Exercises (The Present Indefinite Tense)
Ex.1. Read the verbs in the 3 rd person singular:
Watch, pass, catch, push, touch, guess, finish, reach, miss, hate, want, refuse, say, stay, wash.
Ex.2. Put the verb into the correct form.
1. Bad student (not work) hard. 2. It often (snow) in winter. 3.The department store (open) at 9 o’clock. 4. I (see) what you mean. 5. I (not understand) the word “danger”. What it (mean)? 6. He (go) to the dentist twice a year. 7. Nick (not drink) coffee in the evening. 8. The child (like) to play in the yard. 9. They have a car but they (not use) it very often. 10. How many cigarettes do you (smoke) a day? 11. If you need money, why you (no get) a job? 12. Where your father (come) from?
Ex.3. Correct the statements.
Pattern: The sun rises in the west.
- The sun doesn’t rise in the west. It rises in the east.
1. The sun goes round the earth. 2. Mice catch cats. 3. The River Volga flows into the Baltic Sea. 4. Water boils at 80 degrees centigrade. 5. It often snows in summer. 6. People go to bed in the morning. 7. It often rains in winter. 8. Vegetarians eat meat. 9. Men wear skirts. 10. The sun shines at night.
Ex.4. Use the sentences to make questions. Begin your question with the words in brackets.
Pattern: Nick plays football. (How often?)
- How often does Nick play football?
1. The students go to the cinema. (How often?) 2. We have dinner in the evening. (What time?) 3. My father works. (Where?) 4. People do stupid things. (Why?) 5. Benny watches TV. (When?) 6. I write with a pencil. (Where?) 7. Children receive a lot of presents. (When?) 8. Birds fly to warm countries. (When?) 9. We swim in summer. (Where?) 10. My parents ski in winter. (Where?)
Ex.5. Read quickly in the 3 rd person singular.
1 .They often help their father. 2. They remember everything. 3. They live in Moscow. 4. They read newspapers in the evening. 5. They kiss their mother when they come from school. 6. His dogs always attack strangers. 7. Cars make a lot of noise. 8. They listen to everything the teachers say. 9. They open the window in the morning because they like fresh air. 10. My friends like rock and they don’t like pop music. 11. They remember her address but they don’t remember her telephone number. 12. They live in small houses which have three rooms. 13. The students have examinations two times a year. 14. Shop-assistants sell food stuff. 15. Our fellow students don’t get up early. 16. These children like chocolate and they don’t like porridge. 17. They don’t believe me. 18. They speak English very well.
Ex.6. Make the sentences negative and interrogative.
1. They receive two letters a month. 2. Nick wants to read the newspaper. 3. They remember everything. 4. The first lesson begins at 8 o’clock. 5. My nephew lives in Moscow. 6. My cousins learn foreign languages. 7. Our students spend a lot of time in the laboratory. 8. She likes classical music. 9. My aunt cooks well. 10. My niece often sings at parties. 11. His parents want to buy new furniture. 12. They write tests once a month.
Ex.7. Make up disjunctive questions:
1. He knows the answer. 2. You like travelling by car. 3. He never travels second class.
4. He always carries his luggage himself. 5. They don’t like learning grammar. 6. He usually speaks very fast. 7. You don’t go on walking tours. 8. Your patents come from work very late. 9. He doesn’t take many suitcases when he travels on business. 10. You enjoy travelling light. 11. The last train leaves at midnight. 12. They never get seasick.
13. His sisters go to the library once a week. 14. He always gets to the railway station by taxi. 15. He hates seeing people off. 16. She doesn’t like cooking. 17. They receive a lot of newspapers. 18. He never agrees with his wife. 19. He books tickets at the booking office. 20. It doesn’t rain in winter.
Ex.8. Complete the sentences with a contrasting idea.
Pattern: Nick plays hockey well (football).
- Nick plays hockey well, but he doesn’t play football.
1. Our students make a lot of spelling mistakes (grammar). 2 My friend speaks English (French). 3. They write dictations every week (compositions). 4. She sings well (play the piano). 5. We go to the country-side in summer (in winter). 6. He gets up early on week-days (at the week-end). 7. I usually have tea for breakfast (coffee). 8. They spend much money on books (on clothes). 9. He likes to swim in the sea (in the river). 10. She remembers the spelling of this word (the pronunciation).
