1. Make the sentences negative and interrogative:

• 1. He is teaching his son to ride.

• 2. They are telling the truth.

• 3. Dick was sitting in the corner with a book.

• 4. Lshall be doing economics next term.

• 5. We were having breakfast at 9 o’clock yesterday.

• 6. He will be using the car this afternoon.

• 7. You are always grumbling.

• 8. A lot of people were rushing to the seaside last weekend.

2. Put questions about the words in italics:

• 1. I’m looking for a telephone book.

• 2. He was ringing up the police.

• 3. We are all going to watch a football match.

• 4. She will be dancing with Billy at the next competition.

• 5. He is always complaining to his manager.

• 6. Please fasten your belts. We shall be taking off in a few minutes.

3. Fill each blank with the appropriate form of the verb to listen to:

• 1. Did you____the President’s speech over the radio last Sunday?

• 2. Were you____his speech when Polly telephoned?

• 3. A young man can learn a lot if he____older men.

• 4. People never____his jokes.

• 5. Would you____my pronunciation of that word?

• 6. Let’s not____this awful song any more.

• 7. A wise man always____people more than he talks to them.

4. Use the contracted forms of verbs instead of full forms according to the pattern:

Pattern:

Lyonsville is a very small town. Lyonsville’s a very small town.

1. This town has never been famous for anything.

2. There is one long street in Lyonsville, with several red houses on both sides of it.

3. There is a new school building in the middle of Lyonsville now.

4. The children who live in the countryside will not walk to the new school; they will ride to school in buses.

5. There will probably be a new man in the post office because Mr Pitt is going to stop working.

6. He has worked for the past forty years in the post and now he is almost seventy years old.

7. If you have never visited a small town in Great Britain, you will probably enjoy visiting Lyonsville some day.

8. Unfortunately, I shall not be able to visit Lyonsville this year.

5. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present, Past or Future Continuous tense:

1. Can 1 borrow your dictionary or you (use) it at the moment?

2. What Bob (do) now? He (clean) his shoes.

3. We were frightened because it (get) dark.

4. This time next week I (sit) on the beach.

5. The park (look) its best in a month.

6. The written test had just begun and the students (write) their names at the top of their papers.

7. She usually wears shoes with high heels but when I last saw her she (wear) sandals.

8. Somebody (knock) at the door. Shall I answer it?

9. She always (do) things like that.

10. When I get home my cat (sit) at the door waiting for me.

6. Complete the sentences choosing between: the Future Indefinite tense, the Present Continuous tense or to be going to:

Williams: Have you seen this letter from the Ministry?

Davis: Yes. I see they’ve made arrangements for the visit.

Williams: Yes. The minister (to come) here next Monday. He (to arrive) on the 8.30 train.

Davis: Have you got any plans for his visit? What he (to do) when he gets here?

Williams: Well, we (to show) him round the new factory first.

Davis: Right. I (to see) that all that stuff left by the builders is cleared up.

Williams: Yes, and make sure that those electric wires are properly fixed.

Davis: Don’t worry about that. I (to have) a word with the chief electrician immediately.

Williams: Then he (to talk) to the workers on the production line. It’s a bit difficult to say how long this (to take). Then we (to have) lunch with the members of the Board at 2 o’clock. At four o’clock we (to meet) to discuss the Government plans for promoting exports. They say they (to help) the companies that want to expand their export markets. If we manage to convince them that our development projects are sound, they (to support) us financially.

Davis: Look. Murphy says he (to conduct) tests on the BSM-3 prototype next week. I’d like the minister to see them.

Williams: I promise you we (to show) them to him.

Davis: When is he due to leave?

Williams: He (to leave) for London on the 6.30 train.