Grammar Practice

Ex.1. Form Past Simple of the following verbs. Organize them into three groups according to their pronunciation.

To work, to live, to like, to decide, to play, to spy, to plant, to intend, to laugh, to stop, to please, to talk, to study, to plan, to land, to cry, to want, to stage, to offer, to reveal, to travel, to limit, to omit, to stay, to dry, to die, to watch, to smash, to translate, to cancel, to refer, to order, to clear, to lie.

Ex.2. Put the words into 3 groups according to the pronunciation of the -ed endings.

Passed, annoyed, remembered, failed, asked, loved, painted, invented, used, listened, raised, filled, kissed, started, looked, waited, visited, concealed, pushed, enjoyed, fried, typed, climbed, closed, phoned, cooked, carried, preferred, labelled, walked, complained, tried, arrived, finished, helped, cleaned, expected, pronounced, prayed, switched, wished.

Ex.3. Fill in the verbs in Past Simple and comment on the use.

1. We (invite) Jill to the party. 2. He (paint) the floor in the flat some days ago. 3. I (finish) work at 8 in the evening yesterday. 4. They (stay) at the seaside for a month last year. 5. We (play) volleyball much in summer. 6. She (study) History last term. 7. Mark (stop) to smoke. 8. She last (visit) us a week ago. 9. I (use) to go to the theatre last year. 10. He (prefer) steak and (ask) the waiter to bring some. 11. He (enjoy) boxing and (watch) it the day before yesterday. 12. She (try) to do her best and (type) many letters. 13. I (like) the film, I (laugh) so much. 14. You (help) your parents with gardening last weekend. 15. They (cancel) the flights because of the weather. 16. We (taste) mangos in Turkey and (love) them a lot. 17. I (remember) his advice very well. 18. It (happen) on the way home just a few minutes ago. 19. It (rain) little last summer. 20. The coat (fit) me well last year. 21. He (exchange) a few words with us, (wave), then (turn) back and (push) the door open.

Ex.4. Complete the text about Henry. Use the Past Simple Tense.

Last weekend, Henry (go) fishing in a stream near our house. He (choose) a quiet spot under a tree and (sit) there for hours but not a single fish (swim) and he (catch) nothing. So he (lay) down his rod and (take) out a book to read. To keep mosquitoes away, he (light) a cigarette, but alas, he (find) he was sitting on an ant-heap. The ants (bite) his legs. He (throw) the cigarette away in disgust. Then he stepped on his rod and (break) it. The book (fall) into the stream. Finally, Henry (lose) his temper: his legs (hurt) him, his rod (lie) in pieces and he (have) no fish. He (set) off for home and (swear) never to go fishing again.

Ex.5. Respond to the following utterances.

Model: – They usually rest in the country.

– And last summer?

– They didn’t rest in the country last summer.

1. She watches TV in the evening. And yesterday evening? 2. We always stay at the hotel. And last week? 3. On Saturday you go to the cinema. And this Saturday? 4. They discuss their working plans on Monday morning. And last Monday morning? 5. Nick, as a rule, stays late at work. And this Friday? 6. He always dictates letters to his secretary. And yesterday? 7. Every week we write tests at our classes. And a week ago? 8. I see your brother in the library in the afternoon. And yesterday afternoon? 9. Mary does her homework after supper. And yesterday? 10. She usually drinks coffee in the morning. And this morning? 11. They pay for the flat monthly. And last month? 12. John always brings new magazines. And the day before yesterday? 13. I usually read a book before sleep. And this night? 14. You spend weekends out of town. And this weekend? 15. Alice goes shopping twice a week. And last week? 16. She is at home after 6 p.m. And yesterday? 17 There is much snow in winter. And this winter? 18. We are always present at lectures. And last lecture? 19. There are many children in the park on Sunday. And this Sunday?

Ex.6. Make the sentences general questions. Give short answers.

