Revision of the past tenses

Ex. 1

Identify the tenses, then match them with the correct description.

She opened the cupboard, took out a dress and put it on. They received the telegram at 10 o’clock that evening. She was upset because she had been waiting to hear from her son for days. They were still discussing the plan at midnight. They were flying over the Andes when the plane crashed. James Dean made one film with Natalie Wood. Tom was reading out the data while Sara was writing it down. She had finished most of the work by the time her boss arrived. She missed the end of the film because she had fallen asleep. 10. He always went to work by train. 11. She was pleased because she had been given the job. 12. We had been living in the same house for twelve years before we decided to move. 13. He left his job because he had been feeling dissatisfied for months.

past action in progress interrupted by another past action past action which occurred before another action or before a stated past time two or more simultaneous past actions action continuing over a period up to a specific time in the past complete past action which had visible results in the past past actions which happened immediately one after the other past action of certain duration which had visible results in the past past habit or state Past Perfect as the past equivalent of the Present Perfect action in the middle of happening at a stated past time Past Perfect Continuous as the past equivalent of the Present Perfect Continuous action not connected to the present which happened at a definite past time not mentioned m. complete action or event which happened at a stated past time

1. …

2. …

3. …

4. …

5. …

6. …

7. …

8. …

9. …

10. …

11. …

12. …

13. …

Ex. 2

a) Fill with an appropriate past form.

In 1894 a steamship (to sail) across the Atlantic Ocean from England to America. The sun (to shine) and a gentle breeze (to blow). The ship (to sail) for three weeks and was halfway to its destination – New York. The passengers (to relax) on deck when suddenly they (to hear) a loud bang. They all (to jump) up, (to run) to the edge of the boat and (to look) over the side. To their horror they saw that they (to hit) some hard object which (to tear) a hole in the side of the ship. Water (to pour) into the steamship at an alarming speed. Fortunately another ship arrived half an hour later, just in time to save everyone on board.

b) Which of the past forms in the text above are used to express:

1. past duration continuing up to a specific past time

2. background description to events or longer actions in the story

3. shorter actions which interrupt longer actions

4. longer actions which are interrupted by shorter actions

5. past action which occurred before another past action

6. past actions which happened one immediately after the other

Ex. 3

Choose the correct answer.

1 'Were you expecting James and Paul to s dinner?'

'No, but I ...A... a lot of food, so it didn't matter.’

A had prepared В was preparing С had been preparing

2 ‘Tony has been singing for years, hasn't he?'

'Yes. He.............his first record when he was six.’

A made В was making С had made

3 ‘There was a power cut last night.'

'I know. I............. some paperwork when the light went out.'

A had been doing В was doing С had done

4 'Did you see Paul Simon in concert?'

'No. I was hoping to get tickets, but they...........

A had sold out В sold out С were selling out

5 ‘The restaurant was packed last night.'

'Yes. Luckily, I.............a table in advance.'

A was booking В had booked С had been booking

6 'Did you watch the film yesterday?'

'No. It.............by the time we got home.'

A finished В was finishing С had finished

7 'Did you stay up late last night?'

'No. I.............all day, so I went to bed early.'

A had been working В worked С was working

8 'Did you enjoy your holiday?'

'Yes. We.............most of our time on the beach.

A had spent В were spending С spent

9 'Kim looked tired this morning.'

'I know. She.............all night long.'

A studied В had studied С had been studying

10 'So what happened?'

'We ............. through the woods when we heard a gunshot.'

A had walked В walked С were walking

Ex. 4

Replace the infinitives by the Past Perfect, the Past Perfect Continuous or the Past Indefinite as required.

