English Grammar Book

English Grammar Book

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Adjective Clauses (8) Adjectives (10) Adverb Clauses (5) Adverbs (11) Articles (12) Case (1) Comparatives and Superlatives (4) Conditional (9) Conjunctions (4) Gerunds and Infinitives (3) Interjections (2) Irregular Verbs (5) Modal Verbs (13)

Negative Forms (1) Noun Clauses (2) Nouns (3) Passive (3) Phrasal Verbs (2) Possessive Forms (1) Prepositions (5) Pronouns (8) Subject Verb Agreement (11) Subjunctive (3) Tag Questions (3) Verb Tenses (20) Verbs (7)

Adjective Clauses

Categories:

Exercises (4)

Links:

http://www.englishpage.com/grammar/Adjective_Clauses/Exercises/

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Adjective Clauses - Detailed description of adjective clauses and links to review exercises. pop (Added: 4-Sep-2006 Hits: 90283) Rate It

Adverbs / Adjectives / Linking VerbsThe following is a mini-tutorial on the use of adverbs, adjectives, and linking verbs. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you are already familiar with these topics, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

Adverbs

FORM

[adjective + ly]

There are also irregular adverbs such as "well" and "fast."

USE 1

Adverbs can be used to modify verbs.

Examples:

John walked quickly towards the door.

Sally sat silently waiting for somebody else to speak first.

USE 2

Adverbs can be used to modify adjectives.

Examples:

The redwood tree was impressively tall.

The blouse was outrageously expensive.

USE 3

Adverbs can be used to modify other adverbs.

Examples:

She spoke extremely confidently.

The cheetah ran incredibly quickly.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/adverbexercise.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/cgi-bin/links/rate.cgi?ID=614

http://www.englishpage.com/cgi-bin/links/jump.cgi?ID=614

Adjectives

FORM

There are many different adjective endings including "-ive," "-ous," "-y," "-ful," "-ent" and many others. "Attractive," "envious," "lazy," "beautiful," and "intelligent" are all adjectives.

USE 1

Adjectives can be used to modify nouns.

Examples:

Jack drives a big car.

Sally writes beautiful poems.

USE 2

Adjectives often follow linking verbs (described below).

Examples:

Max is tall.

Sandra seems mad.

Linking Verbs

LIST

o to appear

o to be

o to become

o to feel

o to get

o to go

o to grow

o to look

o to prove

o to remain

o to seem

o to smell

o to sound

o to stay

o to taste

o to turn

USE

The linking verbs above are often followed by adjectives instead of adverbs. In such situations, the adjective describes the subject of the sentence rather than the verb. Study the examples below to learn the difference.

Examples:

Mary seemed sad. Correct

Mary seemed sadly. Not Correct

The cake tastes good. Correct

The cake tastes well. Not Correct

The train is slow. Correct

The train is slowly. Not Correct

James grew tired. Correct

Sarah remained calm. Correct

The milk went bad. Correct

The seas turned rough. Correct

The negotiations proved pointless. Correct

IMPORTANT

The verbs in the list above are not always used as linking verbs. Compare the examples below.

Examples:

Sally grew angry."ANGRY" DESCRIBES SALLY. IN THIS SENTENCE, "TO GROW" IS BEING USED AS A LINKING VERB MEANING "TO BECOME."

The plant grew quickly."QUICKLY" DOES NOT DESCRIBE THE PLANT, IT DESCRIBES THE MANNER IN WHICH IT GROWS. IN THIS SENTENCE, "TO GROW" IS NOT BEING USED AS A LINKING VERB.

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS:

Adverbs / Adjectives / Linking Verbs Exercise 1

. Jack spoke to the audience urging them to elect him president of the

union. He knew he had a chance of winning the election.

2. Melanie ate her lunch. She knew the meeting was and she didn't want to be late.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/adverbexercise.htm

3. Sophie lived in Thailand for several years. She speaks Thai , and she

knows the culture very .

4. The , humid weather made it difficult to enjoy the tropical beach. Miriam

seemed more than relaxed.

5. The entrance examination is challenging. Very few people make it into

the medical school.

6. This airline's lack of organization is astounding. I have been very

up to this point, but I am going to lose my temper if you don't find my baggage immediately.

7. The young girl sings well for someone her age. Her performance was

to say the least.

8. The skies became surprisingly as the moon moved between the Earth

and the Sun. As the eclipse progressed, the people in the streets stood waiting for the sun's warmth to return.

9. Although Beth speaks and seems quite , she is the leading expert in her field. Don't underestimate her abilities.

10. After the medieval cathedral was burnt down last year, the city

rebuilt it stone for stone. It looks exactly the same as it did before the fire.

11. We noticed changes in Diane's personality; she became

and withdrawn from her friends and family. We finally realized that we had to do something about her drinking problem before it was too late.

12. Nicole grew from the hours of overtime at work. It became quite

that she needed a long vacation.

13. The tomato plants grew in the rich soil. Mrs. Ficara intended to use the

homegrown tomatoes to make her tempting lasagna.

14. Mr. Tanzer donated $1,000,000 to the law school's scholarship fund. With this money, they will be able to help low-income students cope with the

cost of education.

15. Tim is known for his sense of humor. Last Saturday, when he told the joke about the fireman and the school teacher, everybody there started laughing

. Jack spoke confidently to the audience urging them to elect him president of the union. He knew he had a good chance of winning the election.

2. Melanie quickly ate her lunch. She knew the meeting was important and she didn't want to be late.

3. Sophie lived in Thailand for several years. She speaks Thai fluently, and she knows the culture very well.

4. The hot, humid weather made it difficult to enjoy the tropical beach. Miriam seemed more uncomfortable than relaxed.

5. The entrance examination is extremely challenging. Very few people make it into the prestigious medical school.

6. This airline's complete lack of organization is astounding. I have been very patient up to this point, but I am going to lose my temper if you don't find my baggage immediately.

7. The young girl sings amazingly well for someone her age. Her performance was spectacular to say the least.

8. The skies became surprisingly dark as the moon moved between the Earth and the Sun. As the eclipse progressed, the people in the streets stood silently waiting for the sun's warmth to return.

9. Although Beth speaks softly and seems quite timid, she is the leading expert in her field. Don't underestimate her abilities.

10. After the medieval cathedral was tragically burnt down last year, the city quickly rebuilt it stone for stone. It looks exactly the same as it did before the fire.

11. We gradually noticed changes in Diane's personality; she became quiet and withdrawn from her friends and family. We finally realized that we had to do something about her drinking problem before it was too late.

12. Nicole grew tired from the hours of overtime at work. It became quite obvious that she needed a long vacation.

13. The tomato plants grew quickly in the rich soil. Mrs. Ficara intended to use the homegrown tomatoes to make her deliciously tempting lasagna.

14. Mr. Tanzer generously donated $1,000,000 to the law school's scholarship fund. With this money, they will be able to help low-income students cope with the increasing cost of education.

15. Tim is well known for his sense of humor. Last Saturday, when he told the joke about the fireman and the school teacher, everybody there started laughing uncontrollably.

Adjective Clauses and Adjective Phrases - A description of adjective clauses and adjective phrases with associated interactive grammar, listening, reading and writing exercises. (Added: 18-Jan-2004 Hits: 65375) Rate

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Defining / Non-defining Adjective Clauses - Learn about relative pronouns in non-restrictive clauses (non-defining clauses) and restrictive clauses (defining clauses). (Added: 2-Apr-2003 Hits: 43349) Rate It






Using Clauses as Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs - Description of noun clauses, adjective clauses and adverb clauses. (Added: 3-Aug-2002 Hits:

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Related Categories:

Pronouns

Who, Whom, Whose The following is a mini-tutorial on the uses of "who," "whom," and "whose." If you already know how to use these words, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

Subjects, Objects and Possessive Forms

To understand how to use "who," "whom," and "whose," you first have to understand the difference between subjects, objects, and possessive forms.

Subjects do an action:

He loves movies.

She goes to school.

We enjoy Chinese food.

Objects receive an action:

The teachers like him.

Thomas knows her.

The actor smiled at us.

Possessive forms tell us the person something belongs to:

His bike is broken.

I like her new book.

The teacher graded our homework.

"Who" is a Subject Pronoun

"Who" is a subject pronoun like "he," "she" and "we" in the examples above. We use "who" to ask which person does an action or which person is a certain way.

Examples:

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/who_whom_1.htm


http://www.englishpage.com/grammar/Pronouns/index.html



Who made the birthday cake?

Who is in the kitchen?

Who is going to do the dishes?

"Whom" is an Object Pronoun

"Whom" is an object pronoun like "him," "her" and "us." We use "whom" to ask which person receives an action.

Examples:

Whom are you going to invite?

Whom did he blame for the accident?

Whom did he hire to do the job?

"Whose" is a Possessive Pronoun

"Whose" is a possessive pronoun like "his," "her" and "our." We use "whose" to find out which person something belongs to.

Examples:

Whose camera is this?

Whose dog is barking outside?

Whose cell phone keeps ringing?

"Who," "Whom" and "Whose" in Indirect Questions

The sentence below contains an example of an indirect question:

I don't know whom he invited.

Such sentences usually start with a phrase such as: "I am not sure" or "He doesn't know" or "We don't care." Just ignore the first part of the sentence and look at the indirect question when deciding whether to use "who," "whom" or "whose." Ask yourself if the indirect question requires a subject, object, or possessive form.

Examples:

He doesn't know who the boss of the company is. SUBJECT OF THE INDIRECT QUESTION

I don't care whom you invite. OBJECT OF THE INDIRECT QUESTION

She isn't sure whose car that is. "WHOSE" SHOWS POSSESSION OF CAR.

"Who," "Whom" and "Whose" in Adjective Clauses

The sentence below contains an example of an adjective clause:

I know the man who won the contest.

Adjective clauses are used to describe a noun in the main sentence. In the example above, the adjective clause tells us about "the man." Just ignore the main sentence and look at the adjective clause when deciding whether to use "who," "whom" or "whose." Ask yourself if the adjective clause requires a subject, object, or possessive form.

Examples:

We knew the actress who starred in the movie. SUBJECT OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

They hired the man whom we interviewed last week. OBJECT OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

She knew the family whose house we bought. "WHOSE" SHOWS POSSESSION OF HOUSE.

"Whom" Less Common

The form "whom" is becoming less and less common in English. Many native English speakers think "whom" sounds outdated or strange. This trend is particularly common in the United States. Especially when combined with prepositions, most people prefer to use "who" as the object pronoun. To most native English speakers, the examples below sound quite natural.

Examples:

Who did you come to the party with?

I don't know who he gave the book to.

That is the woman who I was talking to.

Who did you get that from?

Do you have any idea who he sold his car to?

That is the person who I got the information from.


Who, Whom, Whose Exercise 1

1. WHO wrote this book?

2. WHOM are you going to recommend?

3. WHOSE dictionary is on the table?

4. It doesn't look like this is the right address. WHOM did you ask for directions?


5. We have two extra tickets for the concert. WHO wants to go with us?

6. It wasn't me! I have no idea WHO left the oven on.

7. WHOSE car is parked in the handicapped parking space? If someone doesn't move it, it's going to be towed.

8. The police have called in an expert to identify WHOSE handwriting is actually on the ransom letter.

9. Do you remember WHO received the Academy Award for best actress that year? Was it Nicole Kidman?

10. Melanie couldn't remember the name of the student WHOSE science project received the $100,000 prize.

11. I know exactly WHOM I'm going to support in the upcoming election.

12. That's the professor WHO spent 10 years living with the Pygmies in Central Africa.

13. She's the actress WHOM he so vividly describes in his scandalous new book.

14. Can you please tell me the names of the people WHO helped organize the AIDS charity event?

15. The national park is being renamed in honor of Dian Fossey, WHOSE scientific research and environmental efforts helped save the last remaining mountain gorillas.