1. You studied English at school. 2. Mr. Brown’s daughter became a manager. 3. The boss went away on business on Tuesday. 4. I sent a telegram on Friday. 5. She caught the 6 o’clock train to get to work in time. 6. She said something at dinner. 7. She swam much in summer. 8. Kate lost her umbrella yesterday. 9. The classes began at 12 yesterday. 10. Lucy played the piano at the party. 11. They had breakfast at 9 this morning. 12. His mother taught Physics at school. 13. The students left the room after the bell rang. 14. I last met Jane long ago. 15. They were at the museum few months ago. 16. There was a concert show on TV yesterday. 17. He was tired yesterday. 18. There were some interesting articles in yesterday’s newspaper. 19. It stopped raining only a minute ago. 20. Something happened with the toaster this morning.

Ex.7. Ask alternative questions. Give possible answers.

1. You / translate the text / yesterday / the day before yesterday? 2. Mr Robinson / fly / to Mexico / to Brazil last week? 3. Fred / Mike / have a talk with you? 4. I / put the book / into the bookcase / the bag? 5. Ben / make / few / many mistakes in the test? 6. He / repair the alarm-clock / the watch / two days ago? 7. You / tell Mary / her sister the news yesterday? 8. They / discuss / admit the plan at the meeting? 9. Henry / eat fish / meat for dinner? 10. The Smiths / buy / sell a car last year? 11. She / speak French / German at the reception. 12. You / make an appointment for Thursday / Friday morning?

Ex.8. Express solidarity.

Model: – I saw Tom yesterday.

– So did I, I also saw him yesterday.

– I didn’t go out last night.

– Neither did we, we didn’t go out last night either.

1. They didn’t begin the work early. 2. We went on a picnic on Saturday. 3. George did well at school. 4. I didn’t listen to the news. 5. You left at 8.50 in the morning. 6. We didn’t hear this opera last week. 7. Jack spent a lot of money. 8. I forgot Dick’s address. 9. They didn’t give him any books. 10. I lost my gloves some days ago. 11. I didn’t do my homework yesterday. 12. I last went fishing two days ago.

Ex.9. Put questions to the underlined words.

1. Greta (sing) at the party beautifully. 2. Peter (read) three pages yesterday. 3. I (send) the documents by post. 4. It (rain) yesterday. 5. You (enjoy) the house-warming party. 6. We (give) some photos to Betsy. 7. Mary (do) the housework alone last week. 8. He (get) to the office by taxi. 9. I (go) to England five years ago. 10. We (pay) a fortune for the furniture. 11. The working day (last) seven hours yesterday. 12. It (be) very hot the day before yesterday. 13. Frank used to play ping-pong in his childhood. 14. She (receive) four large presents on her birthday. 15. Helen (be) absent because she (have) a terrible headache yesterday. 16. The plane (disappear) beyond the mountains. 17. I last (see) Jane on Monday. 18. All those years they (want) to return to their native town. 19. The teacher (look) at him in amazement. 20. The bag (cost) $ 20. 21. The doctor (speak) to Kate quietly. 22. Sally (miss) the classes because she (be) ill. 23. Nick (enjoy) sports programmes. 24. Tom used to run 5 kms a day when he (be) young. 25. Dad (fix) his car for four hours yesterday. 26. They (live) in Minsk for twenty years before the war. 27. She (use) to be a naughty girl.

Ex.10. Ask disjunctive questions.

1. My companion (make) no answer, … ? 2. The flowers (smell) sweet, … ? 3. The news (come) early, … ? 4. Jill never (trouble) her head about such things, … ? 5. You (write) two letters every month, … ? 6. Mum (not, cook) dinner yesterday, … ? 7. Last year the students (not, study) Teaching training, … ? 8. The weather (change) for the better a few hours ago, … ? 9. Dick (read) nothing yesterday, … ? 10. Our neighbours (use) to quarrel very often, … ? 11. Your group-mates (be) with you at the concert, … ? 12. There (be) nothing interesting on TV yesterday, … ?

