Verb tenses

VERB TENSES I. Put the verb into the correct tense. present continuous or present simple. 1. Let's go out. It ………………….. (not / rain) now. 2 Julia is very good at languages. She …………(speak) four languages very well. 3 Hurry up! Everybody …………………………(wait) for you. 4 '.........................(you / listen) to the radio?' 'No, you can turn it off.' 5………………………(you / listen) to the radio every day?' 'No, just occasionally.' 6 The River Nile ……………….. (flow) into the Mediterranean. 7 The river ……………………… (flow) very fast today - much faster than usual. 8 We usually ……………(grow) vegetables in our garden, but this year we ……………. (not / grow) any. 9 A: How's your English? B: Not bad. I think it ………………… (improve) slowly. 10 Rachel is in London at the moment. She ………………(stay) at the Park Hotel. She always ………..(stay) there when she's in London. 11 Can we stop walking soon? I ………………………….. (start) to feel tired. 12 A: Can you drive? B: I (learn). My father ………………. (teach) me. . 13 Normally I …….. (finish) work at five, but this week I ……...... (work) until six to earn a little more money. 14 My parents ………………..(live) in Manchester. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else. Where……………………………. (your parents / live)? 15 Sonia ………………(look) for a place to live. She …........... (stay) with her sister until she finds somewhere. 16 A: What ……………(your brother / do)? B: He's an architect, but he……………not / work) at the moment. 17 (at a party) I usually..................... (enjoy) parties, but I …………………(not / enjoy) this one very much. 18. Are you hungry? ……………………(you / want) something to eat? 19. Don't put the dictionary away. I……………….(use) it. 20. Don't put the dictionary away. I ………………….. (need) it. 21. Who is that man? What ……………….. (he / want)? 22. Who is that man? Why …………………….(he / look) at us? 23. Alan says he's 80 years old, but nobody…………………… (believe) him. 24. She told me her name, but I ………………………… (not / remember) it now. 25. I………………… (think) of selling my car. Would you be interested in buying it? 26. I…………(think) you should sell your car. You ……………………(not / use) it very often. 27. Air . ……………….. (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. Past simple and past continuous 28. It was warm, so I ………………. off my coat. (take) 29. The film wasn't very good. I …………….. it very much. (not/enjoy) 30. I knew Sarah was very busy, so I ……………….. her. (not/ disturb) 31. I was very tired, so I ……………. the party early. (leave) 32. The bed was very uncomfortable. I ………………… very well. (not/ sleep) 33. The window was open and a bird ………………….. into the room. (fly) 34. The hotel wasn't very expensive. It ……………………… very much. (not/ cost) 35. I was in a hurry, so I …………………….. time to phone you. (not/ have) 36. It was hard carrying the bags. They…………………. very heavy. (be) Past simple and past continuous 37. Jenny ……………… (wait) for me when I …………….. (arrive). 38. 'What …………………. (you / do) at this time yesterday?' 'I was asleep.' 39. '………………………… (you / go) out last night?' 'No, I was too tired.' 40. How fast ………………. (you / drive) when the accident ……………… (happen)? 41. Sarah …………….. (take) a photo of me while I …………………… (not / look). 42. We were in a very difficult position. We ……………….(not / know) what to do. 43. I haven't seen Alan for ages. When I last ……………… (see) him, he ……… (try) to find a job. 44. I ……………(walk) along the street when suddenly I…………….(hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody ………………..(follow) me. I was scared and I …………….. (start) to run. 45. When I was young, I . ……………….. (want) to be a pilot. 46. Last night I ……………….. (drop) a plate when I …………….(do) ……………….the washing up. Fortunately it……………… (not / break). Present perfect and past simple 47. Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it. He …………… (lose) it.. 48. Margaret can't walk and her leg is in plaster. She …………………… (brake) her leg. 49. Last week the bus fare was 80 pence. Now it is 90. The bus fare ……………… (go up). 50. Maria's English wasn't very good. Now it is better. Her English …………………. (improve) 51. Dan didn't have a beard before. Now he has a beard. He ……………….