Also / Too / EitherThe following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the words "also," "too" and "either." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use these words, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

Also

USE

"Also" is used in positive sentences to add an agreeing thought.

Examples:

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/alsoexercise.htm

Jane speaks French. Sam also speaks French.

I love chocolate. I also love pizza.

Frank can come with us. Nancy can also come with us.

PLACEMENT

"Also" comes after "to be."

Examples:

I am also Canadian.

I was also there.

With verbs other than "to be," "also" comes before single verb forms.

Examples:

I also sing.

He also helped us.

In verb tenses with many parts, "also" comes after the first part and before the second.

Examples:

I have also been to Hong Kong.

I am also studying economics.

Similarly, since modal verbs are usually followed by a second verb, "also" comes after modal verbs.

Examples:

I can also speak French.

I should also be there.

Too

USE

"Too" is used in positive sentences to add an agreeing thought. It has the same meaning as "also," but its placement within the sentence is different.

Examples:

Jane speaks French. Sam speaks French too.

http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html

I love chocolate. I love pizza too.

Frank can come with us. Nancy can come with us too.

PLACEMENT

"Too" usually comes at the end of a clause.

Examples:

I am Canadian too.

I can speak French too.

I am studying economics too.

If he wants to go too, he should meet us at 8:00.

IMPORTANT

Although "too" is usually placed at the end of a clause, it can sometimes be used with commas after the subject of the sentence. This is usually only done in formal speech.

Examples:

Mr. Jones wanted the contract. Ms. Jackson, too, thought it was necessary.

Donna is working on a solution to the problem. I, too, am trying to find a way to resolve the conflict.

Either

USE

"Either" is used in negative sentences to add an agreeing thought.

Examples:

Jane doesn't speak French. Sam doesn't speak French either.

I don't love chocolate. I don't love pizza either.

Frank cannot come with us. Nancy cannot come with us either.

PLACEMENT

"Either" usually comes at the end of a clause.

Examples:

I cannot speak French either.

I am not studying economics either.

I don't want to eat either.

I didn't like the movie either.

Confusing Sentences

Sometimes the first sentence is negative and the agreeing idea is positive.

Examples:

The weather wasn't very appealing. I also wanted to stay home and finish my book. That's why I didn't go to the beach.

The car wasn't expensive, and I needed a way to get around town too. That's why I bought it.

Sometimes the first sentence is positive and the agreeing idea is negative.

Examples:

Jane is too short. She is not a good athlete either. I don't think she would make a good basketball player.

He is lazy. He doesn't study either. That's why he doesn't do well in school.


Also / Too / Either Exercise 1

1. Henry is very athletic. He loves swimming, surfing, snowboarding and skiing. Jason

loves to swim and surf, but he hates all winter sports because he can't stand cold weather.

2. I am taking a great art history class at the junior college downtown. Sarah is in the class

. We both love it.

3. I don't really like tomatoes. My brother doesn't like them .

4. Frank didn't like the layout of the apartment. He thought the location was rather inconvenient, so he decided to keep looking for a place to live.

5. Mr. Harris doesn't speak a word of French! He doesn't have any international experience

. So, I really feel he is not the right candidate for the job.

6. Three experts came to the conclusion that the project had to be terminated at once. I,

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/alsoexercise.htm

, finally realized the project was too dangerous to proceed.

7. Sharon was exhausted from a hard day's work and she wasn't in a party mood , so we decided to stay in and have a quiet evening at home.

8. Dave has been living and working in Poland for over five years. He has been taking night classes in Polish the entire time, so he speaks Polish very well.

9. Sam has a guidebook and a map of the region. He has a compass , so I think we should let him guide us out of here.

10. Sharon realized her boss had been embezzling money from the company and she wanted

to go to the authorities. Doug, , thought it was time to call in the police.

11. Judy: That was the most suspenseful movie I have ever seen - I really loved it!

Cindy: It was really exciting! I thought it was really well made!


Cindy: Me !

13. I am really tired, and I don't feel like going out tonight . Let's just stay home tonight.

14. I don't really feel like going out tonight, and I am really tired. Let's just stay home tonight.

15. Jim is an amazing skiier, and he loves to snowboard .

1. Henry is very athletic. He loves swimming, surfing, snowboarding and skiing. Jason also loves to swim and surf, but he hates all winter sports because he can't stand cold weather.

2. I am taking a great art history class at the junior college downtown. Sarah is in the class too. We both love it.

3. I don't really like tomatoes. My brother doesn't like them either.

4. Frank didn't like the layout of the apartment. He also thought the location was rather inconvenient, so he decided to keep looking for a place to live.

5. Mr. Harris doesn't speak a word of French! He doesn't have any international experience

either. So, I really feel he is not the right candidate for the job.

6. Three experts came to the conclusion that the project had to be terminated at once. I, too, finally realized the project was too dangerous to proceed.

7. Sharon was exhausted from a hard day's work and she wasn't in a party mood either, so we decided to stay in and have a quiet evening at home.

8. Dave has been living and working in Poland for over five years. He has also been taking night classes in Polish the entire time, so he speaks Polish very well.

9. Sam has a guidebook and a map of the region. He has a compass too, so I think we should let him guide us out of here.

10. Sharon realized her boss had been embezzling money from the company and she wanted

to go to the authorities. Doug, too, thought it was time to call in the police.


Cindy: It was really exciting! I also thought it was really well made!


Cindy: Me too!

13. I am really tired, and I don't feel like going out tonight either. Let's just stay home tonight.

14. I don't really feel like going out tonight, and I am also really tired. Let's just stay home tonight.

15. Jim is an amazing skiier, and he loves to snowboard too.

1. I eat dinner at 6:00.Fred also eats dinner at 6:00.

2. I have been sitting here for more than an hour.

She here for more than an hour.

3. I was at the party.

He at the party.

4. I can sing well.

They well.

5. I went to bed early last night.

She early last night.

6. I will have been in New York for more than a month by the time I leave.

She in New York for more than a month by the time she leaves.

7. I might come with you.

Dave with you.

8. I am going to be there before you.

Martha there before you.

9. I will be waiting for Diane when she gets off the plane.

Sam for Diane when she gets off the plane.

10. I would prefer to leave at 9 o'clock in the morning.

Tom at 9 o'clock in the morning.

EvenThe following is a mini-tutorial on the various uses of the word "even." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use "even," you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

USE

When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with an example containing "even." The word "even" adds shock, surprise, or excitement to the example.

Examples:

He loses everything. He even lost his own wedding ring!

John has amnesia, and he can't remember anything about the past. He can't even remember his own name!

He could become anything. He could even become President of the United States!

I love that author, and I have all of his books - even the ones which are out of print.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/evenexercise.htm

Even Though / Even When / Even If

USE

"Even" can be combined with the words "though," "when" and "if." It emphasizes that a result is unexpected. Study the following examples and explanations to learn how these expressions differ.

Examples:

Even though Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.BOB ALWAYS STUDIED HARD. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, HE FAILED THE TESTS.

Even when Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.BOB OCCASSIONALLY STUDIED HARD, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. EVERY TIME HE STUDIED, HE STILL FAILED.

Even if Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.BOB DIDN'T NORMALLY STUDY VERY HARD. BUT IN THE RARE SITUATION WHEN HE DID TRY TO STUDY HARD, HE STILL FAILED THE TEST.

Jerry is never happy. Even though you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.YOU DO EVERYTHING HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.

Jerry is never happy. Even when you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.YOU SOMETIMES TRY DOING THINGS HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.

Jerry is never happy. Even if you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.YOU HAVE TRIED DOING THINGS HIS WAY ONCE OR TWICE , BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.

IMPORTANT

These expressions are not always interchangeable; the context of the sentence will affect your choice:

"Even though" is used when something is always done or a fact is mentioned.

"Even when" is used when something is occasionally done.

"Even if" is used when something is rarely done or just imagined.

Examples:

Even though the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. CorrectTHE INTERVIEW WENT TERRIBLY, BUT SHE GOT THE JOB.

Even when the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Not CorrectTHIS SENTENCE IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THE INTERVIEW DID NOT GO TERRIBLY MORE THAN ONE TIME. THERE WAS ONLY ONE INTERVIEW SO "WHEN" IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD FOR THIS SENTENCE.

Even if the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. CorrectYOU HAVE NOT TALKED TO CHERYL SINCE HER INTERVIEW. YOU IMAGINE THAT THE INTERVIEW WENT TERRIBLY, BUT YOU THINK SHE PROBABLY GOT THE JOB ANYWAY.

Even though he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. Not CorrectTHIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE ALWAYS WINS THE LOTTERY.

Even when he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. Not CorrectTHIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE SOMETIMES WINS THE LOTTERY JACKPOT.

Even if he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. CorrectTHERE IS A CHANCE IN A MILLION THAT HE MIGHT WIN THE LOTTERY JACKPOT, BUT IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE STILL WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY OFF HIS DEBT.

REMEMBER

The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding whether to use "even though," "even when" or "even if."

Even So

USE

"Even so" is very much like the word "but" or "however." "Even so" is different in that it is used with surprising or unexpected results.

Examples:

She is loud and unfriendly. Even so, I like her.SHE IS LOUD AND UNFRIENDLY, SO IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT I LIKE HER.

The bed is extremely large and heavy. Even so, Jim managed to carry it into the house by himself.IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT JIM COULD CARRY THE BED BY HIMSELF.

Jane was sick for a couple days in Los Angeles. Even so, she said her trip to the United States was great.IF SHE WAS SICK, IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT SHE ENJOYED HER TRIP.


Even Exercise 1

It hasn't rained in weeks, and the weather forcaster said it should be warm and sunny tomorrow

for the wine festival. But the weather isn't really imprtant; it rains, the festival will take place.

2. These days a woman can do anything a man can do. She can be a jet pilot in the airforce!

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/evenexercise.htm

3. the science of medicine is advancing very quickly, there are many people in the world who die of diseases which are easily cured because they can't afford to pay for treatment.

4. Jessica is extremely beautiful and graceful. , I think it will be very difficult for her to break into the world of international modeling.

5. Samantha is very easily insulted. a person complements her, she takes it as an insult.

6. My dog eats everything - ice cream!

7. Fred is a brilliant computer programmer. he doesn't go to university, he will be able to survive just by doing web page design.

8. the world is becoming increasingly global, many people remain ignorant to other cultures and languages.

9. He can do everything. He sings beautifully, speaks five languages, rock climbs - he

cooks gourmet cuisine.

10. The movie was predictable and the acting was pretty bad. , I loved it because it was funny and I needed a good laugh.

11. it rained the whole time we were in Tahiti, I really enjoyed the trip. The scenery was spectacular and the scuba diving was great.

12. I always tell my children that they should never get into a car with a stranger,

he or she looks like a nice person.

13. you feel completely sober, you should never drive after drinking.

14. I know the publishing world is incredibly competitive. , I have decided to quit my job so that I can try to write a novel.

15. Birds have adapted to every environment on Earth. They can be found in Antarctica.

16. I told Erica to be careful while snowboarding in Mammoth. I warned her, she pushed the limits and ended up breaking her leg.

17. Laura is a very optimistic person. things are not going her way, she still manages to keep a positive attitude.

18. Smoking has been proven to cause cancer and many other life-threatening illnesses.

, many people continue to smoke.

19. The travel agency offers a great selection of organized tours and cruises which cater to all

kinds of individuals. There's an adventure camping tour to Mongolia for people over 65.