Ex.11. Respond to the following.

Model: – Did Mike enjoy the film?

– I don’t know if he enjoyed the film.

– Where did Sam buy the computer?

– I have no idea where he bought the computer.

1. Did Betsy go out last night? 2. Did Helen find her umbrella? 3. How much did Robert spend on his car? 4. Where did Mum put the lamp? 5. Did their TV-set cost much? 6. Why did Henry miss the lecture? 7. When did they get married? 8. How many countries did David visit? 9. What subject did Mr Baxter teach? 10. Who brought the tape-recorder? 11. Why didn’t they invite Mary? 12. When did Steve first drive a car? 13. How long ago did the Simons move to Bristol? 14. When was her birthday? 15. Whom did Tony phone yesterday? 16. Did she know Ben before? 17. What did Betsy buy the other day? 18. Where did Sam work before he changed the job? 19. Was Tom absent from the classes yesterday? 20. Were there any mistakes in Mary’s test? 21. Did Mr Smith teach French for thirty years?

Ex.12. Answer the questions using “used to” or would.

Model: – Do you go to the theatre? (I / be / in London)

– Not now, but I used to go to the theatre when I was in London.

1. Does he smoke? (He / be / at university) 2. Do you travel about Europe? (I / work / for an international company) 3. Does she get up early? (She / be / a student) 4. Do you read a lot? (We / be / at school) 5. Do they swim much? (They / live / at the seaside) 6. Has he got much money? (He / be / a bank manager) 7. Do they have tea together? (They / work / at the same department) 8. Does he play golf? (He / play / last summer) 9. Does she tell you funny stories? (She / tell / before sleep) 10. Does he wear glasses? (He / wear glasses / before the operation)

Ex.13. Choose the sentences which refer to the past. In a few cases the references to the past and the present are possible.

1. That shirt cost me $ 5. 2. He often cuts himself. 3. She hurt her arm. 4. He let me drive the car. 5. She reads a lot. 6. Ted sets the table every morning. 7. I set the table an hour ago. 8. He put on a clean shirt yesterday. 9. She often hit him. 10. He shut the door with a bang. 11. I often let him read my messages. 12. She always beat him at tennis. 13. The BBC broadcasts daily. 14. The BBC broadcast the talk yesterday. 15. Put the books on the table! 16. These shoes cost much. 17. Your words hurt me a lot. 18. The fire spread quickly. 19. Hot air spreads high.

Ex.14. Use Present Simple, Present Progressive or Past Simple.

Mary (be) born in Peru. She (grow) up in a small town. She (go) to school when she (be) six years old. She (finish) elementary school, but she (not, study) at high school. Her family (be) very poor, and she (have) to go to work when she (be) 13 years old. She (work) at a shoe factory.

When Mary (be) 17 years old, her family (move) to the United States. First they (live) in Los Angelos and then they (move) to San Francisco.

When Mary (arrive) in the USA she (be) very unhappy. She (miss) her friends back in Peru, and she (not, speak) a word in English. She (begin) to study English at night, and she (be) busy in a factory during the day.

Mary (study) very hard and now she (speak) English well. She (learn) how to type now. She (want) to become a secretary. Mary still (miss) her friends back home. But she (be) very happy now and she (look) forward to her future in her new country.

Ex.15. Do the multiple choice test.