(grow) one. 52. This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. The letter ………………… (arrive) 53. The temperature was 20 degrees. Now it is only 12. The temperature …………… (fall). 54. A. 'Would you like something to eat?' – B. “ No thank you. I …............... just …………..(have lunch) 55. A. 'Can I speak to Joe?' – B. “I'm afraid , he ……………….. (just/ go out) 56. Wait a minute! I ………………… (not / finish) my meal yet 57. A. 'Shall I phone to reserve a table.' – B “No, ………………………. (already/ do it) 58. A. 'Where are you going for your holiday?' – B. “I ………………….. (not /decide) yet. 59. Jim is on holiday. He's (go) ………………… to Italy. 60. Hello! I ( just/ be)…………….. to the shops. I've bought lots of things. 61. Alice isn't here at the moment. She (go) …………….. to the shop to get a newspaper. 62. Tom (go) ……………………… out. He'll be back in about an hour. 63. 'Are you going to the bank?' 'No, I (already/ be) ………………………. to the bank.' 64. The town is very different now. It ……………………….. a lot. (change) 65. I did German at school, but I most of it now. (forget) 66. The police ………………….. three people, but later they let them go. (arrest) 67. What do you think of my English? Do you think it ……………………... ? (improve) 68A: Are you still reading the paper? B: No, I…………………. with it. You can have it. (finish) 69. I ……………………………….. for a job as a tourist guide, but I wasn't successful. (apply) 70. Where's my bike? It …………………… outside the house, but it's not there now. (be) 71 Look! There's an ambulance over there. There……………………… an accident. (be) 72. A: Have you heard about Ben? He …………………… his arm. (break) B: Really? How that ? (happen) A: He ……………………….. off a ladder. (fall) 73 I meant to call you last night, but I ……………………………….. (forget). 74. I don't know where Lisa is. …………………………… (you / see) her? 75. When I …………. (get) home last night, I ………(be) tired and I ………………….(go) straight to bed. 76. A: ………………………………….. (you / finish) painting the bedroom? B: Not yet. I'll finish it tomorrow. 77. George …………………… (not / be) very well last week. 78. Mr. Clark. …………………….. (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up. 79. Molly lives in Dublin. She …………………….. (live) there all her life. 80. A: ……….. (you / go) to the cinema last night? B: Yes, but it…… (be) a mistake. The film ….. (be) boring. 81. My grandfather . (die) before I was born. I ................................... (never / meet) him. 82. I don't know Carol's husband. I…………………………. (never / meet) him. 83. A: Is Martin here? B: No, he ……………………(go) out. A: When exactly ……………………… (he / go) out? B: About ten minutes ago. 84. A: Where do you live? B: In Boston. A: How long (you / live) there? B: Five years. A: Where (you / live) before that? B: In Chicago. A: And how long (you / live) in Chicago? B: Two years. present perfect (I have done) or continuous (I have been doing). 85. Where have you been? …………………………….. (you / play) tennis? 86. Look!.................................(somebody / break) that window. 87. You look tired ………………………. (you / work) hard? 88. '……………………………. (you / ever / work) in a factory?' 'No, never.' 89. 'Liz is away on holiday.' 'Is she? Where ………………………. (she / go)? 90. My brother is an actor. ……………………… (he / appear) in several films. 91. 'Sorry I'm late.' 'That's all right…………………………. (I/ not / wait) long.' 92. 'Is it still raining?' 'No, ………………………….. (it / stop).' 93. ……………………… (I/ lose) my address book. ………………….. (you / see) it? 94. …………. (I/ read) the book you lent me, but………………..(I / not / finish) it yet. It's very interesting. 95 ………………………. (I/ read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now. Past simple , past perfect or past perfect continuous 96. 'Was Paul at the party when you arrived?' 'No, he ……………………… (go) home.' 97. I felt very tired when I got home, so I ………………………… (go) straight to bed. 98. The house was very quiet when I got home. Everybody................................ (go) to bed. 99. Sorry I'm late. The car…………………….. (break) down on my way here. 100. We were driving along the road when we …………… (see) a car which ........................... (break) down, so we …………….