EXERCISE 1: Use either the present simple or the present continuous:

From: Pedro Martinez
To: Karen Miller
Subject: Trip to England

Hi, Karen
(1) I’m having / I have a great time here in England. My college term (2) isn’t starting/ doesn’t start until next month, so (3) I'm taking / I take the opportunity to earn some money. (4) I'm staying / I stay with my English friend, Robbie. His parents (5) are owning / own a software business. In the evenings (6) I’m driving / I drive into London with Robbie to go dubbing. (7) I’m making / I make a lot of new friends.

(8)  I think / I'm thinking my pronunciation is much better than when I arrived, and (9) I’m understanding / understand almost everything now. On weekdays (10) I’m helping / I help Robbie’s dad. At the moment (11) he’s working / he works on a new website and (12) he’s needing / he needs help with it. It’s quite tiring work, but (13) I’m liking / I like it and (14) I’m learning / I learn some really useful stuff about the Web.

(15) Do you come / Are you coming to visit me soon? (16) I’m spending / I spend the winter holiday here at Robbie’s. His parents (17) are wanting / want to meet you and there’s plenty of space. But you must bring your warmest clothes. (18) It’s getting / It gets very cold here in the winter.

Let me know as soon as (19) you’re deciding / you decide. And tell me what (20) you’re doing / you do these days. Do you miss me?
Love Pedro

 

EXERCISE 2: Choose the correct alternative: simple past OR past progressive:

Edison, Thomas Alva (1847-1931)

Thomas Edison (1) started / was starting work on the railway when he was twelve, selling newspapers and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do, so he (2) built / was building himself a little laboratory in the luggage van. He could carry out experiments there when he (3) didn’t sell / wasn’t selling things to passengers. He also (4) joined / was joining a library and (5) read / was reading every single book in it.
One day, when he (6) waited / was waiting at a station, he (7) noticed /. was noticing a small boy. The boy (8) played / was playing by the track, unaware that a train (9) approached / was approaching. Edison (10) ran / was running out and (11) grabbed / was grabbing the child just in time. The child’s father was so grateful that he (12) offered / was offering to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted the offer and soon he (13) had / was having regular lessons. After a year, he was good enough to get a job in the telegraph office. He continued to read and experiment whenever he (14) had / was having time. At twenty-one he (15) left / was leaving the telegraph office to devote all his time to being an inventor. He (16) went on / was going on to invent the electric light bulb, the phonograph and the movie camera.

 

EXERCISE 3: Choose the correct alternative: present simple, past simple, present continuous, or past continuous: 

ADAM: Hello, Mike. What (1) are you doing / do you do in this part of London?
MIKE: Well, actually, (2) I’m looking / I Look at flats round here.
ADAM: Flats? (3) Are you wanting / Do you want to move?
MIKE: Yes. In fact, believe it or not, Mandy and I (4) are getting / get married.
ADAM: That’s great! Congratulations. When (5) were you deciding / did you decide?
MIKE: Only last week. It was while we (6) were staying / stayed with her family in Scotland. Now (7) we try / we’re trying to find a suitable flat.
ADAM: It’ll be great to have you as neighbours. I hope you manage to buy one soon.
MIKE: Oh, we (8) aren’t looking / don’t look for one to buy. We (9) aren’t having / don’t have enough money yet. (10) We’re wanting / We want to find somewhere to rent.
ADAM: Yes, of course. That’s what Anna and I (11) did / were doing for six months. After that, my brother (12) was lending / lent us some money. That’s how we (13) were managing / managed to buy ours.
MIKE: Really? Perhaps I'll talk to my family before (14) we choose / we’re choosing a flat.
ADAM: That’s not a bad idea. My family (15) gave / were giving us quite a lot of helpful advice. Now have you got time for a coffee? There’s a good place just round the corner.
MIKE: Yes in fact I (16) looked / was looking for somewhere to have a snack when I bumped into you. Let's go.