1. They (to drive) in the car for many hours before they (to come) to the crossroads. 2. The scientists (to carry) out dozens of experiments before they (to achieve) satisfactory results. 3. The violinist (to practise) the passage hour after hour until he (to master) it at last. 4. At last the postman (to bring) the letter which I (to expect) several weeks. 5. He told me he (not to see) much of her since he (to move) to another place. 6. When I (to arrive) he (to stay) at the same hotel where we first (to meet). He (to tell) me he (to wait) for me for some time already. 7. He (to consult) his watch nervously several times before he (to see) her at the end of the platform. 8. He (to write) and (to tear) up more than one letter when at last he (to find) the necessary form of address. 9. My watch (to keep) good time before I (to drop) it. 10. At the end of the week the fishermen (to think) they (to sail) long enough to reach the shore, and as there (to be) no land in sight, they (to understand) that they (to lose) their course and (to follow) the wrong route. 11. It (not to rain) for more than two months, and the fruits (to fall) before they (to become) ripe, when one August night the people (to be roused) by the sound of heavy drops beating against the roofs and window-panes. With the rain there (to come) hope.

Ex 5

Translate into English using the appropriate tenses.

1. Студенты пишут контрольную работу уже почти два часа. Время подходит к концу, а пока только двое сдали работы. 2. Он проработал с нами только месяц, но доказал, что он опыт­ный работник. 3. Утро было солнечное, но с одиннадцати часов погода изменилась, и теперь идет дождь. 4. Шел очень сильный снег, и я не мог разобрать номера троллейбуса. Когда я проехал уже несколько остановок, я понял, что ехал не в том направ­лении. 5. Я упорно звонил вам с 4-х часов, и ваш номер был все время занят. — Я говорила все это время с Ленинградом, 6. Художники работают с утра, так как мы хотим повесить стенную газету еще сегодня вечером. 7. Река всегда угрожала населению деревни наводнением, пока не была построена плотина. 8. Две недели шли дожди, пока, наконец, три дня назад не установилась хорошая погода. 9. Пруд замерз; мальчики уже катаются на коньках. 10. На реке лед уже растаял, а в лесу кое-где еще лежал снег. 11. Мальчики быстро разобрали велосипед, почистили все части, но собирали его так долго, что у них в этот день не осталось времени кататься. 12. Мальчики уже больше двух часов собирали велосипед, когда пришел отец и сказал, что им придется все снова разобрать, так как они неправильно его со­брали. 13. Что вы делали с тех пор, как мы расстались (как мы не виделись)? 14. Пока мы шли со станции, он успел мне расска­зать обо всем, что произошло со времени моего отъезда. 15. Мы дружим, с тех пор как работаем вместе. 16. Сергей приехал? — Да, он здесь уже два дня. Он приехал еще в пятницу. 17. Я решил, что пока живу на даче, буду каждый день совершать долгие прогулки. 18. Обед уже был готов; все давно проголо­дались, но двоих гостей еще не было. 19. Певец окончил свое выступление, в зале гасли огни, а публика все еще не расходи­лась. 20. Уже прошло пять лет, как мы работаем над этой проб­лемой. 21. Когда я пришел, он уже вернулся и сидел у камина, перелистывая журнал. 22. Меня просили передать вам, что вас известят, как только ваша просьба будет рассмотрена. 23. Мы еще не отошли от леса, когда нас догнал наш старый знакомый . 24. 14 июля 1789 года парижане штурмом взяли Басти­лию — крепость, в которой в течение многих веков короли дер­жали неугодных им людей. 25. К 1867 году — году парламент­ской реформы — английский рабочий класс уже в течение 30 лет боролся за право голосовать. 26. Суриков писал свою картину «Степан Разин» с 1901 по 1907 год.

Ex. 6

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous tense.

A.