(stop) to help. 101. It was very noisy next door. Our neighbours ……………… (have) a party. 102. We were good friends. We ……………. (know) each other for years. 103. John and 1 went for a walk. 1 had difficulty keeping up with him because.............................. (walk) so fast. 104. Sue was sitting on the ground. She was out of breath. She ……………………………….. (run). 105. When 1 arrived, everybody was sitting round the table with their mouths full. They ......……………. (eat). 106. When 1 arrived, everybody was sitting round the table and talking. Their mouths were empty, but their stomachs were full. They …………………..…(eat). 107. Jim was on his hands and knees on the floor. He ………....... (look) for his ………………..contact lens. 108. When I arrived, Kate ……………………. (wait) for me. She was annoyed with me …………..because I was late and she ……………………… (wait) for a long time. 109. I was sad when I sold my car. I …………………… (have) it for a very long time. 110. We were extremely tired at the end of the journey. We …………………. (travel) for more than 24 hours. FUTURE TENSES: present continuous or present simple. 111. I…………………… (go) to the cinema this evening. 112. (the film / begin) at 3.30 or 4.30? 113. We. (have) a party next Saturday. Would you like to come? 114. The art exhibition ………………….. (finish) on 3 May. 115. I (not / go) out this evening. I …………………… (stay) at home. 116. …………………………(you / do) anything tomorrow morning?' 'No, I'm free. Why?' 117. We .. (go) to a concert tonight. It ……………………..(start) at 7.30. 118. I ………………………… (leave) now. I've come to say goodbye. 119. A: Have you seen Liz recently? B: No, bur we …………………….. (meet) for lunch next week. 120. You are on the train to London and you ask another passenger: Excuse me. What time ……………………… (this train / get) to London? 121. You and a friend are watching television. You say: I'm bored with this programme. What time . (it / end)? 122. I ……………………… (not / use) the car this evening, so you can have it. 123. Sue …… (come) to see us tomorrow. She ………(travel) by train and her train ……..(arrive) at 10.15. will ('II) or going to. 124. The phone rings and you answer. Somebody wants to speak to Jim. CALLER: Hello. Can I speak to Jim, please? YOU: Just a moment. ……………………. him. (I/ get) 125. It's a nice day, so you have decided to take a walk. Just before you go, you tell your friend. YOU: The weather's too nice to stay in. …………………… a walk. (I/ take) FRIEND: Good idea. I think . ………………………… you. (I/ join) 126. Your friend is worried because she has lost an important letter. YOU: Don't worry about the letter. I'm sure ………………….it. (you / find) - FRIEND: I hope so. 127. There was a job advertised in the paper recently. At first you were interested, but then you decided not to apply. FRIEND: Have you decided what to do about that job you were interested in? YOU: Yes, ………………… for it. (1/ not / apply) 128. You and a friend come home very late. Other people in the house are asleep. Your friend IS noisy. YOU: Shh! Don't make so much noise.. everybody up. (you / wake) 129. Paul has to go to the airport to catch a plane tomorrow morning. PAUL: Liz, I need somebody to take me to the airport tomorrow morning. LIZ: That's no problem. ………………………. you. (1/ take) What time is your flight? PAUL: 10.50. LIZ: OK, …………………………. at about 9 o'clock then. (we / leave) 130. Later that day, Joe offers to take Paul to the airport. JOE: Paul, do you want me to take you to the airport? PAUL: No thanks, Joe. .. me. (Liz / take) will be (do)ing or will have (done). 131. Don't phone between 7 and 8. ………………………… (we / have) dinner then. 132. Phone me after 8 o'clock. ………………………. (we / finish) dinner by then. 133. Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30. So at 4 o'clock, ………………… (we / play) tennis. 134. A: Can we meet tomorrow? B: Yes, but not in the afternoon. ………………………….. (I/ work). 135. B has to go to a meeting which begins at 10 o'clock. It will last about an hour. A: Will you be free at 11.30? B: yes, ………………………………..(the meeting / end) by then. 136. Ben is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like this, ...................... (he / spend) all his money before the end of his holiday. 