 

EXERCISE 4: Put the verbs into the correct form: present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.
1.  John's terribly upset. He's broken (he / break) off his engagement to Megan. Apparently she's been seeing (she / see) someone else while he's been (he / be) in Africa.
2.  Could you translate this Swedish newspaper article for me? I understood Swedish when I was a child, but …………………………………………………… (I / forget) it all.
3. What’s that mark on the side of the car? …………………………………………………… (you / have) an accident?
4 This cassette recorder is broken. …………………………………………………… (you / play about) with it?
5. Your Italian is very good. …………………………………………………… (you / study) it long? 
6. Of course you don’t know what I think! …………………………………………………… (you / never / ask) my opinion.
7 I’m not surprised …………………………………………………… (he / fail) the exam. …………………………………………………… (he / not / work) hard recently.
S Pete's hands are very dirty. …………………………………………………… (he / repair) the garden wall.
9 I’m going to give that cat some food. …………………………………………………… (it / sit) on the doorstep for hours. I’m sure it's starving.

10. …………………………………………………… (I / do) grammar exercises all morning. I deserve a treat for lunch.
11. Where are my keys? This is the third time ………………………………………………… (I / lose) them today!
12. Oh, do be quiet. ……………………………………………………(you / grumble) all day!
13. Since Maria won the lottery …………………………………………………… (she / spend) money like water. …………………………………………………… (she / buy) a new car and …………………………………………………… (she / move) to a big new house. …………………………………………………… (she / give) wonderful parties every weekend too. In fact, I’m going to one tomorrow.

 

EXERCISE 5: Choose the correct alternative: present perfect, present perfect progressive, present progressive:

Megan meets her friend Jess in an Internet café.
MEGAN: Hi, Jess, how are you? (1) I haven’t seen / I haven't been seeing you since the summer.
JESS: No, (2) I've been revising / I've revised for my exams. They’re next week. What about you?

MEGAN: Well last week I met a website designer, Steve, (3) who’s looking / who’s been looking for an assistant for weeks. (4) He offers / He’s offered me some work.
JESS: That’s great.
MEGAN: Yeah, so every day since then (5) I look / I’ve been looking at his work online.
(6)  He’s designed / He’s been designing three or four really cool sites already. But (7) he doesn’t have / he isn’t having enough time to do everything. That’s why (8) he’s needing / he needs me.
JESS: That’s really good. Hey, who’s that guy over there? (9) He’s looked / He’s been looking at us since we came in.
MEGAN: Oh, that’s Steve, the designer (10) I’ve been telling / I tell you about.
JESS: (11) He’s looking / He looks like a student or something, not a businessman.
MEGAN: Shh. (12) He’s coming / He comes this way. 
STEVE: Hi, Megan.
MEGAN: Steve. this is my friend Jess.
STEVE: Hello. (13) Do you spend / Are you spending the afternoon here?
JESS: That’s right. (14) I come / I’m coming here most days after lunch. (15) I’m / I’ve been here since one o’clock today.
STEVE: (16) Do you enjoy / Are you enjoying yourself?
JESS: Er, yes. Thank you. But why?
STEVE: Oh, just interested. (17) I own / I’m owning this café.

 

EXERCISE 6: Choose the correct alternative: present perfect simple, present perfect progressive, past simple: 

1 My sister has been / was interested in medicine ever since she has been / was a child.
2 How long have you studied / did you study before you have qualified / qualified?
3 Where have you first met / did you first meet your boyfriend?
4 Is this the first time you’ve cooked / you cooked pasta?
S We have wanted / wanted to go to the cinema last night, but there haven’t been / weren’t any seats.
6 What can we do? I'm sure something has happened / happened to Alex. We've been waiting / We waited over an hour and he hasn’t phoned / he hasn’t been phoning yet.
7 I’ve posted / I posted that CD to you three weeks ago. If you still haven’t received / didn’t receive it, please email me immediately.
8 I’m exhausted because I’ve worked / I’ve been working in a restaurant for the past three weeks. I've never realised / I never realised how hard it is!