1. Peter (not to leave) for work until he (to shovel) the snow from the drive. 2. The lawnmower (to break down) while Steve (to mow) the lawn. 3. They (to discuss) the problem for three hours before they finally (to come) to a decision. 4. Lisa (to decorate) the Christmas tree as it (to be) Christmas Eve. 5. The parade (already to start) by the time Nancy (to arrive). 6. They (to celebrate) because they (to win) the game. 7. He (to go) to bed early because he (to play) all day. 8. They (to travel) for six hours before they (to reach) their destination. 9. Peter (to go) to a book exhibition yesterday and (to buy) an interesting book on antiques. 10. Leslie (to call) to tell me she (to leave) her purse at home. 11. Carl (to have) a shower after he (to fix) the water heater. 12. Andrea (to practice) the piano every day for six months before she (to enter) the competition. 13. The children (to be) sad because they (to lose) their dog. 14. We (not to have) a problem getting a table at The Tropicana because we (already to book) one in advance. 15. Mary (to wash) the dishes when a glass (to break) and (to cut) her finger. 16. He (not to be) in a hurry that Monday morning because he (to take) the day off. 17. They (to realize) they (to lose) their way and (to start) to panic. 18. They (to make) sandwiches for the picnic when I (to phone) to tell them that we were going to be late. 19. A: - Where (you to buy) your car from? B: - Well, as you know, I (to look) for a car for two months. Then, one day, as I (to talk) to my cousin, he (to mention) that one of his friends (to want) to sell his car because he (to need) the money. He (to have) the car for three years and it (to be) in excellent condition. The best thing about it was that it only (to cost) me £2000. 20. A: - Where (to be) you yesterday afternoon? I (to call) you all afternoon but there (to be) no answer. B: - I (to be) at home but you (probably/to ring) me when I (to rake) the leaves outside in the garden. Why? A: - I (to finish) all my errands and I (to think) we could see a film. 21. A: - How long (you/to live) in Sydney before you (to move) back to London? B: - We (to live) in Sydney for ten years when the company that Richard (to work) for (to offer) him a position at the London office. A: - (you/to want) to come back to London? B: - Yes. We (to be) both excited about coming home so Richard (to accept) the job immediately.

B.

The moon (to shine) its light on the still waters of the lake as the animals (to hunt) for their dinner in the forest. In the tiny log cabin, Jack Cagney (to sit) in front of the fire, trying to warm his cold feet. It (to snow) earlier that day and Jack (to chop) wood in preparation for the long winter ahead. Suddenly, he (to hear) a strange noise. He quickly (to put on) his boots, (to grab) a torch and (to go) outside. He (to shine) the torch into the darkness but (to see) nothing. A few seconds later, he (to hear) the noise again. With his heart thumping, he (to climb) the ladder leading to the roof. When he (to reach) the top, he (to see) two huge eyes staring at him. Realizing what it (to be), he (to chuckle) and (to sigh). “Abigail! You nearly (to scare) me to death!” The owl, which Lack (to nurse) back to health after she (to break) her leg, (to hoot) and (to flutter) her wings.

Ex. 7

Complete the sentences using any appropriate past forms.

1. She … and bought some vegetables.

2. What … when the fire started?

3. I could tell she … because her eyes were red.

4. She … when she slipped and landed on the ice.

5. My arm … for two weeks, before I went to the doctor.

6. She got on the motorbike and … away.

7. He … the road when a flower pot fell on his head.

8. While Sally … dinner Steve was laying the table.

9. The patient … in hospital for five weeks before he fully recovered.

10. He was upset because he … the exam.

11. Nobody knew where Jane … the front door key.

12. Tom … tennis every day for months before entering his first tournament.

Ex 8

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct past tense.

