1. Complete the paragraphs using the past continuous or the past simple of the verbs in brackets.

1. It was midnight and I was alone in the house. Outside it was raining (rain) very hard. I _____ 1 _____ (get) ready to go to bed when suddenly heard a strange noise outside my room in the corridor. Then, when I looked at the door. I noticed that someone _____ 2 _____ (turn) the handle! I _____ 3 _____ (rush) over to the door and quickly _____ 4 _____ (turn) the key in the lock. Then I _____ 5 _____ (ask) in trembling voice, ‘Who is it?’

2. It was early evening and it _____ 1 _____ (begin) to get dark in the surgery of Doctor Nigel Harris. The young, handsome doctor _____ 2 _____ (stand) looking sadly out of the window when there was a quiet knock at the surgery door. The door _____ 3 _____ (open) and Dr Harris _____ 4 _____ (turn) round to see the young girl who had just entered the room. She was very beautiful. With a sad smile the doctor _____ 5 _____ (ask) , ‘Are you the new nurse?’

3. I _____ 1 _____ (sit) in the big chair in Henry’s barber’s shop at the time. Henry _____ 2 _____ (cut) my hair with his big pair of scissors when we heard the sound of horses outside. The noise was so loud that we _____ 3 _____ (go) over to the window to look, Through the window we could see at least twenty gunmen riding into town. Henry immediately _____ 4 _____ (go) over to his desk and _____ 5 _____ (put) on his gun and Sheriff’s badge.

2. Which paragraph begins which story? The Past Indefinite Tense and the Present Perfect Tense

Exercise 1

Practise the following according to the models.

Model 1: A- Has he seen Ann?

B. Yes, he saw her yesterday.

1. Have you sold your сar? 2. Have you spoken to Jack? 3. Have you lost your watch? A. Have you heard the news? 5. Have you rung Tom? 6. Has she seen the play? 7. Have you learnt your irregular verbs? 8. Have you found your keys? 9. Has she swept the stairs?

Model 2: a) A. I haven't written to Peter for ages.

B. When did you last write lo him?

b) A. I haven't read a book for ages.

B. When did you last read one?

1. I haven't spoken German for ages. 2. I haven't eaten an egg for ages. 3. I haven't broken a glass for ages. 4. I haven't seen Bill for ages. 5. I haven't had an accident for ages. 6. I haven't made a mistake for ages. 7. I haven't driven a car for ages. 8. I haven't got lost for ages. 9. I haven't slept well for ages. 10. I haven't heard from her for ages.

Model 3: A. I suppose you met Tom some time ago.

B. No, I’ve only just met him.

1. I suppose he arrived some time ago. 2. I suppose she left some time ago. 3. I suppose she accepted your invita­tion some time ago. 4. I suppose they bought the house some time ago. 5. I suppose he told her some time ago. 6. I suppose the shop opened some time ago. 7. I suppose he passed his test some time ago. 8. I suppose he answered some time ago.

Model 4: a) A. When did you last write to Peter?

B. Oh, I haven't written to him for ages

b) A. When did you last read a book?

B. Oh, I haven^’t read one for ages.

1. When did you last see Tom? 2. When did you last make a bad mistake? 3. When did you last sleep well? 4. When did you last take part in a competition? 5. When did you last hear from them? 6. When did you last speak to Bill? 7. When did he last write to you? 8. When did you last go to the theatre? 9. When did you last sell a picture?

Exercise 2

Put in the correct verb form.

1 have arrived/ arrived

Our visitors___________ . They're sitting in the garden.

2 has repaired/ repaired

Susan __________ the television, but then it broke down again.

3 have lost/lost

I _________ my purse. I can't find it anywhere.

4 has started/ started

They match ________. They're playing now.

5 has run/ ran

Joanne ________ away from home. But she came back two days later.

6 has earned/ earned

James _______ some money last week. But I’m afraid he's already spent it all

7 have planted/planted

We________ a tree in the garden. Unfortunately it's died.

8 have gone/went

Prices ________ up. Things are more expensive this week.