20. My work hours are very strange, and sometimes I get home very late. I get home late, I try to take the time to make a good, well-balanced meal.

1. It hasn't rained in weeks, and the weather forcaster said it should be warm and sunny

tomorrow for the wine festival. But the weather isn't really imprtant; EVEN IF it rains, the festival will take place.

2. These days a woman can do anything a man can do. She can EVEN be a jet pilot in the airforce!

3. the science of medicine is advancing very quickly, there are many people in the world who die of diseases which are easily cured because they can't afford to pay for treatment.

4. Jessica is extremely beautiful and graceful. EVEN SO, I think it will be very difficult for her to break into the world of international modeling.

5. Samantha is very easily insulted. EVEN WHEN a person complements her, she takes it as an insult.

6. My dog eats everything - EVEN ice cream!

7. Fred is a brilliant computer programmer. EVEN IF he doesn't go to university, he will be able to survive just by doing web page design.

8. EVEN THOUGH the world is becoming increasingly global, many people remain ignorant to other cultures and languages.

EVEN SO

9. He can do everything. He sings beautifully, speaks five languages, rock climbs - he EVEN cooks gourmet cuisine.

10. The movie was predictable and the acting was pretty bad. EVEN SO, I loved it because it was funny and I needed a good laugh.

11. it rained the whole time we were in Tahiti, I really enjoyed the trip. The scenery was spectacular and the scuba diving was great.

12. I always tell my children that they should never get into a car with a stranger, EVEN IF he or she looks like a nice person.

13. EVEN IF you feel completely sober, you should never drive after drinking.

14. I know the publishing world is incredibly competitive. EVEN SO, I have decided to quit my job so that I can try to write a novel.

15. Birds have adapted to every environment on Earth. They can EVEN be found in Antarctica.

16. I told Erica to be careful while snowboarding in Mammoth. EVEN THOUGH I warned her, she pushed the limits and ended up breaking her leg.

17. Laura is a very optimistic person. EVEN WHEN things are not going her way, she still manages to keep a positive attitude.

18. Smoking has been proven to cause cancer and many other life-threatening illnesses. EVEN SO, many people continue to smoke.

19. The travel agency offers a great selection of organized tours and cruises which cater to all

kinds of individuals. There's EVEN an adventure camping tour to Mongolia for people over 65.

20. My work hours are very strange, and sometimes I get home very late. EVEN THOUGH I get home late, I try to take the time to make a good, well-balanced meal.

Let / Make / Have / GetThe following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the causative verbs "let," "make," "have," and "get." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use these verbs, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

EVEN IF

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/letexercise.htm


Let

FORM

[let + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to allow someone to do something."

Examples:

John let me drive his new car.

Will your parents let you go to the party?

I don't know if my boss will let me take the day off.

Make

FORM

[make + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to force someone to do something."

Examples:

My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.

Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat?

She made her children do their homework.

Have

FORM

[have + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."

Examples:

Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.

Please have your secretary fax me the information.

I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Get

FORM

[get + person + to + verb]

USE

This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."

Examples:

Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.

How can parents get their children to read more?

The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

Examples:

I got the mechanic to check my brakes.AT FIRST THE MECHANIC DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY, BUT I CONVINCED HIM TO CHECK THE BRAKES.

I had the mechanic check my brakes.I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.


Let / Make / Have / Get Exercise 1

1. Sam really wanted a dog, but his parents wouldn't him have a pet.

2. I can't believe she you look at her vacation pictures again last night. We have to look at those stupid pictures every time we go to her house.


3. I don't know how you convince your children to clean up their rooms. I couldn't my children to clean up their rooms if my life depended on it.

4. Professor Yu each of her students write an essay describing their future goals in life.

5. Professor Yu her students use a dictionary while they were taking the test.

6. Debbie's husband hates the opera. But after days of nagging, she finally him to go see the new production of La Boheme.

7. Sally me take off my shoes before I went into her house. She said she wanted to keep the carpet clean.

8. Rebecca Smith requested a copy of that expense report, so I the courier take one over to her last week.

9. Diane thinks television is a waste of time, so she won't her children watch TV.

10. Mr. Levine his secretary call Ms. Jackson and reconfirm their meeting on Thursday.

11. Marcus me drive his new BMW. I couldn't believe how quickly it picked up speed.

12. How did you the doctor to make a house call? I haven't heard of a doctor actually going to a patient's house in years.

13. My boss me get him coffee, pick up his dry cleaning and buy presents for his wife. He can't do anything by himself!

14. Tommy didn't want to go to his cousin's birthday party, but his mom him go.

15. I can't believe the zoo keeper you feed the snake. That was so cool!

16. The contract was very detailed, and it was essential that the wording be absolutely correct.

Therefore, I the translator recheck his work several times to make sure there would be no misunderstandings.

17. Cheryl didn't want to wash her car, so with a little smooth talk she her boyfriend to wash it for her.

18. If you ask me nicely, I'll you lick the bowl after I make the cookies.

19. Dr. Jackson the nurse monitor the patient's condition overnight.

20. The news coverage of the recent tornado was incredibly moving. The interview with the little

boy who lost his family in the tragedy everyone cry.

So / SuchThe following is a mini-tutorial on the use of "so" and "such." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use "so" and "such," you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

So + Adjective

USE

"So" can be combined with adjectives to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

The music is so loud! I wish they would turn it down.

The meal was so good! It was worth the money.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

The music is so loud that I can't sleep.

The music is so loud I can't sleep.

The meal was so good that we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant again tonight.

The meal was so good we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant again tonight.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/sosuchexercise.htm

So + Adverb

USE

"So" can be combined with adverbs to show extreme actions. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

She spoke so quickly! She sounded like an auctioneer.

He paints so well! I am sure he is going to become a famous artist.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extreme actions which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

She spoke so quickly that I couldn't understand her.

She spoke so quickly I couldn't understand her.

He paints so well that they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris.

He paints so well they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris.

So + Many / Few + Plural Noun

USE

"So" can be combined with "many" or "few" plus a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

I never knew you had so many brothers!

She has so few friends! It's really quite sad.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

I never knew you had so many brothers that you had to share a bedroom.

I never knew you had so many brothers you had to share a bedroom.

She has so few friends that she rarely gets out of the house.

She has so few friends she rarely gets out of the house.

So + Much / Little + Non-countable Noun

USE

"So" can be combined with "much" or "little" plus a non-countable noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

Jake earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent.

They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

Jake earns so much money that he has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth.

Jake earns so much money he has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth.

They have so little food that they are starving to death.

They have so little food they are starving to death.

So + Much / Little / Often / Rarely

USE

"So" can be combined with words like "much," "little," "often," or "rarely" to describe how much or how often someone does an action. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

Earl drinks so much! It's not good for his health.

My sister visits us so rarely! I really miss her.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show the results of extreme actions. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

Earl drinks so much that it is starting to interfere with his work.

Earl drinks so much it is starting to interfere with his work.

My sister visits us so rarely that my kids wouldn't even recognize her.

My sister visits us so rarely my kids wouldn't even recognize her.

Such + Adjective + Noun

USE

"Such" can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

Don has such a big house! I think it's a little ridiculous.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes! I have never seen that shade of blue before.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

Don has such a big house that I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

Don has such a big house I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes that she got a job as a make-up model.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes she got a job as a make-up model.

NOTE

Remember that without the noun you need to use "so."

Examples:

such beautiful eyes that

so beautiful that

Such + Judgemental Noun

USE

"Such" can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

He is such an idiot! He says the stupidest things.

She is such a genius! We could never do this work without her.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

He is such an idiot that nobody would hire him.

He is such an idiot nobody would hire him.

She is such a genius that they immediately gave her a position at the university.

She is such a genius they immediately gave her a position at the university.

Such + Noun (This type of...)

USE

"Such" can also mean "this type of..." or "that type of..."

Examples:

The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the tablet.THIS/THAT TYPE OF WRITING

She usually doesn't receive such criticism.THIS/THAT KIND OF CRITICISM

Frank has never made such mistakes before.THESE/THOSE KINDS OF MISTAKES


So / Such Exercise 1

1. She is funny! She always makes me laugh.

2. Sarah and Ed are crazy people! I never know what they are going to do next.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/sosuchexercise.htm

3. James has much money that he could actually buy that Ferrari.

4. Although most of the audience had never been exposed to music, they thoroughly enjoyed the performance of the Tibetan folk choir.

5. The movie was good that I saw it five times.

6. Terry speaks English fluently that I thought he was American.

7. Most students never discuss topics in class, but I think it is important to teach our children to question the media.

8. Jerry had never seen high mountains. He thought they were spectacular.

9. Fred is a clown! He is always telling jokes and making people laugh.

10. There was little interest in his talk on macroeconomics that the room was half empty by the time he stopped speaking.

11. How could you say horrible things to me?

12. He is a jerk! He hasn't said one nice thing since he started working here.

13. That new song is cool that it hit the top ten within a week of being released.

14. Martha is a good cook that she is writing her own book of family recipes.

15. I don't know if that is a good idea. Maybe we should try something else.

16. She has many hats that she needs two closets to store them all.

17. That takes little time and effort that you might as well do it yourself.

18. I had to pay $140 for books for my new Spanish class. I don't know why my professor has to

choose expensive books for her course.

19. Please, don't drive fast! I'm terrified we're going to have an accident.

20. I really wish you wouldn't smoke much! It's destroying your health.

1. She is so funny! She always makes me laugh.

2. Sarah and Ed are such crazy people! I never know what they are going to do next.

3. James has so much money that he could actually buy that Ferrari.

4. Although most of the audience had never been exposed to such music, they thoroughly enjoyed the performance of the Tibetan folk choir.

5. The movie was so good that I saw it five times.

6. Terry speaks English so fluently that I thought he was American.

7. Most students never discuss such topics in class, but I think it is important to teach our children to question the media.

8. Jerry had never seen such high mountains. He thought they were spectacular.

9. Fred is such a clown! He is always telling jokes and making people laugh.

10. There was so little interest in his talk on macroeconomics that the room was half empty by the time he stopped speaking.

11. How could you say such horrible things to me?

12. He is such a jerk! He hasn't said one nice thing since he started working here.

13. That new song is so cool that it hit the top ten within a week of being released.

14. Martha is such a good cook that she is writing her own book of family recipes.

15. I don't know if that is such a good idea. Maybe we should try something else.

16. She has so many hats that she needs two closets to store them all.

17. That takes so little time and effort that you might as well do it yourself.

18. I had to pay $140 for books for my new Spanish class. I don't know why my professor has to

choose such expensive books for her course.

19. Please, don't drive so fast! I'm terrified we're going to have an accident.

20. I really wish you wouldn't smoke so much! It's destroying your health.

SubjunctiveThe following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the Subjunctive. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use this verb form, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

FORM

Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.

USE

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below).

Examples:

I suggest that he study.

Is it essential that we be there?

Don recommended that you join the committee.

NOTICE

The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of the verb.

Examples:

You try to study often. YOU-FORM OF "TRY"

It is important that you try to study often. SUBJUNCTIVE FORM OF "TRY" LOOKS THE SAME.

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm

He tries to study often. HE-FORM OF "TRY"

It is important that he try to study often. SUBJUNCTIVE FORM OF "TRY" IS NOTICEABLE HERE.

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

to advise (that)to ask (that)to command (that)to demand (that)to desire (that)to insist (that)to propose (that)to recommend (that)to request (that)to suggest (that)to urge (that)

Examples:

Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.

Donna requested Frank come to the party.

The teacher insists that her students be on time.

Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:

It is best (that)It is crucial (that)It is desirable (that)It is essential (that)It is imperative (that)It is important (that)It is recommended (that)It is urgent (that)It is vital (that)It is a good idea (that)It is a bad idea (that)

Examples:

It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.

It is important she attend the meeting.

It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive

The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.

Negative Examples:

The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.

The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business hours.

I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.

Passive Examples:

Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.

Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.

We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.

Continuous Examples:

It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.

It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.

I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.

Should as Subjunctive

After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."

Examples:

The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.

Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.


Subjunctive Exercise 1

. It's important that she (remember) to take her medicine twice a day.

2. I suggest that Frank (read) the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He

reme

http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm

doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) immediately. Her apartment was freezing.

4. It's vital that the United States (focus) on improving its public education system. What we do now will affect our country for generations to come.

5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) the temple until they had removed their shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize)

for what she just said.

7. Judy asked that we (attend) her graduation ceremony next week.

8. Was it really necessary that (sit) I there watching you the entire time you were rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.

9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) very differently from you. She may not agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.

10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) together so that nobody gets lost along the way.

11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) to store's information desk so his parents could be paged.

12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) her daily fat intake.

13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow)

to voice their concerns over the new hotel being built on the bay.

14. She told me that the government (regulate) the airline industry. I don't know if that is true.

15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) the summing pool while the children are taking their swimming lessons.

17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) on sunblock immediately before you get a sun burn.

18. John insists that Sarah (invite) to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.

19. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) from Estonia.

20. It is imperative that the world (work) towards a solution to global warming before the weather patterns of the world are disrrupted irreparably.

Verb Tense Tutorial Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. You may find that many English tenses do not have direct translations in your language. That is not a problem. By studying this verb tense tutorial, you will learn to think like a native English speaker. If you prefer to use the verb tense pages as a reference only and do not want to complete the tutorial, Click Here.

The tutorial should be completed as follows:

1. Read this introduction page.

2. Prepare for the exercises by reading: Types of Verbs, Active vs. Passive, and the verb tense descriptions that you want to practice.

3. Complete the exercises below. After each exercise, we have listed the tenses covered. Just click on the name of a tense to learn more about its use.

EXERCISES TOPICS COVERED

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresent.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/activepassive.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/types.html


Verb Tense Exercise 1 Simple Present and Present Continuous


Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past and Past Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 4 Simple Past and Past Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 5 Simple Past and Present Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise 6 Simple Past and Present Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise 7 Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 8 Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 9 Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 10 Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 11 Simple Past and Past Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise 12 Simple Past, Present Perfect, and Past Perfect

Verb Tense Exercise 13 Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 14 Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, and Past Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 15 Present Continuous, Simple Past, Present Perfect Continuous, and Past Perfect Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs

Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review

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Verb Tense Exercise 18 Will and Be Going to



Verb Tense Exercise 21 Simple Present and Simple Future


Verb Tense Exercise 23 Simple Future and Future Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 24 Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 25 Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous




Verb Tense Practice Test

Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Verb Tense Overview with Examples

Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs30finaltest.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs29practicetest.htm


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I study English every day.Two years ago, I studied

English in England.

If you are having problems, I will help you study English.

I am going to study English next year.

Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous

I am studying English now.I was studying English when

you called yesterday.

I will be studying English when you arrive tonight.

I am going to be studying English when you arrive

tonight.

Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect

I have studied English in several different countries.

I had studied a little English before I moved to the U.S.

I will have studied every tense by the time I finish this

course.

I am going to have studied every tense by the time I

finish this course.

Present Perfect Continuous Past Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous

I have been studying English for five years.

I had been studying English for five years before I moved to

the U.S.

I will have been studying English for over two hours by

the time you arrive.

I am going to have been studying English for over two hours by the time you arrive.

Simple Present



















FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

You speak English.

Do you speak English?

You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

The train does not leave at 9 AM.

When does the train usually leave?

She always forgets her purse.

He never forgets his wallet.

Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.

Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresentforms.html

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

California is in America.

California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass.

Windows are not made of wood.

New York is a small city. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT THIS FACT IS UNTRUE.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

When do we board the plane?

The party starts at 8 o'clock.

When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.



Examples:

I am here now.

She is not here now.

He needs help right now.

He does not need help now.

He has his passport in his hand.

Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You only speak English.

Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE

Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE

More About Active / Passive Forms

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS



Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs

Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review



Verb Tense Exercise 24 Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous

Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs30finaltest.htm










. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their

prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

Verb Tense Exercise 2

Simple Present / Present Continuous

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

A Trekking Journal

November 12, 1997

Today (be) the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted

and my legs (shake) ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)

me and my toes (bleed) , but I (want, still) to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be) so

different, and I (try) to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn) a little

bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)

foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not) much yet, I believe that I

(improve, gradually) .

I (travel, currently) with Liam, a student from Leeds University in England.

He (be) a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always) ahead of me

and (complain) that I am too slow. I (do) my best to keep up with him,

but he is younger and stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am

getting old.

Right now, Liam (sit) with the owner of the inn. They (discuss) the

differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I (know, not) the real name of

the owner, but everybody (call, just) him Tam. Tam (speak) English very

well and he (try) to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say)

a new word, Liam (try) to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam (seem, also)

to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don't get lost and have

to ask for directions.


Simple Past / Past Continuous


1. A: What (you, do) when the accident occurred?

B: I (try) to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

2. After I (find) the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) to the

police and (turn) it in.

3. The doctor (say) that Tom (be) too sick to go to work and that he

(need) to stay at home for a couple of days.

4. Sebastian (arrive) at Susan's house a little before 9:00 PM, but she (be, not)

there. She (study, at the library) for her final examination in

French.

5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also)

television. That's all she ever does!

6. A: I (call) you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) there. Where

were you?

B: I (work) out at the fitness center.

7. When I (walk) into the busy office, the secretary (talk) on the phone

with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) at their desks, and two managers

(discuss, quietly) methods to improve customer service.

8. I (watch) a mystery movie on TV when the electricity went out. Now I am never

going to find out how the movie ends.

9. Sharon (be) in the room when John told me what happened, but she didn't hear

anything because she (listen, not) .

10. It's strange that you (call) because I (think, just) about you.

11. The Titanic (cross) the Atlantic when it (strike) an iceberg.

12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) and

(try) to sell their goods to naive tourists who (hunt) for souvenirs.

Some young boys (lead) their donkeys through the narrow streets on their way

home. A couple of men (argue) over the price of a leather belt. I (walk)

over to a man who (sell) fruit and (buy) a banana.

13. The firemen (rescue) the old woman who (be) trapped on the

third floor of the burning building.

14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) her dirty dishes in the sink. I

think she (expect, actually) me to do them for her.

15. Samantha (live) in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live)

there when the Berlin Wall came down.


Simple Past / Past Continuous


Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call) . She said she (call)

me on her cell phone from her biology classroom at UCLA. I asked her if she (wait)

for class, but she said that the professor was at the front of the hall lecturing while

she (talk) to me. I couldn't believe she (make) a phone call during the

lecture. I asked what was going on.

She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (sleep, actually)

in class. Some of the students (talk) about their plans for the

weekend and the student next to her (draw) a picture of a horse. When Angela

(tell) me she was not satisfied with the class, I (mention) that my

biology professor was quite good and (suggest) that she switch to my class.

While we were talking, I (hear) her professor yell, "Miss, are you making a phone

call?" Suddenly, the line went dead. I (hang) up the phone and went to the kitchen

to make dinner. As I (cut) vegetables for a salad, the phone rang once again. It

(be) Angela, but this time she wasn't sitting in class.


Simple Past / Present Perfect


1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"

B: I don't know. I (see, never) that movie.

2. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I (know) each other for over fifteen years. We still get

together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ten very creative short stories in the last

year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I (have, not) this much fun since I (be) a kid.

6. Things (change) a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start)

working here three years ago, the company (have, only) six employees. Since

then, we (expand) to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I (tell) him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander)

off into the forest and (be) bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be)

late to work too many times. You are fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never)

the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George (dream) of going to California before he died, but he didn't

make it. He (see, never) the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very

comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North

America by covered wagon. The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things

(change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from

New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) since the last time I (see)

you. You (grow) at least a foot!

13. This tree (be) planted by the settlers who (found) our city over

four hundred years ago.

14. This mountain (be, never) climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try)

to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) . The climb is

extremely difficult and many people (die) trying to reach the summit.

15. I (visit, never) Africa, but I (travel) to South America several

times. The last time I (go) to South America, I (visit) Brazil and Peru. I

(spend) two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) for a week near Machu

Picchu, and (fly) over the Nazca Lines.


Simple Past / Present Perfect


Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change)

a great deal. The first computers (be) simple machines designed for

basic tasks. They (have, not) much memory and they (be, not) very

powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay)

thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) very little. Most computers

(be) separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for

playing games.

Times (change) . Computers (become) powerful machines with very

practical applications. Programmers (create) a large selection of useful programs

which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video

games, but today's games (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures.

Many computer users (get, also) on the Internet and (begin)

communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) to create

international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve)

into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.


Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous


Robin: I think the waiter (forget) us. We (wait) here for over half an

hour and nobody (take) our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) by us at least twenty times. He probably

thinks we (order, already) .

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) here for five or ten minutes

and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, not) yet! We (sit) here for

over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) us. He (run) from table to

table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.


Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous


1. Judy: How long (be) in Canada?

Claude: I (study) here for more than three years.

2. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new

one.

3. I (love) chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah (have) some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they (go)

to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John (work) for the government since he graduated from Harvard University.

Until recently, he (enjoy) his work, but now he is talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) about changing my career because I (become)

dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

7. I (see) Judy for more than five years and during that time I (see)

many changes in her personality.


Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous


1. It (rain) all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the

beach.

2. Sid: Where is Gary?

Sarah: He (study, at the library) for his German test on Wednesday. In

fact, he (review) for the test every day for the last week.

3. You look really great! (You, exercise) at the fitness center ?

4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) for you since 1 PM.

5. Tim: What is that sound?

Nancy: A car alarm (ring) somewhere down the street. It (drive)

me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring) for more than twenty minutes.

6. Joseph's English (improve, really) , isn't it? He (watch)

American television programs and (study) his grammar every day since he first

arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) enough sleep lately?

Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) relatively well. I just look tired because I (feel)

a little sick for the last week.

Dan: I hope you feel better soon.

Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) some medicine, so I should feel better in a

couple of days.


Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous


Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a little bit more

about your background.

Mr. Harris: I (work) in the insurance industry for over ten years. I worked for Met

Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half. During that time, I heard many good

things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I (apply) for the new sales

position.

Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests.

Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the Sierra

Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) in a tennis tournament this weekend.

Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play) tennis ?

Mr. Harris: I (play) since high school. I love the sport.

Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you volunteer at the

Sierra Club. I (work, currently) with them on the sea turtle project. We (try)

to create a wildlife sanctuary near the bay.

Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently)

on the same project.

Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome addition to

Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look) for somebody who is fluent in

Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico.

Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study) Spanish since elementary school.

Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate.


Simple Past / Past Perfect


I can't believe I (get) that apartment. I (submit) my application last

week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) up to

take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) before me.

Most of them (fill, already) out their applications and were already leaving. The

landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want)

me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I

(have) some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend

me. I (end) up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) to give me the apartment. It turns out that the

landlord and my father (go) to high school together. He decided that I could have

the apartment before he (look) at my credit report. I really lucked out!


Simple Past / Present Perfect / Past Perfect


1. When I (arrive) home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) a

beautiful candlelight dinner.

2. Since I began acting, I (perform) in two plays, a television commercial and a TV

drama. However, I (speak, never even) publicly before I came to Hollywood

in 1985.

