Chapter 3: Tenses: The simple past
Exercise 1
B
Choose verbs from the box to complete these sentences. The first one has been done for
you.
have
break
cut
post
get
hurry
sell
drop
destroy
feel
phone
hear
1.
Lily went to bed early last night because she
felt
tired.
2.
Tom was late for school this morning because he
3.
Mr. Chan needed money, so he
4.
She couldn’t believe her ears when she
5.
Our washing Your sister and my brother
6.
The moon
smaller than the earth.
7.
Hong Kong
one of the busiest ports in the world.
8.
Your brother
a good swimmer.
9.
Gold
a soft, yellow metal.
10.
Lantau
twice the size of Hong Kong Island.
11.
China
a big country.
up late.
his car.
the news.
the same age.
Exercise 2
Now practise adding –s/es to the verbs. Read the first sentence. Then complete the second with
the correct form of the verbs in the box. The first one has been done for you.
work
Help
close
rain
have
do
teach
speak
finish
start
live
miss
1.
Mr Liu comes from Beijing. He
speaks
Putonghua.
2.
Tom is my neighbour. He
next door to me.
3.
My uncle is a teacher. He
in a school in Tuen Mun.
4.
Ann’s brother is a clerk. He
in a bank in Central.
5.
Miss Lee is a social worker. She
6.
Jane’s grandparents are in Canada. She
7.
The weather in that country isn’t very good. It
8.
It’s too late to go to the supermarket. It
9.
My brother
10.
Brian’s mother is a housewife. She
11.
My uncle is a clerk. He
people in difficulty.
them a lot.
a lot.
at 9:30.
some pen pals. He often writes to them.
the cooking and other housework.
work at nine and
at half past five.
Exercise 3
Put the given adverbs/adverbials in the proper place in the sentence. Sometimes there is more
than one possible answer. The first one has been done for you.
1.
It ︿rains when
we
2.
Paul is home
at
3.
Nancy lies
to
anybody.
4.
My father
does not go
5.
John’s sister plays tennis.
6.
I meet
7.
We
8.
Some
animals
9.
Brian
is late for his appointments.
10.
The
11.
Brian’s sister
take
have
a holiday.
always
this time of the day.
usually
never
your brother at
the
LRT
to
go
on
business trips.
once a week
the
bus stop.
to
school.
sleep during the
MTR trains are crowded
goes to
the
often
winter.
during peak hours.
gym.
sometimes
usually
always
often
always
every Monday
Exercise 4
A
Your friend (S1) is asking you (S2) something. Give a negative answer with the given verbs.
The first one has been done for you.
1.
2.
S1:
Do you often play computer games?
S2:
No, I
S1:
Is your mother a housewife?
S2:
No, she
don’t have
a computer.
a housewife. She works in a
have
be
shipping company.
3.
4.
5.
6.
S1:
Does Alan have a sister?
S2:
I’ve no idea. I
S1:
Does your sister like beef?
S2:
Not at all. She
S1:
How is Paul?
S2:
I don’t know. I
S1:
Is this Jane’s electronic dictionary?
S2:
I don’t think so. As far as I know, she
him very well.
red meat.
him these days.
know
eat
seldom / see
have
an electronic dictionary.
7.
8.
S1:
Are you and Mary classmates?
S2:
No, we
S1:
Do you have Tom’s address?
S2:
No. I have his telephone number, but I
to the same school.
go
have
his address.
9.
10.
S1:
How many cigarettes does your father smoke a day?
S2:
My father
S1:
Does your brother go to bed late?
S2:
No, he
.
up late.
never / smoke
often / stay
Exercise 5
A
Your friend (S1) is telling you (S2) something. This time you want to know more. Ask a
question with the given words. The first one has been done for you.
1.
2.
S1:
I often see Lily at the bus stop.
S2:
Does she live
S1:
That boy over there is Kate’s brother.
S2:
near you.
she / live
sure? I don’t think Kate has a
you / be
brother.
3.
S1:
I usually have some coffee when I am sleepy.
S2:
4.
5.
6.
?
S1:
Ann lives in Shatin.
S2:
How
S1:
My father starts work at 9:00am.
S2:
When
S1:
I collect stamps.
S2:
7.
8.
I don’t like my new shoes.
S2:
Why?
S1:
Susan is absent today.
S1:
S1:
your feet?
ill?
she / go
he / finish
you / have
they / hurt
she / be
My brother has a cold.
a fever?
he / have
I usually go to school by the MTR.
S2:
11.
work? At 5:30 or 6:00pm?
S1:
S2:
10.
to school? By train?
any other hobbies?
S2:
9.
it / help
near the MTR station?
S1:
This is the best hotel in town.
S2:
How much
to stay there?
your school / be
it / cost
Exercise 6
Paul and his classmates are talking about their hobbies. Complete their conversation. Use the
given words. The first one has been done for you.
Paul:
I like outdoor games. I (1)
(often / play)
(1)
with my friends after school.
Ann:
I like outdoor games, too. I (2)
(always /
(2)
go) swimming when I have time.
Alan:
Swimming (3)
(be) my hobby, too. My
brother and I (4)
(usually / go) to the
beach on Sundays. After the swim, we (5)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(sometimes / go) to a fast food restaurant for a cold
drink. What about you, Jane? (6)
(you / be)
(6)
fond of outdoor games, too?
Jane:
Well, I (7)
(not / be) keen on sports. I
(8)
(never / play) basketball and I
(9)
(not / often / go) swimming. But I like to (9)
play the piano. I (10)
Ann:
(7)
(practise) every day.
So you like music. (11)
(you / like)
classical music? My brother (12)
violin, and he (13)
(play) the
(love) music very
(8)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
much.
Jane:
Yes, I like classical music, too, but I (14)
(prefer) pop music.
(14)