Ex.9. Answer the questions:
1. How do you usually get to the Institute? 2. Who cooks well in your family? 3. Do you like spring or autumn? 4. When do your classes begin? 5. How many lesson do you have a day? 6. When does your father come home from work? 7. What do you do? 8. Where do you come from? 9. How much time does it take you to get home after classes? 10. Where does your best friend live. 11. Who wakes you up in the morning? 12. What sort of books do you read before going to bed? 13. When does the sun rise in summer? 14. Do you always understand the teacher? 15. Do you remember your friend’s telephone number?
16. When do your friends come to see you? 17. Who helps you with your lessons? 18. Do you always introduce your friends to your parents? 19. Does your mother speak German? 20. What newspapers does your father read? 21. Do you often go to the cinema? 22. How much does a ticket to the cinema cost?
Ex.10. Put all possible questions to the statements:
1. Every evening my brother plays chess with his friends.
2. Some students work in summer.
3. His family goes to the seaside every year.
Ex.11. Translate the sentences into English.
1. Как часто у вас бывают занятия по домашнему чтению? 2. Ты всегда так долго говоришь по телефону? 3. Мой старший брат теперь не может мыть посуду и всегда просит меня сделать это. 4. Наш учитель по литературе знает наизусть много стихотворений. 5. Что ты имеешь в виду? 6. На улице темно, я ничего не вижу. 7. Сколько времени тебе обычно требуется, чтобы сделать домашнее задание? 8. Он всегда приходит вовремя. 9. Ты редко обедаешь дома, не так ли? 10. Студенты любят работать в лаборатории, но обычно у них мало времени на это. 11. Интересно, кто из вас играет на гитаре (the guitar)? 12. Летом солнце заходит (to set) поздно. 13. Она никогда не помнит, как пишутся трудные английские слова. 14. Его мама – учительница. Она преподаёт французский язык в школе. 15. Этот студент никогда не работает в библиотеке. 16. Мой племянник ездит на море каждое лето.
Ex.12. Open the brackets.
a. 1. I’ll see you off if (have enough time). 2. I’ll talk to him as soon as (come home). 3. He will understand everything when (know all the facts). 4. I’ll wait till (receive the letter).
5. They’ll stay in Moscow till (all the places of interest). 6. I’ll buy a new coat when (get some money). 7. He’ll see his parents before (leave for Moscow). 8. You’ll recognize him if (see his photo). 9. You’ll make a mistake if (not believe me). 10. I’ll let you know if (want to see you again).
b. 1. Nobody knows when they (be back). 2. Tell me when he (come). 3. I wonder when he (take exams). 4. Ask him if he (return soon). 5. I don’t know when we (meet again).
Ex.13. Translate into English.
1. Если по дороге домой вы встретите Колю, попросите его позвонить мне. 2. Я не знаю, будет ли завтра хорошая погода, но, если будет тепло, мы пойдём в лес. 3. Я не уверена, пригласит ли он меня в кино. 4. Родители будут счастливы, когда сын вернётся из армии. 5. Если ты поторопишься, то успеешь (catch) на поезд. 6. Не забудь закрыть окно до того, как уйдёшь. 7. Я позвоню тебе, как только прибуду в Лондон. 8. Пожалуйста, ничего не трогай до тех пор, пока не приедет полиция. 9. Все будут удивлены, если он сдаст экзамен. 10. Если мне будет нужна помощь, я попрошу тебя. 11. Когда ты снова встретишь Николая, ты его не узнаешь. 12. Жди здесь, пока я не приду. 13. Если ты сейчас не поедешь на вокзал, ты опоздаешь на поезд.
Ex.14. Make up sentences according to the given pattern. Say a sentence each.
Pattern:
Student 1: If the weather is fine, I’ll go for a walk.
Student 2: If I go for a walk, I’ll meet my friends.
Student 3: If I meet my friends, I’ll ...
Student 4: If...