PAST SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS
2
Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or past continuous.
1
It happened in June 1985. It was summer and we were all lying out in the garden. My mother
was reading and my uncle was just dozing in the sun. We children were looking for worms and
insects. And then he arrived. He was a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes and he
(looked straight at my mother. Her face went pale and her eyes opened wide with shock.
'Arthur, I thought you 13 were dead,' she said in a kind of whisper.
2
A: I phoned you at about 9 o'clock this morning but you didn’t answer . What were you
doing?
B: Well, I heard the phone but I was having a shower and I couldn’tget out in time to answer it.
Anyway, what did you want?
A: Well, last night I cleared out that old desk you
Gave me when I came across a
pile of old letters with a red ribbon round them.
B: My letters?
A: Yes, they were addressed to you. And they all smelt of perfume, a man's perfume.
3
Last night Jake woke up at about 3 a.m. As soon as he
woke up he listened out for strange noises but he didn’t hear any. His father was snoring in
the next room, some central heating pipes were
making a bit of a noise and a tap was dripping in the bathroom. It was all as usual. Jake opened
the window and looked outside. The moon was full and
it was shining brightly. Jake thought he saw an owl in one of the trees. He 40 could certainly
hear one. But then he saw something different. A man - no, it was a woman. She was wearing
white and she was hiding behind a tree. Suddenly she ran towards the house.
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
3
Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or Present Perfect
1 This is my house. 'How long you have you livedhere? I’ve lived here since 1970. 2 He lived in London
for two years and then went to Edinburgh. 3 Did you wear your hair long when you were at school? Yes,
my mother insisted on it. 4 But when.I left school I cut my hair and have worn it short ever since. 5
Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays. 6 My brother has written several plays. He has just finished his
second tragedy. 7 I flew over Loch Ness last week. Have you seen the Loch Ness monster? 8 I have
not seen him for three years. I wonder where he is. 9 He has not smoked for two weeks. He is trying
to give it up. 10 Chopin composed some of his music in Majorca. 11 When did he arrive? He arrived at
2.00. 12 did you lock the door before you left the house? 13 I read his books when I was at school. I
enjoyed them very much. 14 I can't go out because I haven’t finished my work. 15 I’ve never drunk
whisky. Well, have some now. 16 I’ve written the letter but I can't find a stamp. 17 The clock is slow.
It isn't slow, it’s stopped. 18 Here are your shoes; I’ve just cleaned them. 19 I left home at 8.00 and
got here at twelve. 20 I did this sort of work when I was in the army.21 He’s just gone out. 22 He
went out ten minutes ago. 23 Have You had breakfast yet? Yes,.I had it at 8.00. 24 I met him last
June. 25 Did You see the moon last night. 26 The concert began at 2.30 and lasted for two hours.
Everyone enjoyed it very much. 27 The play has just begun. You are a little late. 28 Has The newspaper
come? Yes, Ann is reading it. 29 The actors arrived yesterday and.started rehearsals early this
morning. 30 It’s been very cold this year. I wonder when it is going to get warmer. 31 Cervantes wrote
Don Quixote. 32 We’ve missed the bus. Now we'll have to walk. 33 He broke his leg in a skiing accident
last year. 34 Mr Pound is the bank manager. He’s been here for five years. 35 Mr Count worked as a
cashier for twenty-five years. Then he retired and went to live in the country. 36 Have You been here
before? Yes, I spent my holidays here last year. Did you have a good time? No, it never stopped
raining.
4
Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or Present Perfect
1
“Where is Tom?” “I haven’t / I’ve not seen him today, but he told Mary that he'd be in for
dinner.”
2
“I bought this in Bond Street.” “How much did you pay for it?” “ I paid £100.”
3
“Where did you find this knife?” “I found it in the garden.” “Why didn’t you/ did you not leave
it there?”
4
“I lost one of my black earrings. Have you seen them anywhere?” “ No, I'm afraid I haven’t...
When did you last wear them?” “ I wore them at the theatre last night.” “ Perhaps you left
them at the theatre.”
5
“Do you know that lady who has just left the shop?” Yes, that is Miss Thrift. Is she a customer
f yours?” “ Not exactly. She has been in here several times but she has never bought anything.”
6
“He left the house at 8.00. Where did he go?” “ I didn’t see where he went.”
7
“He served in the First World War.” “ When did that war begin?” “ It began in 1914 and lasted
for four years.”
8
“Who did you vote for at the last election?” “ I voted for Mr Pitt.” “ He wasn’t elected, was
he?” “No, he wasn’t”
9
“Did You like your last job?” I liked it at first but then I quarreled with my employer and he
dismissed me.” “ How long were you there?” “ I was there for two weeks.”
10
“I didn’t know that you knew Jane. How long have you known her?” “I’ve known her for ten
years”
11
“That is Mr Day, who teaches me mathematics, but he hasn’t had time to teach me much. I‘ve
only been in his class for a week.”
12
“Did You hear his speech on the radio last night?” “ Yes, I heard it ... ….What did you think of
it?”
13
“I didn’t know that you were here. Have You been here long?” “ Yes, I’ve been here two
months.” “ Have you been to the Cathedral?” “Yes, I went there last Sunday.”
14
“Have You ever tried to give up smoking?” “Yes, I tried last year, but then I found that I was
getting fat so I started again.”
15
“have You seen today's paper?” “No, has anything interesting happened?”
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS
5
Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect Simple or Continuous
1 . I haven’t seen you for a long time. 2. You must tell me what you’ve been doing since I last saw you.3.
He hasn’t been here since Christmas; I wonder where he’s been living since then 4. I’ve been trying to
learn English for years, but I’ve not/I haven’t succeeded yet. 5. We’ve been living here for the last six
months, and have just decided to move. 6. You already drunk three cups of tea'since I ‘ve been sitting
here. 7. That book has been lying on the table for weeks. Haven’t You read it yet ? 8. I’ve been waiting
here for her since seven o'clock and she hasn’t come yet. 9. He hasn’t had a holiday for nine years
because he has been too busy. 10. Since you gave me your number I’ve phoned you four times and
haven’t found you at home. 11. Have You been asleep all the morning? I’ve been ringing the bell for the
last twenty minutes. 12. She’s been working so hard this week that she hasn’t had time to go to the
hairdresser's. 13. He ‘s been writing a novel for the last two years, but he hasn’t finished it yet 14. I
haven’t found a wife, though I’ve been looking for one ever since I was twenty. 15. Mary has been
resting in the garden all day because she’s been ill. 16. They haven’t been speaking/ spoken to each
other since they quarrelled. 17. How long you have you been learning English? 18. I’ve been waiting
here nearly half an hour for Maisie; do you think she has forgotten to come? 19. My watch has been
going for three days and it hasn’t run down yet. 20. He’s lost his books. He ‘s been looking for them all
the afternoon, but they haven’t turned up yet. 21. Jack has gone to Switzerland for a holiday; I’ve
never been there. 22. He’s only written to me once since he went away; I ‘ve sent him four letters 23.
She’s been reading/read all the works of Dickens and Scott. How many you have you read? 24. You
must wake her! She has been sleeping soundly for ten hours