1. It (be) Tuesday yesterday.

A. was B. is C. were

2. She (earn) her living by selling fruit before she (move) here.

A. earns; moves B. earned; moved C. earns; moved

3. He (write) his first poem at the age of five.

A. wrote B. writes C. is writing

4. She (fall) in love with a young painter when she (be) 16.

A. falls; is B. fell; were C. fell; was

5. It (not, take) him long to learn to drive.

A. don’t take B. isn’t taking C. didn’t take

6. There (be) a lot of disasters in the 20th century.

A. were B. was C. are

7. She (have) nothing to do last weekend.

A. is having B. has C. had

8. When he (leave) the city? – The other day.

A. did … leave B. is … leaving C. does … leave

9. He … have a beard.

A. would B. wouldn’t C. used to

10. Who (let) that cat into the house yesterday?

A. let B. is letting C. lets

11. I (see) this film when I (be) a teenager.

A. saw; am B. see; am C. saw; was

12. They (meet) each other many years ago.

A. are meeting B. met C. would meet

13. Anybody (help) you to redecorate the flat?

A. Did … help B. Do … help C. Helped

14. Who you (go) shopping with the day before yesterday?

A. went B. did … go C. do ... go

15. How long (be) you at your previous job?

A. are B. was C. were

16. When she first (travel) to England?

A. did … travel B. travelled C. does ... travel

17. She said to us that she (not, like) ice-cream very much.

A. doesn’t like B. didn’t like C. don’t like

18. She … (be) fat but she (be) thin now.

A. would be; is B. were; is C. used to be; is

19. It (rain) often last summer, … it?

A. rained; did B. rained; didn’t C. rains; doesn’t

Ex.16. Translate into English.

1. Вчера шел сильный дождь. 2. Когда она вошла в комнату, все студенты встали. 3. В 1999 году эти ребята еще не учились в университете. 4. Вчера вечером мы встретили Дорис в театре. 5. Утром погода была хорошая. 6. Я не знала, когда Роберт вернется из командировки. 7. В детстве он часто дрался с одноклассниками. 8. Когда закончилось собрание первокурсников факультета? 9. Кейт начала изучать английский в четырехлетнем возрасте. 10. Они жили в разных городах до того, как поженились. 11. Когда ты в последний раз был в музее? 12. С кем ты познакомилась на днях? 13. Майк теперь ходит на работу пешком, потому что продал машину на прошлой неделе. 14. С кем она ходила на дискотеку? 15. Кто перевел весь текст? 16. Сколько ты заплатил за обед? 17. В каком году Вы родились? 18. В комнате было много людей. 19. Я не смотрела телевизор вчера, у меня было много дел. 20. Раньше он был очень нервным. 21. Какие языки изучали твои родители в школе? 22. Почему ты так рано ушел с вечеринки? 23. Ты был в Москве летом? – Нет, я ездил на юг. 24. Где ты был вчера вечером? Я звонил тебе несколько раз. 25. Ты получил хорошую оценку на экзамене? – Да, я получил пятерку.

Ex.17. Put the verbs into Past Simple or Present Perfect.

1. You (hear) about Bob? He (break) his leg. – Really? How that (happen)? 2. I just (return) from Yalta. – You (go) there alone? – Together with my son. – How long (stay) there? – Three weeks. 3. Your hair looks different. You (have) a haircut? – Yes. You (cut) it yourself? – No. Ann (cut) it for me. 4. Look! Somebody (spill) milk on the carpet. – Well, it (not, be) me. – I wonder who it (be) then. 5. You (see) the film on TV last night? 6. I (eat, not) anything yesterday because I (not, feel) hungry. 7. Why Jim (not, want) to play tennis last Friday? – He (be) busy. 8. My book isn’t here any more. Somebody (take) it. 9. Was it after you (write) that letter to me. – What letter? I never (write) any letter. 10. For many years I (travel) in many parts of the world. 11. He (change) a lot since I last (see) him. 12. We (forget) Spanish since we (leave) Spain. 13. Years ago he (be) very poor and (not, know) how to live. He (become) rather rich now. 14. I can reach my work easily now as I (buy) a car. 15. The man you see there is the man to whom I (lend) the money. – When you (lend) it to him? – I (do) it yesterday. 16. I (lose) my keys and cannot remember where I (put) them last. 17. What they (do) last night? What you (do) since we last (meet)?