3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) without me. My

boss (be) furious with me and I (be) fired.

4. When I (turn) the radio on yesterday, I (hear) a song that was

popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) the song in years, and it (bring)

back some great memories.

5. Last week, I (run) into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) each

other in years, and both of us (change) a great deal. I (enjoy) talking

to her so much that I (ask) her out on a date. We are getting together tonight for

dinner.

6. When Jack (enter) the room, I (recognize, not) him because he

(lose) so much weight and (grow) a beard. He looked totally different!

7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however,

their culture (disappear, virtually) by the time Europeans first (arrive)

in the New World.

8. I (visit) so many beautiful places since I (come) to Utah. Before

moving here, I (hear, never) of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, or Canyonlands.


Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous


I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started at

8:00. I (try) to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it. By

the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have)

five cups of coffee and I (wait) over an hour. I had to leave because I (arrange)

to meet Kathy in front of the theater.

When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already) up the tickets and she was

waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait) for

more than half an hour. She said she (give, almost) up and (go) into

the theater without us.

Kathy told me you (be) late several times in the past and that she would not make

plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) several movies

because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I suggest you be

on time!


Present Perfect / Past PerfectPresent Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous


1. It is already 9:30 PM and I (wait) here for over an hour. If John does not get

here in the next five minutes, I am going to leave.

2. I was really angry at John yesterday. By the time he finally arrived, I (wait) for

over an hour. I almost left without him.

3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last month? He (work) for that import company

for more than ten years and he (work) in almost every department. Nobody knew

the company like he did.

4. I (see) many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the

monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

5. Sarah (climb) the Matterhorn, (sail) around the world, and (go)

on safari in Kenya. She is such an adventurous person.

6. Sarah (climb) the Matterhorn, (sail) around the world and (go)

on safari in Kenya by the time she turned twenty-five. She (experience)

more by that age than most people do in their entire lives.

7. When Melanie came into the office yesterday, her eyes were red and watery. I think she (cry)

.


Present Continuous / Simple Past Present Perfect Continuous / Past Perfect Continuous


My English is really getting better. I (try) to learn the language since 1985, but

only recently have I been able to make some real progress. By the time I started high school in

1988, I (study) the language for almost three years; however, I was only able to

introduce myself and utter a few memorized sentences. For a couple more years, I (struggle)

through grammar and vocabulary lessons, which made absolutely no difference.

Nothing worked, so I decided to study abroad.

I found an exchange program in England that sounded like the perfect answer. I (stay)

with a host family for one month. It was a huge disappointment! I (sit)

there the whole time staring at the host mother and father hoping that there would

be some breakthrough. Nothing.

When I returned, I mentioned to a friend that I (have) problems with the language

for years. He recommended that I spend a year in an English speaking country. I decided to go

abroad again. I (research) exchange programs for a couple of weeks and finally

decided on a school in the United States.

Well, it worked. I (live) and (study) in the U.S. for more than two

years. I (stay) here for at least another year before I return home. By then, I

should be completely fluent.


Present and Past Tensesand Non-Continuous Verbs


1.

a. Look, I (have) two tickets for the circus.

b. Look, I (hold) two tickets for the circus.

2.

a. We (be) there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.

b. We (wait) there for more than half an hour by the time the show began.

3.

a. Sam (sit) in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.

b. Sam (be) in the seat next to me when the clown threw a bucket of water at me.

4.

a. One clown was juggling while he (balance) a glass of wine on his head.

b. One clown was juggling while he (have) a glass of wine on his head.

5.

a. I (love) the circus ever since I was a child.

b. I (go) to the circus ever since I was a child.

6.

a. Right now, I (see) two elephants doing tricks in the ring.

b. Right now, I (look) at two elephants doing tricks in the ring.


Present and Past Tense Review


Lars: Excuse me, which movie are you waiting for?

Tony: We (wait) for the new Stars Wars movie. In fact, we (wait)

here for more than five hours.

Lars: Five hours? When did you arrive?

Tony: We (get) here at 6:00 o'clock this morning. More than forty people (stand,

already) here waiting for tickets when we arrived.

Lars: I can't believe that! Are you serious?

Tony: Yeah, people (take) Star Wars movies seriously. In fact, this particular

showing has been sold out for over a week. We (wait, just) in line to get a good

seat in the theater.

Lars: When did you buy your tickets?

Tony: I (buy) them last week by phone. I (know) tickets would be

hard to get because I (see) a news interview with a group of people standing in

line to get tickets. They (wait) in line for almost a month to buy tickets for the first

showing.

Lars: I don't believe that!

Tony: It's true. They (camp) out in front of Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles

for about a month because they (want) to be the first people to see the movie.


Will / Be Going To


1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?

B: I (write) a letter to my friends back home in Texas.

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!

B: I (get) you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.

3. A: I can't hear the television!

B: I (turn) it up so you can hear it.

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) Paris, Nice

and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well.

6. Ted: It is so hot in here!

Sarah: I (turn) the air-conditioning on.

7. I think he (be) the next President of the United States.

8. After I graduate, I (attend) medical school and become a doctor. I have

wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too

small for four people.

B: That man at the service counter (help) you.

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) down to the beach and go

swimming.


Will / Be Going To


1.

Mark: What are you doing with those scissors?

Beth: I (cut) that picture of the ocean out of the travel magazine.

Mark: What (you, do) with it?

Beth: I (paint) a watercolor of the ocean for my art class, and I thought I could

use this photograph as a model.

2.

Mark: (you, do) me a favor, Sam?

Sam: Sure, what do you want me to do?

Mark: I (change) the broken light bulb in the lamp above the dining room table.

I need someone to hold the ladder for me while I am up there.

Sam: No problem, I (hold) it for you.

3.

Gina: Where are you going?

Ted: I (go) to the store to pick up some groceries.

Gina: What (you, get) ?

Ted: I (buy) some milk, some bread, and some coffee.

4.

John: Wow, it's freezing out there.

Jane: I (make) some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well?

John: Coffee sounds great! But I (have) dinner with some friends later, so I'd

better skip the pie.

Jane: I (go) to dinner tonight too, but I'm having a piece of pie anyway.

5.

Frank: I heard you're taking a Spanish class at the community college.

Tom: Yeah, I (go) to Guatemala next spring and I thought knowing a little Spanish

would make the trip easier.

Frank: I (visit) my brother in Marseilles next year. Maybe I should take a French

class.

Tom: I have a course catalog in the other room. I (go) get it, and we can see

whether or not they're offering a French course next semester.


Will / Be Going To


1.

Michael: Do you think the Republicans or the Democrats (win) the next election?

Jane: I think the Republicans (win) the next election.

John: No way! The Democrats (win) .

2.

Susan: We (go) camping this weekend. Would you like to come along?

Sam: That sounds great, but I don't have a sleeping bag.

Susan: No problem. I (lend) you one. My family has tons of camping gear.

3.

Barbara: I (buy) a new car this weekend, but I'm a little worried because I don't

really know much about cars. I'm afraid the salesman (try) to take advantage of

me when he sees how little I know.

Dave: I used to work for a mechanic in high school and I know a lot about cars. I (go)

with you to make sure you are not cheated.

4.

Gina: Fred and I (visit) Santa Fe next summer. Have you ever been there?

Margaret: My family lives in Santa Fe! I (give) you my parents' phone number.

When you get to Santa Fe, just call them and they (give) you a little tour of the

town. They can show you some of the sights that most tourists never see.

5.

Pam: Can you see my future in the crystal ball? What (happen) next year?

Fortune Teller: You (meet) a man from the East Coast, perhaps New York or

maybe Boston. You (marry) that mystery man.

Pam: Forget the man! I want to know if I (get) a new job.


Simple Present / Simple Future


1. Today after I (get) out of class, I (go) to a movie with some

friends.

2. When you (arrive) in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show)

you around the city and help you get situated.

3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) ?

B: After I (receive) my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go)

to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) to complete a Ph.D. in

cognitive science.

4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. Your father (plan) to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet)

you across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he

cannot be there, I (pick) you up instead.

6. If the people of the world (stop, not) cutting down huge stretches of rain forest,

we (experience) huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first

century.

7. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.

8. I promise you that I (tell, not) your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask)

me about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) the truth to a

single person.

9. She (make) some major changes in her life. She (quit) her job

and go back to school. After she (finish) studying, she (get) a better-

paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life!

10. Tom (call) when he (arrive) in Madrid. He (stay)

with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be) available.


Simple Present / Simple Future


1.

Michael: After you (leave) work, will you please drop by the grocery store and pick

up some milk and bread?

Marie: No problem, I (pick) up the groceries and be home by 6 o'clock.

Michael: Great. You will probably get home before I (do) .

2.

Ari: By the time we (get) to the movie theater, the tickets are going to be sold out.

Sarah: Don't worry. I told Jane we might be arriving just before the movie (start) .

She (buy) our tickets and meet us in the lobby.

Ari: That place is huge! We (find, never) her in that crowded lobby.

Sarah: Calm down, we (meet) each other near the entrance.

3.

Terry: If the weather (be) good tomorrow, maybe we should go to the beach.

Jennifer: I have a better idea. If it (be) nice out, we'll go to the beach; and if it

(rain) , we'll see a movie.

Terry: I guess we will have to wait until we (get) up in the morning to find out what

we are going to do.

4.

Max: What are you going to do tomorrow after work?

Sean: I (meet) some friends at the cafe across the street. Would you like to come

along?

Max: No thanks! My brother is coming to town and I (pick) him up from the airport

at 7 o'clock.

Sean: We (be, probably) at the cafe until 9 o'clock. Why don't you join us after

you (pick) him up.

Max: Sounds good. We (see) you around 8 o'clock.

5.

Lucy: I (call) you as soon as I arrive in Dublin.

Dwain: If I am not there when you (call) , make sure to leave a message.

Lucy: I will. And please don't forget to water my plants and feed the cat.

Dwain: I promise I (take) care of everything while you are in Ireland.


Simple Future / Future Continuous


1.

Sandra: Where is Tim going to meet us?

Marcus: He (wait) for us when our train arrives. I am sure he (stand)

on the platform when we pull into the station.

Sandra: And then what?

Marcus: We (pick) Michele up at work and go out to dinner.

2.

Ted: When we get to the party, Jerry (watch) TV, Sam (make)

drinks, Beth (dance) by herself, and Thad (complain) about his

day at work.

Robin: Maybe, this time they won't be doing the same things.

Ted: I am absolutely positive they (do) the same things; they always do the same

things.

3.

Florence: Oh, look at that mountain of dirty dishes! Who (wash) all of those?

Jack: I promise I (do) them when I get home from work.

Florence: Thanks.

Jack: When you get home this evening, that mountain will be gone and nice stacks of sparkling

clean dishes (sit) in the cabinets.

4.

Doug: If you need to contact me next week, I (stay) at the Hoffman Hotel.

Nancy: I (call) you if there are any problems.

Doug: This is the first time I have ever been away from the kids.

Nancy: Don't worry, they (be) be fine.

5.

Samantha: Just think, next week at this time, I (lie) on a tropical beach in Maui

drinking Mai Tais and eating pineapple.

Darren: While you are luxuriating on the beach, I (stress) out over this

marketing project. How are you going to enjoy yourself knowing that I am working so hard?

Samantha: I 'll manage somehow.

Darren: You're terrible. Can't you take me with you?

Samantha: No. But I (send) you a postcard of a beautiful, white sand beach.

Darren: Great, that (make) me feel much better.


Simple Present / Simple FuturePresent Continuous / Future Continuous


1. Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch) TV as well.

