Barcelona before. Its the first . e. There is definite improvement in your spelling recently. Lately your spelling . f. No wonder you are overweight. You ate chocolates in the morning, you have eaten chocolates in the afternoon and you are still eating chocolates now and its 5 pm. No wonder you are overweight. You . g. I dont know where my glasses are. I have . h. I dont have the textbook with me. It is at home. I have . i. The last time I spoke to Jane was in 2001. I havent .. j. Eating this spicy Indian food is totally new to me. I havent 5. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: present perfect simple or continuous: a. Peter: You (telephone) for ages. You not nearly (finish)? Jack: I (not get) through yet. I (try) to get our Paris office but the line (be) engaged all morning. b. Ann (fail) her driving test three times because she's so bad at reversing. But she (practise) reversing for the last week and I think she (get) a bit better at it. c. Tom: I often (wonder) why Bill left the country so suddenly. Peter: Actually, I just (find) out. d. He (play) the bagpipes since six o'clock this morning. He only just (stop). e. Why you (not bring) me the letters for signature? You (not type) them yet? f. Tom (looking up absent-mindedly as Mary comes in): You (sunbathe)? Mary (crossly): Don't be ridiculous! It (rain) all day! g. A pair of robins (build) a nest in the porch since last week. I (watch) them from my window since they began. h. The police (not find) the murderer yet, but the dead man's brother (be) in the station all day. The police say that he (help) them with their enquiries. i. They (pull) down most of the houses in this street, but they (not touch) the old shop at the corner yet. j. Tom is convinced that there is gold in these hills but we (search) for six months and (not see) any sign of it. k. I (wait) for the prices of the houses to come down before buying a house, but I think I (wait) too long and the prices are beginning to go up again. l. Peter (be) a junior clerk for three years. Lately he (look) for a better post but so far he (not find) anything. m. I (do) housework all morning and I (not finish) yet. I (do) mine already. I always start at 6 a.m. n. I just (pick) ten pounds of strawberries! I (grow) strawberries for years but I never (have) such a good crop before. 7

o. What you (do) with the corkscrew? The point is broken off. I'm afraid I (use) it to make holes in this tin. p. She just (sell) two of her own paintings. She's lucky. I (paint) for five years and I (not sell) a single picture yet. q. They are throwing crockery at each other in the next flat. This (happen) before? Well, they (have) a good many rows but this is the fifth time they (throw) crockery. r. What you (do) with my typewriter? I can't find it anywhere. Tom just (go) off with it. He says he'll bring it back when he (finish). s. He (work) for Crow Brothers for forty years and never once (be) late. The firm just (present) him with a gold watch as a sign of their appreciation. t. We (mend) sheets all morning but we only (do) three, and now the sewing machine (break) down so we'll be even slower with the next one.