1) He (give) me back the book, (thank) me for lending it to him and (say) that he (enjoy) it very much; but I (know) that he (not read) it because most of the pages (be) still uncut. 2) When he (see) his wife off at the station, he (return) home as he (not have) to be at the airport till 9.30. 3) He (not have) to pack, for his wife already (do) that for him and his case (be) ready in the hall. 4) He (not have) to check the doors and windows either, for his wife always (do) that before she (leave) the house. 5) All he (have) to do (be) to decide whether or not to take his overcoat with him. In the end he (decide) not to. 6) At 8.30 he (pick) up his case, (go) out of the house and (slam) the door behind him. 7) Then he (feel) in his pockets for the key, for his wife (remind) him to double-lock the front door. 8) When he (search) all his pockets and (find) no key he (remember) where it (be). 9) He (leave) it in his overcoat pocket. 10) Then he (remember) something else; his passport and tickets (be) in his overcoat pocket as well. 11) I (arrive) in England in the middle of July. I (be told) that England (be) shrouded in fog all year round, so I (be) quite surprised to find that it was merely raining. 12) I (ask) another passenger, an Englishman, about the fog and he (say) that there (not be) any since the previous February. 13) If I (want) fog, he said, I (come) at quite the wrong time. 14) However, he (tell) me that I could buy tinned fog at a shop in Shaftsbury Avenue. 15) He (admit) that he never (buy) fog there himself but (assure) me that they (sell) good quality fog and that it (not be) expensive. I suppose he was joking. 16) When the old lady (return) to her flat she (see) at once that burglars (break) in during her absence, because the front door (be) open and everything in the flat (be) upside down. 17) The burglars themselves (be) no longer there, but they probably only just (leave) because a cigarette was still burning on an ornamental table. 18) Probably they (hear) the lift coming up and (run) down the fire escape. 19) They (help) themselves to her whisky too but there (be) a little left, so she (pour) herself out a drink. 20) She (wonder) if they (find) her jewellery and rather (hope) that they had. 21) The jewellery (be given) her by her husband, who (die) some years before. 22) Since his death she (not have) the heart to wear it, yet she (not like) to sell it. 23) Now it (seem) that fate (take) the matter out of her hands; and certainly the insurance money would come in handy. 24) I (put) the £5 note into one of my books; but next day it (take) me ages to find it because I (forget) which book I (put) it into. 25) A woman (come) in with a baby, who she (say) just (swallow) a safety pin. 26) I (think) my train (leave) at 14.33, and (be) very disappointed when I (arrive) at 14.30 and (learn) that it just (leave). 27) I (find) later that I (use) an out-of-date timetable. 28) He (park) his car under a No Parking sign and (rush) into the shop. When he (come) out of the shop ten minutes later the car (be) no longer there. 29) He (wonder) if someone (steal) it or if the police (drive) it away. 30) It (be) now 6 p.m.; and Jack (be) tired because he (work) hard all day. 31) He (be) also hungry because he (have) nothing to eat since breakfast. 32) His wife usually (bring) him sandwiches at lunch time, but today for some reason she (not come). 33) He (keep) looking at her, wondering where he (see) her before. 34) I (look) out before I (go) to bed and (see) a man standing on the opposite pavement watching the house. 35) When I (get up) the following morning he (be) still there, and I (wonder) whether he (stay) there all night or if he (go) away and (come) back. 36) When I (open) the door I (see) a man on his knees. 37) He clearly (listen) to our conversation and I (wonder) how much he (hear). 38) When I (ask) him what he (do), he (say) that he (drop) a 50p piece outside the door and (look) for it. 39) I (not see) any sign of the money, but I (find) a small notebook and pencil which he probably (drop) when the door (open) suddenly. 40) So he (take) notes of our conversation! 41) The notes (be) written in a foreign language, so I (turn) to the stranger and (ask) him to translate. 42) But he (pull) my hat over my eyes and (run) off down the corridor. 43) By the time I (recover) from the shock he (disappear) round the corner. 44) Curiously enough, when I (move) my foot I (find) that I (stand) on a 50p piece. 45) Perhaps he (tell) the truth after all!

Ex 9

Make questions for which the following would be reasonable answers. Ask about the words in bold type.

e.g. I saw Tom. Possible question: Who did you see?

When a noun in brackets is placed after a pronoun, use this noun in the question:

e.g. I saw him (Tom) today. Question: When did you see Tom?

1. They went to New York.

2. It takes four hours to get there.

3. I didn't think much of it.

4. He earns a hundred pounds a week.

5. He (Tom) was fined ten pounds.

6. It (my room) is twice as big as yours.

7. They left the country ten years ago.

8. They came by bus.

9. I've been here for two months.

10. They (the students) went to the museum yesterday.

11. It (the car) does fifty to the gallon.

12. He met her in a coffee bar.

13. They (the neighbours) complained about the smell.

14. He (the clerk) made him fill up a form.

15. The pigs ate them (the apples).

16. He got in by climbing over the wall.

17. John bought them (the tickets).

18. They (the roads) were very crowded.

19. I smoke forty (cigarettes) a day.

20. It (the hotel) was awful.

21. It (the market) is a stone's throw from here.

22. I've had it (this cough) since the beginning of October.

Ex 10

1. When you passed the town hall clock, did you notice/were you noticing what time it was?

2. Last night my neighbours were shouting/would shout for hours and I couldn't get to sleep.

1. When you lived in London, did you use to travel/were you travelling by bus?

3. Everyone was having a good time, although not many people danced/were dancing.

4. -Excuse me, but this seat is mine. - I'm sorry, I didn't realise/hadn't realised that you were sitting here.

f) Jill didn't eat/hadn't eaten all day, so she was really hungry at this point. g) Paul has forgotten to book the tickets I'm afraid. — He was always doing/would do something like that!

h) It took a while for me to notice, but then I did. Everyone stared/was staring at me. What had I done wrong?

i) Nobody bothered to tell me that the school decided/had decided to have a special holiday that Friday.

j) I was trying/tried to get in touch with you all day yesterday. Where were you?