2. Tomorrow after school, I (go) to the beach.

3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do) paperwork and (talk)

to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie) on a sunny, tropical

beach. Are you jealous?

4. We (hide) when Tony (arrive) at his surprise party. As soon as he

opens the door, we (jump) out and (scream) , "Surprise!"

5. We work out at the fitness center every day after work. If you (come) over while

we (work) out, we will not be able to let you into the house. Just to be safe, we

(leave) a key under the welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.

6. While you (study) at home, Magda (be) in class.

7. When I (get) to the party, Sally and Doug (dance) , John (make)

drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss) something controversial, and

Mary (complain) about something unimportant. They are always doing the

same things. They are so predictable.

8. When you (get) off the plane, I (wait) for you.

9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) up tomorrow

morning, the sun (shine) .

10. If you (need) to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) at the

Sheraton in San Francisco.


Simple Future / Future Perfect


1.

Margaret: Do you think everything will be finished when I get back from the store?

Jerry: Don't worry. By the time you get back, I (pick) up the living room and

(finish) washing the dishes. Everything will be perfect when your parents arrive.

Margaret: I hope so. They (arrive) around 6 o'clock.

Jerry: Everything (be) spotless by the time they get here.

2.

Nick: I just have two more courses before I graduate from university. By this time next year, I

(graduate) , and I will already be looking for a job.

Stacey: Does that scare you? Are you worried about the future?

Nick: Not really. I (go) to a career counselor and get some advice on how to find

a good job.

Stacey: That's a good idea.

Nick: I am also going to do an internship so that when I leave school, I (complete, not only)

over 13 business courses, but I (work, also) in the

real world.

3.

Stan: Did you hear that Christine (take) a vacation in South America this winter?

Fred: I can't believe how often she goes abroad. Where exactly does she want to go?

Stan: She (visit) Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Fred: At this rate, she (visit) every country in the world by the time she's 50.

4.

Judy: How long have you been in Miami?

Elaine: I have only been here for a couple of weeks.

Judy: How long do you plan on staying?

Elaine: I love Miami, so I (stay) here for an extended period of time. When I go

back home, I (be) here for more than three months.

Judy: Wow, that's quite a vacation! You (see, definitely) just about

everything there is to see in Miami by then.

5.

Jane: I can't believe how late we are! By the time we get to the dinner, everyone (finish,

already) eating.

Jack: It's your own fault. You took way too long in the bathroom.

Jane: I couldn't get my hair to look right.

Jack: Who cares? By the time we get there, everyone (left) . Nobody (see, even)

your hair.


Future Perfect / Future Perfect Continuous


1. By the time we get to Chicago this evening, we (drive) more than four hundred

miles. We are going to be exhausted.

2. When Sarah goes on vacation next month, she (study) German for over

two years. She should be able to communicate fairly well while she is in Austria.

3. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San

Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

4. By the time you finish studying the verb tense tutorial, you (master) all twelve

tenses including their passive forms.

5. Drive faster! If you don't hurry up, she (have) the baby by the time we get to

the hospital.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I

return to Australia, I (study) for nine months and I (be) in

England for exactly one year.

7. Margie just called and said she would be here at 8 o'clock. By the time she gets here, we

(wait) for her for two hours.

8. Frank just changed jobs again. If he keeps this up, he (change) jobs at least

four or five times by the end of the year.

9. Come over to my house around 9 o'clock. By then, I (complete) my history

essay and we can go see a movie.

10. In June, my grandmother and grandfather (be) married for fifty years.


Future Perfect / Future Perfect Continuous


1.

Jack: Have you been watching the Eco-Challenge on TV?

Janet: Isn't that exciting? It has got to be the most unbelievably difficult sporting event in the

world.

Jack: I know. By the time they finish the course, they (raft) more than 150 miles

down a raging river, (hike) through 80 miles of jungle, (climb) a

volcano and (kayak) through shark-infested waters.

Janet: And don't forget that they (move) for at least eight days straight.

2.

Oliver: When are going to get your bachelor's degree, Anne?

Anne: I am going to finish my degree next June. By the time I graduate, I (go) to

four different colleges and universities, and I (study) for more than seven

years.

Oliver: Wow, that's a long time!

Anne: And I plan to continue on to get a Ph.D.

Oliver: Really? How long is that going to take?

Anne: By the time I finally finish studying, I (be) a student for over 13 years.

3.

Max: Sarah has been in the kitchen all day long.

Jake: It doesn't sound like she's having a very good Thanksgiving.

Max: She (cook) for over seven hours by the time everyone arrives for

dinner this afternoon. Hopefully, she (finish) everything by then.

Jake: Maybe we should help her out.

4.

Mike: It's 6:00, and I have been working on my essay for over three hours.

Sid: Do you think you (finish) by 10:00? There's a party at Donna's tonight.

Mike: I (complete, probably) the essay by 10:00, but I (work)

on it for more than seven hours, and I don't think I am going to feel like going

to a party.

5.

Fred: By the time they finish their trip across Yosemite National Park, they (hike)

for more than six days.

Ginger: And they (be, not) in a bed or (have) a shower in almost

a week!

Fred: When we pick them up, they (eat) camping food for days, and I am

sure they will be starving.

Ginger: I think we had better plan on taking them directly to a restaurant.


Future Continuous / Future Perfect Continuous


1.

Simona: Margaret is really going to speak Spanish well when she gets back from that language

school in Mexico.

Isabelle: Hopefully! She (take) classes for more than six months.

Simona: She is going to be able to speak Spanish with some of our Latin American clients.

Isabelle: Good. Two clients from Peru (visit) us next month when Margaret

returns. We need someone to entertain them while they are here.

2.

Jason: I am leaving!

Nurse: If you would please wait, the doctor will be with you in ten minutes. The doctor is having

some problems with a patient.

Jason: The doctor was having problems with that patient an hour ago. If I wait another ten

minutes, I am sure he (have, still) problems with her. By the time he's finally

ready to see me, I (wait) for more than two hours.

3.

Frank: What are you going to be doing tomorrow at five?

Debbie: I (paint) my living room walls.

Frank: Still? How long have you been working on your living room?

Debbie: Forever. By the time I finish, I (redecorate) the living room for

over a week.

Frank: Too bad. I was going to ask if you wanted to see a movie. What about the day after

tomorrow?

Debbie: Sorry, I (move) furniture and (put) up drapes.

4.

Mr. Jones: What are you going to be doing next year at this time?

Mr. McIntyre: I (work) for a big law firm in New Orleans.

Mr. Jones: I didn't know you were leaving Baton Rouge.

Mr. McIntyre: I got a great job offer which I just can't refuse. Besides, by the time I move, I (live)

in Baton Rouge for over twenty years. I think it's about time for a change.

Verb Tense Practice Test



1. You look really great! (you, work) out at the fitness center recently?

2. A: What (you, do) when the accident occurred?

B: I (try) to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

3. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new

one.

4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. A: What do you call people who work in libraries?

B: They (call) librarians.

6. I came to England six months ago. I started my economics course three months ago. When I

return to Australia, I (study) for nine months and I (be) in

England for exactly one year.

7. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

8. Samantha (live) in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live)

there when the Berlin wall came down.

9. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.

10. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan; however,

their culture (disappear, virtually) by the time Europeans first (arrive)

in the New World.

11. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

12. It (rain) all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the

beach.

13. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be)

late to work too many times. You are fired!

14. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) up tomorrow

morning, the sun (shine) .

15. I have not traveled much yet; however, I (visit) the Grand Canyon and San

Francisco by the time I leave the United States.

16. I (see) many pictures of the pyramids before I went to Egypt. Pictures of the

monuments are very misleading. The pyramids are actually quite small.

17. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very

comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North

America by covered wagon. The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things

(change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from

New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

18. Joseph's English (improve, really) , isn't it? He (watch)

American television programs and (study) his grammar every day since he first

arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.

19. When I (arrive) home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare)

a beautiful candlelight dinner.

20. If you (need) to contact me sometime next week, I (stay) at the

Sheraton in San Francisco.

Verb Tense Final Test


Complete questions 1-10 below with the appropriate tenses, answer questions 11-15, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

1. When Carol (call) last night, I (watch) my favorite show on

television.

2. I (work) for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here

until I retire!

3. Sharon (love) to travel. She (go) abroad almost every summer.

Next year, she plans to go to Peru.

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write)

since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) seven novels,

three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.

5. We were late because we had some car problems. By the time we (get) to the

train station, Susan (wait) for us for more than two hours.

6. Sam (try) to change a light bulb when he (slip) and (fell)

.

7. Everyday I (wake) up at 6 o'clock, (eat) breakfast at 7 o'clock and

(leave) for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) up at

6:30, (skip) breakfast and (leave) for work late because I (forget)

to set my alarm.

8. Right now, Jim (read) the newspaper and Kathy (make) dinner.

Last night at this time, they (do) the same thing. She (cook) and he

(read) the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (do, also) the

same thing. She (prepare) dinner and he (read) . They are very

predictable people!

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) your studies and (find)

a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) anything. I

(study, still) and you (work) in some new high paying job.

10. The students (be, usually) taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (be)

taught by Mr. Tanzer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

11.

Jane talks on the phone.

Bob has been talking on the phone for an hour.

Mary is talking on the phone.

Who is not necessarily on the phone now?

12.

I'm going to make dinner for Frank.

I'm making dinner for Judy.

I'll make dinner for Mary.

I make dinner for Ted.

I will be making dinner for Tony.

Who are you offering to make dinner for?

13.

Jane left when Tim arrived.

Bob left when Tim had arrived.

Tim arrived when Mary was leaving.

John had left when Tim arrived.

After Tim arrived, Frank left.

Who did not run into Tim?

14.

Jane is talking in class.

Bob always talks in class.

Mary is always talking in class.

Whose action bothers you?

15.

Jane never left Jamestown.

Bob has never left Jamestown.

Who is still alive?

Simple PresentFORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

You speak English.

Do you speak English?

You do not speak English.

Complete List of Simple Present Forms

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

The train does not leave at 9 AM.

When does the train usually leave?

She always forgets her purse.

He never forgets his wallet.

Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.

Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepresentforms.html

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

California is in America.

California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass.

Windows are not made of wood.

New York is a small city. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT THIS FACT IS UNTRUE.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

When do we board the plane?

The party starts at 8 o'clock.

When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

I am here now.

She is not here now.

He needs help right now.

He does not need help now.

He has his passport in his hand.

Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You only speak English.

Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Once a week, Tom cleans the car. ACTIVE

Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. PASSIVE

Present Continuous

[am/is/are + present participle]

Examples:

You are watching TV.

Are you watching TV?

You are not watching TV.

Complete List of Present Continuous Forms

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuousforms.html



USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

Are you sleeping?

I am sitting.

I am not standing.

Is he sitting or standing?

They are reading their books.

They are not watching television.

What are you doing?

Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

I am studying to become a doctor.

I am not studying to become a dentist.

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.

I am not reading any books right now.

Are you working on any special projects at work?

Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future


Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

I am meeting some friends after work.

I am not going to the party tonight.

Is he visiting his parents next weekend?

Isn't he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

She is always coming to class late.

He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.

I don't like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct

She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT






Examples:

You are still watching TV.

Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Right now, Tom is writing the letter. ACTIVE

Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. PASSIVE

Simple Past

[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

You called Debbie.

Did you call Debbie?

You did not call Debbie.

Complete List of Simple Past Forms

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.

I didn't see a play yesterday.

Last year, I traveled to Japan.

Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepastforms.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/irregularverbs/irregularverbs.html

Did you have dinner last night?

She washed her car.

He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:

I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.

Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

I lived in Brazil for two years.

Shauna studied Japanese for five years.

They sat at the beach all day.

They did not stay at the party the entire time.

We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.

A: How long did you wait for them?B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

I studied French when I was a child.

He played the violin.

He didn't play the piano.

Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?

She worked at the movie theater after school.

They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples:

She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

He didn't like tomatoes before.

Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?

People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

IMPORTANT When-Clauses Happen First

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class began..." These clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important. The examples below contain when-clauses.

Examples:

When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.

She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the Simple Past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/usedto.html


dollar, and then, she answered my question. It is not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence. However, the example below has a different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.

Example:

I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You just called Debbie.

Did you just call Debbie?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Tom repaired the car. ACTIVE

The car was repaired by Tom. PASSIVE

Past Continuous[was/were + present participle]

Examples:

You were studying when she called.

Were you studying when she called?

You were not studying when she called.

Complete List of Past Continuous Forms

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastcontinuousforms.html

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

What were you doing when the earthquake started?

I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.

You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.

While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.

Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.

While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.

A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.

Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:

Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.I STARTED EATING AT 6 PM.

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.I STARTED EARLIER; AND AT 6 PM, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

I was studying while he was making dinner.

While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

Were you listening while he was talking?

I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.

What were you doing while you were waiting?

Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.

They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

Example:

When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

She was always coming to class late.


He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.

I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.

Examples:

I was studying when she called.

While I was studying, she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.

Examples:

Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct

Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You were just studying when she called.

Were you just studying when she called?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. ACTIVE





The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. PASSIVE

Present PerfectFORM

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

You have seen that movie many times.

Have you seen that movie many times?

You have not seen that movie many times.

Complete List of Present Perfect Forms

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.

There have been many earthquakes in California.

People have traveled to the Moon.

People have not traveled to Mars.

Have you read the book yet?

Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.

A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectforms.html

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:

TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

I have been to France.THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES.

I have been to France three times.YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.

I have never been to France.THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO FRANCE.

I think I have seen that movie before.

He has never traveled by train.

Joan has studied two foreign languages.

A: Have you ever met him?B: No, I have not met him.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples:

You have grown since the last time I saw you.

The government has become more interested in arts education.

Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.

My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples:

Man has walked on the Moon.

Our son has learned how to read.

Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.

Scientists have split the atom.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples:

James has not finished his homework yet.

Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.

Bill has still not arrived.

The rain hasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

Examples:

The army has attacked that city five times.

I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.

We have had many major problems while working on this project.

She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:

Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

I have seen that movie six times in the last month.

They have had three tests in the last week.

She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different companies so far.

My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE

"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.

Examples:

I went to Mexico last year.I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE.

I have been to Mexico in the last year.I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect.

Examples:

I have had a cold for two weeks.

She has been in England for six months.

Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.




Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You have only seen that movie one time.

Have you only seen that movie one time?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE

That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE

Present Perfect ContinuousFORM

[has/have + been + present participle]

Examples:

You have been waiting here for two hours.

Have you been waiting here for two hours?

You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuousforms.html

Examples:

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.

What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?

James has been teaching at the university since June.

We have been waiting here for over two hours!

Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

She has been watching too much television lately.

Have you been exercising lately?

Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

Lisa has not been practicing her English.

What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.




Examples:

Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct

Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You have only been waiting here for one hour.

Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Recently, John has been doing the work. ACTIVE

Recently, the work has been being done by John. PASSIVE

NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.

Past PerfectFORM

[had + past participle]

Examples:

You had studied English before you moved to New York.

Had you studied English before you moved to New York?

You had not studied English before you moved to New York.

Complete List of Past Perfect Forms

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfectforms.htm

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.

Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?

She only understood the movie because she had read the book.

Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.

We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.

A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples:

We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.




Example:

She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

MOREOVER

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:

She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:

She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct

She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You had previously studied English before you moved to New York.

Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. ACTIVE

Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. PASSIVE

Past Perfect ContinuousFORM

[had been + present participle]

Examples:

You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived?

You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

Complete List of Past Perfect Continuous Forms

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Examples:

They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?

Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.

James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.

A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past


http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfectcontinuousforms.html

Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

Examples:

Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.

Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous rather than the Past Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Past Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the past. Study the examples below to understand the difference.

Examples:

He was tired because he was exercising so hard.THIS SENTENCE EMPHASIZES THAT HE WAS TIRED BECAUSE HE WAS EXERCISING AT THAT EXACT MOMENT.

He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.THIS SENTENCE EMPHASIZES THAT HE WAS TIRED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN EXERCISING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE WAS STILL EXERCISING AT THAT MOMENT OR THAT HE HAD JUST FINISHED.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Past Perfect.

Examples:

The motorcycle had been belonging to George for years before Tina bought it. Not Correct

The motorcycle had belonged to George for years before Tina bought it. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT





Examples:

You had only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived.

Had you only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris. ACTIVE

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris. PASSIVE

NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.

Simple FutureSimple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

You will help him later.

Will you help him later?

You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

You are going to meet Jane tonight.

Are you going to meet Jane tonight?

You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Complete List of Simple Future Forms

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

I will send you the information when I get it.

I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

Will you help me move this heavy table?

Will you make dinner?

I will not do your homework for you.

I won't do all the housework myself!

A: I'm really hungry.B: I'll make some sandwiches.

A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.B: I'll get you some coffee.

A: The phone is ringing.B: I'll get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

I will call you when I arrive.

If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

Don't worry, I'll be careful.

I won't tell anyone your secret.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefutureforms.html

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

I 'm going to be an actor when I grow up.

Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.

They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.

Who are you going to invite to the party?

A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:

The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.

John Smith will be the next President.

John Smith is going to be the next President.

The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.

The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct

When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You will never help him.

Will you ever help him?

You are never going to meet Jane.

Are you ever going to meet Jane?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. PASSIVE

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. ACTIVE

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. PASSIVE

Future ContinuousFuture Continuous has two different forms: "will be doing " and "be going to be doing." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Continuous with "Will"

[will be + present participle]

Examples:

You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?



You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

FORM Future Continuous with "Be Going To "

[am/is/are + going to be + present participle]

Examples:

You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

REMEMBER: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Continuous with little difference in meaning.

Complete List of Future Continuous Forms

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.

I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.

He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.

Notice in the examples above that the interruptions (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html#tc




http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futurecontinuousforms.htm

In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In addition to using short actions as interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.I WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER.

At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.WE WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT.

REMEMBER

In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the Future Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.

Examples:

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.I AM GOING TO START EATING AT 6 PM.

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.I AM GOING TO START EARLIER AND I WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF EATING DINNER AT 6 PM.

USE 3 Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.

Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.NOTICE "IS READING" BECAUSE OF THE TIME CLAUSE CONTAINING "WHILE." (SEE EXPLANATION BELOW )

USE 4 Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

Example:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futurecontinuous.html#tc2

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futurecontinuous.html#tc2

When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future tenses, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Continuous, Present Continuous is used.

Examples:

While I am going to be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct

While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.

Examples:

Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct

Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You will still be waiting for her when her plane arrives.

Will you still be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

You are still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives.

Are you still going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. ACTIVE





At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John. PASSIVE

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes. ACTIVE

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John. PASSIVE

NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Continuous are not common.

Future PerfectFuture Perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to have done." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with "Will"

[will have + past participle]

Examples:

You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?

You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

Examples:

You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?

You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.

Complete List of Future Perfect Forms

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureperfectforms.html


The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

By next November, I will have received my promotion.

By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.

I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.

Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?

Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.

By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.

How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Examples:

I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.

By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.


Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.

Examples:








I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct

I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You will only have learned a few words.

Will you only have learned a few words?

You are only going to have learned a few words.

Are you only going to have learned a few words?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

They will have completed the project before the deadline. ACTIVE

The project will have been completed before the deadline. PASSIVE

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. ACTIVE

The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. PASSIVE

Future Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect Continuous has two different forms: "will have been doing " and "be going to have been doing." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Will"

[will have been + present participle]

Examples:

You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?

You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have been + present participle]


Examples:

You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

Are you going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?

You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.

Complete List of Future Perfect Continuous Forms

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration stops at or before a reference point in the future.

Examples:

They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.

She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.

James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.

How long will you have been studying when you graduate?

We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when we get to Anchorage.

A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in New Zealand for over a year?B: No, I will not have been living here that long.

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because these future events are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future








http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureperfectcontinuousforms.html

Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.

Examples:

Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.

Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States for over two years.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous rather than the Future Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future. Study the examples below to understand the difference.

Examples:

He will be tired because he will be exercising so hard.THIS SENTENCE EMPHASIZES THAT HE WILL BE TIRED BECAUSE HE WILL BE EXERCISING AT THAT EXACT MOMENT IN THE FUTURE.

He will be tired because he will have been exercising so hard.THIS SENTENCE EMPHASIZES THAT HE WILL BE TIRED BECAUSE HE WILL HAVE BEEN EXERCISING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE WILL STILL BE EXERCISING AT THAT MOMENT OR THAT HE WILL JUST HAVE FINISHED.


Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous is used.

Examples:

You won't get a promotion until you will have been working here as long as Tim. Not Correct

You won't get a promotion until you have been working here as long as Tim. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs



It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Future Perfect .

Examples:

Ned will have been having his driver's license for over two years. Not Correct

Ned will have had his driver's license for over two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT


Examples:

You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.

Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.

Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE

The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE

The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE

The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE

NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Perfect Continuous are not common.

Used ToFORM

[used to + VERB]

Example:




I used to go to the beach every day.

It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using Simple Past.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

"Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

Examples:

Jerry used to study English.

Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer.

I used to start work at 9 o'clock.

Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.

USE 2 Past Facts and Generalizations

"Used to" can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

Examples:

I used to live in Paris.

Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin.

George used to be the best student in class, but now Lena is the best.

Oranges used to cost very little in Florida, but now they are quite expensive.

"Used to" vs. Simple Past

Both Simple Past and "Used to" can be used to describe past habits, past facts and past generalizations; however, "used to" is preferred when emphasizing these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other hand, when asking questions or making negative sentences, Simple Past is preferred.




Examples:

You used to play the piano.

Did you play the piano when you were young?

You did not play the piano when you were young.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Jerry used to pay the bills. ACTIVE

The bills used to be paid by Jerry. PASSIVE



Past Repetition Simple Past, "Used to" and "Would Always."

Would AlwaysFORM

[would always + VERB]

Examples:

You would always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach.

Would you always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach?

You would not always take your surfboard with you when you went to the beach.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

Like "used to" and Simple Past, "would always" expresses the idea that something was an old habit which stopped in the past. It says that an action was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now. Unlike "used to" and Simple Past, "would always" suggests that someone willingly acted that way and sometimes expresses annoyance or amusement at the habit. It also often suggests the habit was extreme. To express the opposite idea, we can say "would never" to indicate that someone never did something in the past, but now they do.



http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/exercises/exercise10.html


Examples:

She would always send me strange birthday gifts.

Sam and Mary would always choose the most exotic vacation destinations.

Sally would not always arrive early to class. She came late once or twice.

Ned would always show up at our house without calling first.

Mindy would not always walk to school. Sometimes, she took the bus.

Christine would always come late to the meetings.

Jeff would never pay for drinks when we went out together with our friends.REFUSING TO DO SOMETHING OR NORMALLY NOT DOING SOMETHING IS ALSO A FORM OF HABIT.

REMEMBER "Would Always" is Different

"Would always" is not exactly the same as "used to" or the Simple Past. "Would always" cannot be used to talk about past facts or generalizations. It can only be used for repeated actions.