137. Do you think (you / still / do) the same job in ten years' time? 138. Lisa is from New Zealand. She is travelling around Europe at the moment. So far she has travelled about 1,000 miles. By the end of the trip, ………………………………. (she / travel) more than 3,000 miles. 139. If you need to contact me, …………………………. (1/ stay) at the Lion Hotel until Friday. 140. A:………………………………………………….(you / see) Laura tomorrow? B: Yes, probably. Why? A: I borrowed this CD from her. Can you give it back to her? will/won't or the present simple (I see / he plays / it is etc.). 141. I ……………….. (phone) you when I……………….. (get) home from work. 142. I want to see Julia before she (go) out. 143. We're going on holiday tomorrow. I….………(tell) you all about it when we ……………… (come) back. 144. Brian looks very different now. When you ……………………… (not / recognise) him. 145. ………………………. (you / be) lonely without me while I ……………………… (be) away? 146. We must do something soon before it . ……………… (be) too late. 147. I don't want to go without you. I …………………….(wait) until you …………………..(be) ready. 148. Sue has applied for the job, but she isn't very well-qualified for it. I ……. (be) surprised if she ……(get) it. 149. I hope to play tennis tomorrow if the weather ……………………… (be) nice. 150. I'm going out now. If anybody ……………(phone) while I ………….(be) out, can you take a message? II. Read the situations and write sentences as shown in the example. 1 Jack is driving a car, but he's very nervous and not sure what to do. You ask: (You/ ever/ drive a car?). . He says: No, this/ first time/ I/ drive a car. . 2 Ben is playing tennis. He's not good at it and he doesn't know the rules. You ask: (You/ ever/ play tennis?) . He says: No, (this/ first time/ I/ play tennis) . . 3 Sue is riding a horse. She doesn't look very confident or comfortable. You ask: (you/ ever ride a horse?) She says: No, (this/ first time/ ride a horse) 4 Maria is in London. She has just arrived and it's very new for her. You ask: (you/ ever/ to London?) S he says: No, (this/ first time/ come here) 5. You meet Paul as he is leaving the swimming pool. You ask: (you / swim?) .Have you been swimming? 6. You have just arrived to meet a friend who is waiting for you. You ask: (you / wait / long?) ………………………………………………………… . 7. You meet a friend in the street. His face and hands are very dirty. You ask: (what / you / do?) ………………………………………………………… . 8. A friend of yours is now working in a shop. You want to know how long. You ask: (how long / you / work / there?) ………………………………………………… . 9. A friend tells you about his job - he sells computers. You want to know how long. You ask: (how long / you / sell / computers?) …………………………………………… . 10. You have a friend who is learning Arabic. You ask: (how long / learn / Arabic?) ………………………………………………………………….. . 11. You have just arrived to meet a friend. She is waiting for you. You ask: (wait/long?) Have …………………………………………………………………….. 12. You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask: (catch / any fish?) ……………………………………………………………………….. . 13. Some friends of yours are having a party next week. You ask: (how many people / invite? )…………………………………………………………………….. . 14. A friend of yours is a teacher. You ask: (how long / teach?) ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15. You meet somebody who is a writer. You ask: (how many books / write?) ……………………………………………………………………….. . (how long / write / books?) . …………………………………………………………………………… 16. A friend of yours is saving money to go on holiday. You ask: (how long / save?) …………………………………………………………………………. (how much money / save?) …………………………………………………………………. .. 17. John tells you that his mother is in hospital. You ask him: (how long / be / in hospital?) ………………………………………………………………. 18. You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her: (how long / teach / English?) ………………………………………………………….. . 19. You know that Jane is a good friend of Caroline's. You ask Jane: (how long / know / Caroline?) . 20. Your friend's brother went to Australia some time ago and he's still there. You ask your friend: (how long / be / in Australia?) . 