- •Present Continuous
- •State verbs
- •Past Continuous
- •Future Continuous
- •Present Perfect
- •Past Perfect
- •Future Perfect
- •Present Perfect Continuous
- •Past Perfect Continuous
- •Future Perfect Continuous
- •Grammar exercises
- •3. Complete the text with one of the verbs from the list: contain, exist, find(x2), allow, dig, produce, try, be, unearth, perish, discover(x2), walk. Use the correct past or present tenses.
- •4. Read this biography from a movie magazine. Complete the text with the verbs in brackets in the past simple or present perfect (simple or continuous).
- •5. Fill in the gaps with a correct future form of the verbs in brackets.
- •7. Fill in the gaps with a verb from the list: be, buy, decide, develop, discuss, feel, like, make, phone, run, start, stay, take, visit, wait, work. Use the correct past tense.
- •8. Two students are discussing their plans for the weekend. Fill in the gaps using the most natural form of the future and the verb in brackets.
- •10. Look at the underlined verb tenses in this phone conversation between a mother and her daughter. Correct any errors.
- •Vocabulary for unit 1
- •Grammar reference unit 2 The indefinite article ’a’/’An’ – One/Ones
- •A(n)/One
- •One/Ones
- •The definite article
- •Modal verbs: present, past and future
- •Grammar exercises
- •2. Fill in the blanks with articles with names of continents, countries, states, provinces, cities and some other cases.
- •4. Fill in the blanks with articles before names of peninsulas, deserts, mountains, islands, falls, passes and some other cases if necessary.
- •5. Fill in the blanks with articles before geographic names and some other cases if necessary.
- •7. Underline the correct words. Sometimes both options are possible.
- •8. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of (not) have to, must, (not) need or should and the corresponding verb: tell, go(x2), pay (x2), pass, turn, buy (x2), forget, wear (x4)
- •10. Put one suitable word in each space.
- •11. Change each sentence so that the meaning stays the same.
- •12. Change each sentence so that it contains the word in capital, and so that the meaning stays the same.
- •Vocabulary for unit 2
- •Grammar reference unit 3 Modal perfect
- •Grammar exercises
- •3. Change each sentence so that it contains the words in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same.
- •6. For each of the sentences below make a new sentence as similar in meaning as possible to the original sentence, but using the word(s) given. The word(s) must not be altered in any way.
- •7. Replace the underlined phrases with a suitable past modal phrase.
- •9. Match each of these items with the phrase or sentence more likely to follow it.
- •10. Give a negative response for b using need in an appropriate form and the verb in brackets.
- •Vocabulary for unit 3
Past Continuous
We use the past continuous
To talk about actions in progress at a time in the past:
We didn’t hear him come in because we were sleeping on the top floor that night.
To talk about past temporary/changing situations:
His symptoms were becoming more pronounced as time went by.
To talk about past background situations:
Night was falling over the beleaguered city.
To talk about past interrupted actions:
They were crossing the bridge when the earthquake struck.
To talk about past arrangements:
Nancy was taking the next flight.
To describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. in the introduction to a story before we describe the main events:
One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze.
Future Continuous
We use the future continuous
To talk about an action which will be in progress at a stated future time:
This time next week, we’ll be cruising round the islands.
To talk about an action which will definitely happen in the future as the result of a routine or arrangement:
Do not call Julie. I’ll be seeing her later, so I’ll pass the message on.
To ask politely about someone’s plans for the near future (what we want to know is if our wishes fit with their plans):
Will you be using the photocopier for long? I need to make some photocopies.
To make a prediction about the present, that is to say what we believe may be happening:
Do not call her now – she will be sleeping.
Present Perfect
We use the present perfect
To talk about ongoing states and actions:
The manor has stood on this spot for over two hundred years.
To talk about ongoing times, or actions which may be repeated in the future:
This channel has shown four wildlife documentaries so far this week.
With superlatives:
It’s the worst programme I have ever seen.
With adverbs:
I have seldom experienced racism in athletics.
To talk about past action with present relevance (e.g. result):
The power surge has broken my computer.
To talk about recent actions:
I have just made a cup of tea.
With time clauses:
We’ll make a move as soon as the rain has stopped.
To talk about an action which happened at an unstated time in the past. The exact time is not mentioned because it is either unknown or unimportant. The emphasis is placed on the action:
The Taylors have bought a sailing boat. (The exact time is unknown or unimportant. What is important is the fact that they now own a sailing boat.)
To announce a piece of news. We use the past simple or past continuous to give more details about it:
The police have finally arrested Peter Duncan.He was trying to leave the country when they caught him.
Note:
The present perfect is used with the following time expressions: for, since, already, yet, always, just, ever, never, so far, today, this week/month, etc., how long, lately, recently, still (in negations), etc.
Have gone (to)/have been (to):
She has gone to the office.(This means she has not come back yet. She is still at the office.)
He has been to Rome twice. (This means he has visited Rome twice; he is not there now. He has come back.)
Past Simple or Present Perfect?
Past Simple
The past simple is used for actions which happened in the past and are not related to the present.
We use the past simple:
For an action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, already known or implied:
Simon Cook painted his first picture in 1980. (When? In 1980. The time is stated.)
For an action which began and finished in the past:
Mr Clark taught maths for thirty years. (He is no longer a teacher. He has retired.)
For an action which happened in the past and cannot be repeated:
Mike won more than twenty medals when he was an athlete. (He is no longer an athlete. He cannot win another medal.)
For an action which happened within a specific time period which is over at the moment of speaking:
I wrote three letters this morning. (The time period is over. It is evening or night now).
For actions which were performed by people who are no longer alive, even if the time is not stated:
Charles Dickens wrote ’Oliver Twist’.
Present Perfect
The present perfect is used for actions which happened in the past and are related to the present.
We use the present perfect:
For an action which happened at an unstated time in the past. The exact time is either unknown or unimportant, and therefore it is not mentioned or implied:
Simon Cook has painted a lot of pictures. (When? We do not know. The exact time is not mentioned or implied).
For an action which started in the past and continues up to the present:
Mrs Nelson has taught French for twenty years.(She started teaching French twenty years ago and she is still teaching French today.)
For an action which happened in the past and may be repeated:
Ben is an athlete. He has won more than ten medals. (He is still an athlete. He may win some more medals.)
For an action which happened within a specific time period which is not over at the moment of speaking:
I have written two letters this morning.(The time period is not over. It is still morning.)