 

Exercise 7: Choose the correct alternative: past simple, past continuous, past perfect:  

From:      Nonna@zapnet.com
To:          GHL@zapnet.com
Cc:          Margo35@kwikmail.co.uk
Subject: INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE

Hi!

Thought you’d like to know that the conference was very successful. J The talks (1) were / had been really interesting and all the speakers (2) had prepared / prepared their material very thoroughly. Everyone agreed we should do the same next year.
            However L there were some problems with the conference centre. When we (3) arrived / had arrived, we (4) discovered / had discovered that the manager (5) reserved / had reserved the wrong room for us. This meant that we (6) didn't have / hadn't had enough space. Unfortunately, he couldn’t let us have the larger room because he (7) gave / had given it to another group, which was even bigger than ours. L L
            He (8) also misunderstood / had also misunderstood the letter explaining what food we (9) wanted / had wanted. In fact, we (10) suspected / had suspected that he (11) lost / had lost it. I don’t recommend using that place again!
CU
Nonna

 

EXERCISE 8: Put the verbs into the correct form: past simple, past continuous, past perfect simple or past perfect continuous:

Kylie has called to see her boyfriend Gary. They are both angry.

GARY: Kylie, I’m surprised to see you.
KYLIE: Yeah? Well, I think you owe me an explanation.
GARY: What about you? (1) …..I saw …. (I / see) you in the café last night. (2) …………… …………………………. (We / arrange) to meet at the cinema, if you remember.
KYLIE: So why (3) ………………………………………. (you / not / come) into the café if you saw me?
GARY: (4) ………………………………………. (I / be) too angry. And cold. (5) ………… …………………………….  (I / wait) outside the cinema for three-quarters of an hour.
KYLIE: But why? (6) ………………………………………. (you / not / get) my note?
GARY: What note?
KYLIE: The note (7) ………………………………………. (I / leave) here yesterday afternoon.
GARY: What are you talking about?
KYLIE: (8) ………………………………………. (I / go) past the cinema yesterday lunchtime when (9) ………………………………………. (I / notice) that (10) …………… …………………………. (they / change) the film. So (11) ………………………………………. (I / put) a note under your door to tell you.
GARY: (12) ………………………………………. (I / not / find) a note.
KYLIE: It must be here. Let me look. Yes, it’s here, under the mat.
GARY: Oh, right. I'm sorry I was angry. It’s just that, well, while (13) ………………… ……………………. (I / wait), (14) ………………………………………. (I / worry) about (15) ………………………………………. (what / happen) to you. Then (16) ……………… ………………………. (I / see) you in the café. (17) ………………………………………. (You / laugh) with your friends and (18) ………………………………………. (I / realise) that (19) ………………………………………. (you / sit) there in the warm with them all evening. That’s why (20) ………………………………………. (I / lose) my temper.
KYLIE: Never mind. Let’s forget it. Where shall we go now?
GARY: What’s on at the cinema, then?
KYLIE: A new musical. (21) ………………………………………. (My sister / see) it yesterday. (22) ………………………………………. (She / sing) the theme song all morning.
GARY: Oh, you must be tired of hearing it.
KYLIE: I am. Let’s just go and have something to eat, shall we?
GARY: Yes, that’s a good idea.

 

EXERCISE 9: Put the verbs in the correct form: present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, present perfect simple, present perfect continuous or past perfect simple:

 