21. Tim always wears the same jacket. It's a very old jacket. You ask him: (how long / have / that jacket?) . 22. You are talking to a friend about Joe. Joe now works at the airport. You ask your friend: (how long / work / a t the airport?) . 23. A friend of yours is learning to drive. You ask him: (how long / learn / to drive?) . . 24. You meet somebody on a plane. She says that she lives in Chicago. You ask her: ( always / live / in Chicago? ) . 25. It's raining. The rain started two hours ago. -> It'………………………………… for two hours. 26 .We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago. -> We ………………………………………………………….. for 20 minutes. 27. I'm learning Spanish. I started classes in December. -> I………………………………………………………………….. since December. 28. Mary is working in London. She started working there on 18 January . -> ……………………………………………………………………………since 18 January. 29. Our friends always spend their holidays in Italy. They started going there years ago . -.>……………………………………………………………………………… .for years. 30. Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53. (read / for two hours) -> ………………………………………………………………….. . (read / 53 pages so far)-> -> …………………………………………………………….. . 31. Rachel is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe at the moment. She began her trip three months ago. (travel/for three months) She ……………………………………………………………………... (visit / six countries so far) . ……………………………………………………………………… . 32. Patrick is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was ten years old. This year he is national champion again - for the fourth time. (win / the national championships / four times) ………………………………………………….. . (play / tennis since he was ten) ……………………………………………………………………. . 33. When they left college, Lisa and Sue started making films together. They still make films. (make / five films since they left college) They ………………………………………………….. (make / films since they left college) …………………………………………………………. 34. It's raining. It's been raining since lunchtime. It ………………………………. at lunchtime. 35. Ann and Sue are friends. They first met years ago. They've ………………. ………………years. 36. Joe is ill. He became ill on Sunday. He has Sunday. 37. Joe is ill. He became ill a few days ago. He has a few days. 38. Liz is married. She's been married for a year. She got . 39. You have a headache. It started when you woke up. I've ……………………………………..I woke up. 40. Sue has been in Italy for the last three weeks. She went ……………………………………………………. 41. You're working in a hotel. You started six months ago. I've ……………………………………... 42. A: Do you often go on holiday? - B: (no / I/ not have a holiday/ five years) ……………………………………… 43. A: Do you often see Sarah? B: (no / I/ not see her/ about a month) …………………………………….. 44. A: Do you often go to the cinema? B: (no / I/ not / to the cinema/ a long time)………………………… 45 A: Do you often eat in restaurants? B: (no /I/ not/ eat in restaurants/ ages ) ………………………………… 46. It’s five years since (I/last/ have a holiday) …………………………………………………………… 47. It’s a long time since (I/ last/ go to the cinema) ………………………………………………………………………….. . 48. (It/ about a month) ……………………………….. since I last saw Mary. 49. (It/ ages) ……………………………………. since I had a holiday. 50.We played tennis yesterday. Half an hour after we began playing, it started to rain. -> We had been …………………………………when it …………………………………….. . 51. I had arranged to meet Tom in a restaurant. 1 arrived and waited for him. After 20 minutes 1 suddenly realised that 1 was in the wrong restaurant. -> I ……………………….for 20 minutes when I……………………………………….. the wrong restaurant. 52. Sarah got a job in factory. Five years later the factory closed down. -> At the time the factory ……………………………., Sarah ………………………….. there for five years. 53. I went to a concert last week. The orchestra began playing. After about ten minutes a man in the audience suddenly started shouting. -> The orchestra …………………………………………………when ……………………………………. . 54. We went jogging last Sunday. After we started about 10 minutes. We stopped to have a rest. -> By the time we stopped ………………………………………………………………………………… .