Examples:

Sarah was shy, but now she is very outgoing. Correct

Sarah used to be shy, but now she is very outgoing. Correct

Sarah would always be shy, but now she is very outgoing. Not Correct

Forms Related to "Would Always"

In addition to "would always," English speakers often use "would constantly," "would often," "would forever" or simply "would." Although the last form "would" is correct, it is not suggested because it can easily be confused with other verb forms such as the Conditional or Future in the Past. Similarly, speakers can use "would rarely," "would occasionally" and "would seldom" to express the idea that an action was not often repeated.

Examples:

Jerry would come to the parties every weekend.

Jerry would constantly bring his girlfriend to the parties.

Jerry would often bring his best friend to the parties.

Jerry would occasionally bring his older brother to the parties.

Jerry would seldom bring his sister to the parties.

Jerry would never bring his younger brother to the parties.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

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My mother would always make the pies. ACTIVE

The pies would always be made by my mother. PASSIVE



Past Repetition Simple Past, "Used to" and "Would Always."

Future in the PastLike Simple Future, Future in the Past has two different forms in English: "would" and "was going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two different meanings.

FORM Would

[would + VERB]

Examples:

I knew you would help him.

I knew you would not help him.

FORM Was/Were Going To

[was/were + going to + VERB]

Examples:

I knew you were going to go to the party.

I knew you were not going to go to the party.

USE 1 Future in Past

Future in the Past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought something would happen in the future. It does not matter if you are correct or not. Future in the Past follows the same basic rules as the Simple Future. "Would" is used to volunteer or promise, and "was going to" is used to plan. Moreover, both forms can be used to make predictions about the future.





Examples:

I told you he was going to come to the party. PLAN

I knew Julie would make dinner. VOLUNTARY ACTION

Jane said Sam was going to bring his sister with him, but he came alone. PLAN

I had a feeling that the vacation was going to be a disaster. PREDICTION

He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt. PROMISE


Like all future forms, Future in the Past cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of using Future in the Past, you must use Simple Past.

Examples:

I already told Mark that when he would arrive, we would go out for dinner. Not Correct

I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE

I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM. PASSIVE

I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner. ACTIVE

I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally. PASSIVE



Future in the Past Exercise

Types of VerbsBefore you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups: Normal Verbs, Non-Continuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.

Group I Normal Verbs




Most verbs are "Normal Verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses.

Normal Verbs

to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc.

Examples:

I eat dinner every day.

I am eating dinner now.

Group II Non-Continuous Verbs

The second group, called "Non-Continuous Verbs," is smaller. These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They include:

Abstract Verbs

to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...

Possession Verbs

to possess, to own, to belong...

Emotion Verbs

to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...

Examples:

He is needing help now. Not Correct

He needs help now. Correct

He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct

He wants a drink now. Correct

Group III Mixed Verbs

The third group, called "Mixed Verbs," is the smallest group. These verbs have more than one meaning. In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like "Non-Continuous Verbs," while other meanings behave like "Normal Verbs."

Mixed Verbs

to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh...

List of Mixed Verbs with Examples and Definitions:

to appear:

Donna appears confused. Non-Continuous VerbDONNA SEEMS CONFUSED.

My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz club tonight. Normal VerbMY FAVORITE SINGER IS GIVING A PERFORMANCE AT THE JAZZ CLUB TONIGHT.

to have:

I have a dollar now. Non-Continuous VerbI POSSESS A DOLLAR.

I am having fun now. Normal VerbI AM EXPERIENCING FUN NOW.

to hear:

She hears the music. Non-Continuous VerbSHE HEARS THE MUSIC WITH HER EARS.

She is hearing voices. Normal VerbSHE HEARS SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT HEAR. SHE IS HEARING VOICES IN HER MIND.

to look:

Nancy looks tired. Non-Continuous VerbSHE SEEMS TIRED.

Farah is looking at the pictures. Normal VerbSHE IS LOOKING WITH HER EYES.

to miss:

John misses Sally. Non-Continuous VerbHE IS SAD BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THERE.

Debbie is missing her favorite TV program. Normal VerbSHE IS NOT THERE TO SEE HER FAVORITE PROGRAM.

to see:

I see her. Non-Continuous VerbI SEE HER WITH MY EYES.

I am seeing the doctor. Normal VerbI AM VISITING OR CONSULTING WITH A DOCTOR. (ALSO USED WITH DENTIST AND LAWYER.)

I am seeing her. Normal VerbI AM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal VerbHE SEES SOMETHING OTHERS CANNOT SEE. FOR EXAMPLE GHOSTS, AURA, A VISION OF THE FUTURE, ETC.

to smell:

The coffee smells good. Non-Continuous VerbTHE COFFEE HAS A GOOD SMELL.

I am smelling the flowers. Normal VerbI AM SNIFFING THE FLOWERS TO SEE WHAT THEIR SMELL IS LIKE.

to taste:

The coffee tastes good. Non-Continuous VerbTHE COFFEE HAS A GOOD TASTE.

I am tasting the cake. Normal VerbI AM TRYING THE CAKE TO SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

to think:

He thinks the test is easy. Non-Continuous VerbHE CONSIDERS THE TEST TO BE EASY.

She is thinking about the question. Normal VerbSHE IS PONDERING THE QUESTION, GOING OVER IT IN HER MIND.

to weigh:

The table weighs a lot. Non-Continuous VerbTHE TABLE IS HEAVY.

She is weighing herself. Normal VerbSHE IS DETERMINING HER WEIGHT.

Some Verbs Can Be Especially Confusing:

to be:

Joe is American. Non-Continuous VerbJOE IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

Joe is being very American. Normal VerbJOE IS BEHAVING LIKE A STEREOTYPICAL AMERICAN.

Joe is being very rude. Normal VerbJOE IS BEHAVING VERY RUDELY. USUALLY HE IS NOT RUDE.

Joe is being very formal. Normal VerbJOE IS BEHAVING VERY FORMALLY. USUALLY HE IS NOT FORMAL.

NOTICE: Only rarely is "to be" used in a continuous form. This is most commonly done when a person is temporarily behaving badly or stereotypically. It can also be used when someone's behavior is noticeably different.

to feel:

The massage feels great. Non-Continuous VerbTHE MASSAGE HAS A PLEASING FEELING .

I don't feel well today. Sometimes used as Non-Continuous VerbI AM A LITTLE SICK. I am not feeling well today. Sometimes used as Normal VerbI AM A LITTLE SICK.

NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."

Active / Passive Verb FormsSentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive forms." You must learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.

Active Form

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]

Examples:

Passive Form

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or

should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]

Examples:

Active / Passive Overview

Active Passive

Simple Present

Once a week, Tom cleans the house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Continuous

Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.

Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

Simple Past

Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

Past Continuous

The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.

The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

Present Perfect

Many tourists have visited that castle.

That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Continuous

Recently, John has been doing the work.

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

Past Perfect

George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.

Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license.

Past Perfect Continuous

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris.

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris.

Simple FutureWILL

Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM.

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

Simple FutureBE GOING TO

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.

Future ContinuousWILL

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John.

Future ContinuousBE GOING TO

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes.

At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John.

Future PerfectWILL

They will have completed the project before the deadline.

The project will have been completed before the deadline.

Future PerfectBE GOING TO

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.

The project is going to have been completed before the deadline.

Future Perfect ContinuousWILL

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Future Perfect ContinuousBE GOING TO

The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills.

The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always

My mother would always make the pies.

The pies would always be made by my mother.

Future in the PastWOULD

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM.

I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.

Future in the Past

I thought Sally was going to make a

I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by

WAS GOING TO

beautiful dinner tonight.

Sally tonight.

Future in the

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PART A

Some of the sentences below are Future in the Past and some are examples of other verb forms which look similar but have entirely different meanings. Identify which sentences are Future in the Past and which are not. If you are confused go to the Future in the Past Page.

EXAMPLE:

A) She told me she would be there. YES B) She would come if she had time. NO

1. He was always going to the beach when he was a kid.

2. They knew he was going to go to the beach.

3. She would travel if she had enough money.

4. Sam thought he would win the contest.

5. Donna mentioned that she was going to go to Hawaii on vacation.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.html

6. Judy was going to the beach when I called.

7. Judy was going to go to the beach when I called.

8. She would always go to class late.

9. She was always going to class late.

10. My parent knew I would go to class late.

11. Sally asked if I was going to go to class late.

12. I told Sue I was having dinner with some friends after work.

13. I told Sue I was going to have dinner with some friends after work.

14. When I worked there, we were always having production problems.

15. Was she aware of the fact that we were meeting after class.

Future in the Past Answers

PART A

1. He was always going to the beach when he was a kid. NO (This is Past Continuous USE 5.)

2. They knew he was going to go to the beach. YES (Future in the Past)

3. She would travel if she had enough money. NO (This is Present Unreal Conditional)

4. Sam thought he would win the contest. YES (Future in the Past)

5. Donna mentioned that she was going to go to Hawaii on vacation. YES (Future in the Past)

6. Judy was going to the beach when I called. YES (Future in the Past, the meaning tells you that "going" is not interrupted.)


7. Judy was going to go to the beach when I called. YES (Future in the Past)

8. She would always go to class late. NO (This is "Would Always.")

9. She was always going to class late. NO (This is Past Continuous USE 5.)

10. My parent knew I would go to class late. YES (Future in the Past)

11. Sally asked if I was going to go to class late. YES (Future in the Past)

12. I told Sue I was having dinner with some friends after work. YES (Future in the Past)

13. I told Sue I was going to have dinner with some friends after work. YES (Future in the Past)

14. When I worked there, we were always having production problems. NO (This is Past Continuous USE 5.)

15. Was she aware of the fact that we were meeting after class. YES (Future in the Past)

Past Repetition

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PART A

Some of the sentences below contain common verb form mistakes. Find the sentences with errors and correct them using either "Simple Past," "Used to" or "Would Always." If you are confused, go to the Simple Past Page, the "Used to" Page or the "Would Always" Page .

EXAMPLE:

used to A) I would always be unhealthy as a child.

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1. When I was a child, I rode my bike everyday.

2. She would always be beautiful when she was young.

3. I used to go to the beach yesterday.

4. Margie loves horses because she used to have one as a child.

5. James would always have a very important test last week.

6. Jerry always used to cook dinner for himself, but now his wife prepares dinner.

7. Jamie would always have a dog when she was a child, but now she has a cat.

8. Laura would always bake cookies for us when we were kids.

9. I used to graduate from Georgetown University in 1992.

10. He would constantly embarrass himself by asking stupid questions in class.

11. They would spend Easter with us every year until we moved.

12. They used to spend Easter with us every year until we moved.

13. They spent Easter with us every year until we moved.

14. I used to be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school.

15. I would always be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school.

Past Repetition Answers

PART A

1. When I was a child, I rode my bike everyday. Correct

used to be / was 2. She would always be beautiful when she was young.

went 3. I used to go to the beach yesterday.

4. Margie loves horses because she used to have one as a child. Correct

had 5. James would always have a very important test last week.

6. Jerry always used to cook dinner for himself, but now his wife prepares dinner. Correct

used to have / had 7. Jamie would always have a dog when she was a child, but now she has a cat.

8. Laura would always bake cookies for us when we were kids. Correct

graduated 9. I used to graduate from Georgetown University in 1992.

10. He would constantly embarrass himself by asking stupid questions in class. Correct

11. They would spend Easter with us every year until we moved. Correct

12. They used to spend Easter with us every year until we moved. Correct

13. They spent Easter with us every year until we moved. Correct

14. I used to be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school. Correct

used to / was 15. I would always be fat, but I lost a lot of weight in high school.

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