1 Tom has had to give up playing football since he …. broke … (break) his ankle.
2 How often …………………………………… (you / visit) your cousins when you …………………………………… (you / be) in the States last year?
3 1 …………………………………… (not pay) you for my ticket yet. How much …………………………………… (I / owe) you?
4 The hotel manager called the police when he ………………………………… (discover) that a guest …………………………………… (Ieave) without paying his bill.
5 Sharon’s work is terrible these days. I don't know what …………… (happen) to her. She …………………………………… (lose) interest in everything recently.
6 We …………………………………… (have) a fire in the office last week. We …………………………………… (sort) out the mess ever since, as you can imagine.
7 My grandmother was a wonderful woman. She …………………………………… (spend) most of her life teaching adults who …………………………………… (miss) the opportunity to go to school when they …………………………………… (be) children.
8 I …………………………………… (always / want) to visit Japan. Now that I …………………………………… (have) the chance, I …………………………………… (decide) to take it.
9 We …………………………………… (go) to the theatre early, but a lot of people
…………………………………… (arrive) before us and there …………………………………… (be) a long queue for tickets.
10 My sister's in Australia at the moment. She …………………………………… (have) a wonderful time there.

 

the future: present tenses & will / shall

EXERCISE 10: Choose the correct alternative:

A       BEN: Are you busy at the moment, Sam?
SAM: Yes, (1) I prepare / I’m preparing for a conference next Wednesday, but (2) that only lasts / that is only lasting until Friday so I'm free at the weekend.

B        PAT: Oh dear, I’ve spilt my coffee.
ALAN: Don’t worry! (3) I get / I'll get a cloth.

C       WILL: What time (4) does your evening class finish / is your evening class finishing?
LIZ: Halt past nine.
WILL: (5) Shall I come / Do I come and collect you?
LIZ: Thanks, but (6) I meet / I’m meeting my sister for a drink.

D       MIKE: Mum, (7) will you talk / are you talking to Dad for me?
MUM: What’s the problem?
MIKE: Last week he said I could use the car at the weekend, but now (8) he doesn’t let / he won’t let me after all. I need it to get to the match (9) I play / I’m playing on Sunday.
MUM: OK. (10) I try / I’ll try to make him change his mind. I expect (11) he’s agreeing / he’ll agree when I explain.

 

EXERCISE 11: Choose the correct alternative:

I The sports club has put up the prices again. I'll cancel / I’m going to cancel my membership.

2 I’ve talked to my boss, but he's very unhelpful and won't do / isn't going to do anything about the problem.
3 I’ll go I I’m going to go into town this afternoon. Can I get you anything?
4 Will you hold I Are you going to hold this box for a moment while I unpack it?
5 I hear the government’s announced they’ll raise / they’re going to raise taxes again.
6 My car won't start / isn’t going to start. It must be the cold. I think,
7 I’ll start / I’m going to start a new job next week.
8 l’m so sorry I forgot our birthday. Why don’t you come round tomorrow evening and I’ll cook / I’m going to cook you a meal?
9 I took these trousers back to the shop, but they won’t change / they aren’t going to change them without a receipt.
10 You look tired. Shall we eat / Are we going to eat early this evening?
II John's sold his car. He'll buy He’s going to buy a hike, he says.
12 I’ve decided what to do for my holiday. I'll go / I’m going to go to Morocco.

 

EXERCISE 12: Write what you would say in these situations. Use will/shall, going to or the present continuous.

I You make your friend a cup of sweet coffee, then she tells you she doesn’t take sugar. Offer to make her another one.
You: ………… I'm sorry, I'll make you another one…………
2 A colleague asks why you’re leaving work early. Explain that you have a doctor's appointment.
You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
3 Your brother lent you some money last week. Promise to pay him hack at the weekend.
You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
4 Your sister has bought some CDs very cheap. You want to get some too and you've asked her several times where she got them, but she refuses to tell you. Ask why she refuses to tell you.
You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
5 You failed an exam last year. Since then you've been working hard. Tell your teacher it’s because you’re determined not to fail again.
You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
6 Your neighbour is playing loud music late at night. You get angry and ask him to turn the volume down.
You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
7 You’ve been offered a role in a film and have accepted. Tell your friends about it.

You: ……………………………………………………………………………………
8 A friend is telling you about her wedding plans. Ask her where they plan to go for their honeymoon.

You: ……………………………………………………………………………………