Exercises: the present simple tense

The use of the verb "to be" in the Present Simple tense.

I - am + He is a student.

He

She - is? Is he a student? It

We

You - are - He is not a student.

they

Ex.1. Find the proper end in the right column.

I	is very young
He	are foreigners
She	are at the University
It	am hungry
We	is easy
You	is at work

Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with the required form of the verb "to be".

1. I... a student. 2. She ... a queen. 3. My cousin ... doctor. 4. We ... future in­terpreters. 5. Those people ... actors. 6. They ... my mother's friends. 7. Your dress ... nice. 8. His shoes ... awful. 9. The lectures in literature ... very interest­ing. 10. My dream ... to become a writer. 11. His family ... London. 12. Kate ... too young. 13. She ... seventeen. 13. The boys ... very funny. 14. I ... too tired to go with you.

Ex. 3. Make the sentences negative, interrogative.

I. The table is in the room. 2.1 am crazy at tennis. 3.These windows are very dirty. 4.The girl is sad. 5. Cakes are tasty. 6. The street is too narrow. 7. My pencil is blue. 8.1 am very young for this job. 9. There are four glasses on the table. 10. The sky is cloudless today. 11. Jane is a hard-working student. 12. I am married to John Smith. 13.The children are in the yard. 14. Our dog is under the tree. 15. Computers are very helpful. 16. My husband is in the garage. 17. I am glad to meet you here.

Ex. 4. Make a written translation of the text into Russian.

Mv name is Edward. I am eighteen and I am a first year student. I am from New Orleans, which is in America. It is not a very big city, but nice and green, especially in spring and summer.

Today is Monday. It is summer. The weather is not very hot, the sky is blue, the nature is beautiful, but as for me I am not happy. I am at home, at my books. I am cramming maths. Tomorrow is my exam in it. Frankly speaking maths is not my favourite. It is rather difficult and not very interesting. Most students are not good at it and we are afraid of the exam....

Ex. 5. Close your book and make a "hack-translation. Then check what you have with the original.

Ex. 6. Translate into English.

I Детей нет дома, они в школе. 2. Где мой пенал? - Он на твоем столе. 3. Мама сейчас на работе. 4. Я учитель, я мой муж инженер. 5. Где твой учеб­ник но истории? - Он в сумке. 6. Уже поздно. Пора спать. 7. Сейчас раннее утро, воздух свеж и прохладен. 8. Мои родители пенсионеры. 9. Ваш рассказ и очень интересен. 10. Я так рада с Вами встретиться. 11. Дети очень yстали. 12. Почему ворота открыты? 13. Кто в доме? 14. Мы сегодня де­журные. 15. У нее такие красивые и густые волосы.

The use of the other verbs in the Present simple.

I – sleep + I work

he eats

he

She – sleeps? Do I work?

It Does he eat?

We

You - sleep - I do not work.

They He does not eat.

Ex. 7. Put the verbs into The Present Simple.

to write, to build, to watch, to brush, to appear, to have, to wear, to put on, to buy, to try, to spend, to change, to get back, to walk, to prefer, to go, to do, to say, to be, to earn.

Ex. 8. Open the brackets.

I'm Becky Smith. I (to work) as a postwoman. I (to deliver) magazines, newspap­ers and letters to different houses every morning. I (to like) my job and people (to say) I (to do) it not badly.

My day (to start) at 6 a.m. and (to be over) at 8.30 a.m. I usually (not to go to bed) early, so it (to be not easy) to get up in the morning. But when you (to know) how many people (to depend) on you, you (to feel) great responsibility. My clients often (to become) my friends, especially elderly people. They (to be) so lonely in this world and often (to need) tenderness and attention. Recently I've acquainted to one old gentleman. He (to live) alone and sometimes even (to have) nobody to talk to. So when I (to be) free I (to drop) into his house for a chat. He (to tell) me much interesting about his life and sometimes (to give) good advice. He (to say) he (to feel) happy after my visits.

Ex. 9. Read the text to yourself. Read it again quickly in singular.

My friends, the Bells, are very funny. They don't like to wear casual cloths. They prefer extravagant and bright ones. They say, they express themselves in this way. Though not very young, they can still put on yellow jumpers, red ties or purple blouses. They are even going to buy a bright green suit for their dog, Dolly. They believe it'll make her look smart. But the best time for their irre­pressible fantasy is in October when they organise an annual fancy dress party on Halloween. All their guests wear funny masks, cloaks, pointed hats and dis­guising glasses. People dance, play tricks on each other, sing songs and have a very good time. The Bells say they would like all people to follow this wonder­ful tradition.

Ex. 10. Put the questions to the italic words.

1. Jane likes her job very much. 2. Students do not attend classes in summer.3. Police protect people from criminals. 4. Margaret speaks English fluently.5. Our sportsman win golden medals every year. 6. Grey colour seems to be dominating this season. 7. Mr. Hugh has his own shop in the suburbs of Athens. 8. A good actor creates a new character every play. 9. For twenty years the curtain in the theatre rises and falls every evening. 10. Fashion in this season again draws inspiration from folklore. 11. Small hats fit stylish people. 12. My Dad cuts the grass in front of our house every Sunday. 13. Rita doesn't believe in God. 14. Many people feel sorry for the fall of Russia.

