7.6. Practice file

Ex. I. Match sentences 1-7 with their uses a)-g). The first one has been one for you.

1. They set up their business five years ago. _B_

1. Peter accepted the job offer after he had evaluated the

entire compensation package. ___

2. While large companies were spending huge amounts of

money on market research, medium-sized businesses were

manufacturing and providing goods for local markets. ___

3. When I came in the staff consultant was compiling

the shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. ___

4. When he was younger he used to be very arrogant. ___

5. I delivered my presentation, then the listeners

raised questions. ___

6. Before our company started to sell imported goods,

we had been marketing locally produced goods for years. ___

1. past action in progress interrupted by another past action

2. complete action which occurred at a stated past time

3. past actions which happened one after the other

4. complete past action which had visible results in the past

5. action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past

6. several simultaneous past actions

7. past time habit which is no longer true

Ex. II. Underline the correct form of the verb (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous). The first one has been done for you.

1. I was hearing / heard that my colleague was made redundant, but I had already been leaving / had already left by then.

2. When I was meeting / met him last year, he was running / had been running a one-person business for a couple of years.

3. What time had they arrived /did they arrive?

4. During the 1990s many households had stretched / were stretching their budget so that to last until the next pay.

5. They lived /were living in Tokyo when they met / had met for the first time.

6. The patrol was / had been very expensive so we sold / had sold the car.

7. William headed up / was heading up the Accounts when he was made redundant.

8. By 2012 Ukraine prepared / had prepared all sport facilities for the European Football Championship.

9. Fred had been joining / joined our company in 2012 as Senior Legal Counsel.

10. When I came in / come in Richard was compiling / compiled a report.

Ex. III. Fill in the correct tense form (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous). The first one has been done for you.

1. Jill didn’t take the opportunity when she … had … (HAD) the chance.

2. While Marco ……………… (MAKE) a presentation, his colleague ……………… (WRITE) an ad-hoc report.

3. He did ……………… (KNOW) how to cut the costs.

4. Before the government ……………… (IMPOSE) currency limitations, the entrepreneurs ……………… (TAKE OUT) large amounts of money of the country for years.

5. Two months ago David ……………… (MOVE) to a senior management position.

6. First, the borrower ……………… (GET) a loan, then he ……………… (PAY OFF) the capital and interest.

7. Mr Bonner ……………… (BE) a Chartered Certified Accountant for 10 years before he retired.

8. By the time we contacted our business partners they ……………… (ALREADY / PREPARE) the draft sales contract.

9. It was 2012, and I ……………… (WORK) for this transnational company for ten years.

10. The chair of the meeting ……………… (COME) in and ……………… (GREET) everyone.

Ex. IV. Complete the sentences with used to / would or used. The first one has been done for you.

1. They … used to / would … perform services as agreed, but now they breach the contract.

2. He send us letters via approved courier service.

3. This company ……………… have ten local branches all over the country. Now there are only three.

4. Mariana ……………… respond to complaints from the clients.

5. Metals Ltd. ……………… own a controlling interest in Volcanic Minerals Ltd.

Ex. V. Complete the sentences with used to OR get used to OR be used to. The first one has been done for you.

1. I have never worked under pressure. – Don’t worry, you …will soon get used to handling … (SOON / HANDLE) tough situations.

2. In my previous job I ……………… (TWIST) myself into many knots. My current job is not so challenging.

3. The employee ……………… (DELIVER) the required performance. His ability to work is perfect.

4. Don’t you speak French? – Oh, I ……………… (SPEAK) it but I haven’t practiced for years.

5. It’s hard ……………… (TRAVEL) by air long hours because of jet lag.

Ex. VI. Cross the extra word out. The first one has been done for you.

1. After the incident the share price did have decline but not for very long.

2. By 2011 the retirement age for women was had been 55 years.

3. Many companies are faced many challenges during recession.

4. Last year Victor had started his own company, financed by his savings last year.

5. I did have spend a lot of efforts to handle this situation.

6. In March, 2009 our company was floated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

7. Yesterday by noon I had been answered twenty calls.

8. In those days every trade union did used to improve working conditions. Now labour unions can’t wholly protect the rights of employees.

9. The company would to reduce overheads. But it stopped doing this.

10. They did greatly improve the quality of customer service last year ago.

*Ex. VII. Correct the mistakes if there are any. A model is provided.

Model: He asking for a follow-up meeting before he wrote a counter proposal letter.

… He had asked for a follow-up meeting before he wrote a counter proposal letter. …

1. Before they started to build the plant they had signed a letter of intent.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

1. The company we worked with didn’t perform the obligations under the contract so we had been suing for damages.

…………………………………………………...………………………………

2. They used to conduct a marker research last quarter.

…………………………………………………………………………………

3. Our enterprise would have tax-exempt status. Now we have a lot of taxes imposed on us.

…………………………………………………………………………………

4. What solutions did he offered?

………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Before the government revoked the franchise many enterprises have had a sound financial standing.

…………………………………………………………………………………...

6. How does your company develop last year?

…………………………………………………………………………………...

7. I used to cycle to work. These days I drive to work.

…………………………………………………………………………………...

8. By the time the chairman called the PA has already prepared all documents

required for business trip.

…………………………………………………………………………………...

9. We had been working with our overseas partners for years before we stopped renewing the contract.

…………………………………………………………………………………...