Ex. 11. Your neighbour, Mr, Hesitation, always doubts everything. When he savs something, he always adds " do you? " or "isn't she?" etc. Play Mr. Hesitation in a talk with a friend:

Pattern: 1) - Mary takes after her father, doesn't she? - She does. Every time I look at her she reminds me of young Jack.

2) -1 think pale colours don't become me, do they? - But they do. To my mind you look charming in your sky-blue costume.

Ex. 12. Pretend vou are Mr. (Mrs.) Curiosity. You're always not satisfied with the facts you are given. You ask too many questions and interrupt people, but always make them speak. Try to squeeze as much information from your group-mate's story about his working day as you can (try to ask him all types of the questions).

Ex. 13. Mrs. Diana is a celebrity. You admire her talent and want to convince your friends, that you resemble her in everything. When you hear or read something about her, you always tell; "So do I" or "Neither do I".

Pattern: She never gets up early. - Neither do I.

Diana walks along the beach every evening. - So do I.

1. Diana hates going by planes, especially on isleseat5. 2. She says cars are most reliable and comfortable means of transport. 3. From her trips, she usually brings back necklaces, earrings, charms, and pictures. 4. She never dreams of anything, but theatre. 5. Mrs. Diana enjoys changing her image. 6. She never gives up things she wants to succeed in. 7. Diana never keeps to a diet, but manages to keep fit. 8. She doesn't fall ill in winter. 9. She hates doctors, hospitals and injec­tions. 10. Mrs. Diana doesn't play the piano, but sings well.

Ex. 14. Open the brackets and put the verb in the required form.

Cars (to be) one of the most convenient and fastest means of transport. They (to be) very comfortable, but at the same time very dangerous. Unfortunately they can kill. I have just hardly come into my own after that terrible accident on M-5 in May. Now I can (to write) you everything.

You know, such accidents always (to change) the lives of people, the same happened to us. I still can't believe, but Johnson (to be dead). His mother (to take) a treatment course in hospital now, her face (to be) badly hurt. She can't get used to the idea that her son has died. She (to cry) every night.

Frank (to look after) Ruth. She (to be) too weak to walk herself and he kindly (to teach) her to. He (to be) a very devoted friend. He (to say), he (to be afraid) of cars now and will never drive the one again. He (to be going) to sell his.

Charles (to be) at home, but he (not to go) to the University and (to keep) saying he has changed his mind to become a doctor. After that accident he (to have)

problems with his eyes, so he (to stay) at home now. It (to be) strange, but he (not to remember) the accident well.

As for Carol, she (to come) to see him every day. She (to read) books, (to talk) to him or even (to sing) him songs sometimes. They (to watch) TV together, (to listen) to the music. I (to hope) Charles (to feel) comfortable with her. So now you (to understand), that just one little car and one glass of wine (to be) enough sometimes to break lives of many people. (To be) careful and always (to remember) that cars (can) kill." (After Ph. Prows " Accident")

Ex. 15. Translate into English.

1. Белл всегда злится по мелочам. 2. Неужели ты не понимаешь, что я люблю эту девушку. Она такая милая, добрая, симпатичная, наконец. 3. Каждый год с родителями мы ездим в горы. Ты не можешь себе представить, какое это удовольствие - мчатся на лыжах вниз по склону в морозный солнечный день. 4. Мне очень нравится твоя новая квартира, Джо. Она такая просторная, светлая и имеет все современные удобства, вот только, мне кажется, что желтый цвет обоев в гостиной не совсем подходит к мебели. Но может быть, я и не права. 5. Ты обязательно должен прочесть эту статью. Она такая забавная. Автор утверждает, что дельфины похожи на людей. 6. Мой рабочий день начинается в 9 и длится 7 часов. Вечером, когда возвращаюсь домой, я чувствую себя уставшей. Я принимаю душ, ужинаю, смотрю телевизор или читаю, затем иду спать. 7. Мой отец говорит, что каждый образованный человек должен владеть иностранным языком. Вот почему мы с братом учим английский. 8. У меня уходит пол часа, чтобы добраться до института. Обычно я езжу на трамвае или автобусе. Занятия – начинаются в двадцать минут четвертого, и я почти никогда не опаздываю, 9. В будние дни у Питера почти нет свободного времени, но он всегда старается прочитывать газеты, чтобы знать о новостях в стране. 10. Для многих людей комфорт в путешествии важнее скорости. Для меня же самый важный фактор - это безопасность. 11. Сегодня в продаже есть рубашки всех цветов и размеров. 12. Где работает Ваша жена? - Их компания занимается продажей недвижимости. Она работает агентом. 13. Один мой знакомый собирает работы молодых, но талантливых художников. Он надеется сделать на них состояние. 14. Уже много лет каждый сентябрь мы собираемся с друзьями в этом кафе.15. Мой друг не любит хвастаться, но он действительно потрясающий музыкант.