Ex 11

Suggest alternative tenses if necessary where the past perfect or another tense might be possible.

1. I realised that someone was stealing (steal) my wallet when I felt (feel) their hand in my jacket pocket.

2. When I (phone) Helen last night she (wash) her hair and she (not finish) when I finally (get to) her house.

c) Peter (offer) me another drink but I decided I (drink)enough.

d) Nobody.... (watch), so the little boy (take) the packet of sweets from the shelf and (put) it in his pocket.

e) I (not realise) that I (leave) my umbrella on the bus until it… (start) to rain.

f) At school I (dislike) the maths teacher because he … (always pick) on me.

g) Wherever Marion (find) a job, there was someone who … (know) that she … (go) to prison.

h) It was only much later I (find out) that during all the time I … (write) to my penfriend, my mother (open) and reading the replies! i) I (not understand) what … (go on). Several people … (shout) at me, and one (wave) a newspaper in front of my face. j) I (know) I (do) well in my exams even before I … (receive) the official results.

Ex 12

Decide whether the tense underlined is suitable or not in the context given. If you decide it is unsuitable, write a correction.

a)The train (1) ground to a halt at a small station miles from London, and it (2) became apparent that the engine (3) had broken down. Everyone (4) was getting their cases down from the luggage racks, and we (5) were waiting on the platform in the freezing wind for hours until the next train (6) had turned up.

1) ………. 4) …………

2)……….. 5)

3) 6) ….

b) The other strange thing about our neighbour Mrs Black was that she (1) would never go out if it was raining. She (2) used to look up at the sky whenever (3) it was getting cloudy, and as soon as even the smallest drop of rain (4) was falling she (5) had scuttled back into her house and (6) was locking herself in her bedroom! 1) (suitable) 4) ………….

2) 5)

3) 6)

c) Inspector Gorse (1) was in touch with Thames Valley Police six months before Professor Dowson (2) was disappearing, because the Professor's wife Jean (3) would write to him, accusing her husband of plotting to murder her. And now it was the Professor who (4) disappeared. Gorse (5) considered what his next step should be when the phone rang. It was Sergeant Adams from Thames Valley. A fisherman (6) discovered a body in the Thames near Reading, and it fitted the description of the Professor.

1) (had been) 4)

2) ……….. 5)

3) 6)

Ex 13

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past tense. Only use the past perfect where this is absolutely necessary.

This time last year I (1) was cycling (cycle) in the rain along a country road in France with a friend of mine. We (2) (decide) to go on a cycling holiday in Normandy. Neither of us (3) (go) to France before, but we (4) (know) some French from our time at school and we (5) (manage) to brush up on the basics. Now we (6) (wonder) if we (7) (make) the right decision. We (8) (plan) our route carefully in advance, but we (9) (forget) one important thing, the weather. It (10) (rain) solidly since our arrival and that night we (11) (end up) sleeping in the waiting room at a railway station. Then the next morning as we (12) (ride) down a steep hill my bike (13) (skid) on the wet road and I(14) (fall off). I (15) (realise) immediately that I (16) (break) my arm, and after a visit to the local hospital I(17) (catch) the next train to Calais for the ferry home. Unfortunately my parents (18) (not expect) me home for a fortnight, and (19) (go) away on holiday. So I (20) (spend) a miserable couple of weeks alone, reading Teach Yourself French.

Ex 14

In each sentence decide whether one or both of the alternative tenses given are appropriate.

1. In those days, I always used to get up/got up early in the morning. (both appropriate)

2. When I got to the cinema Jack had been waiting/was waiting for me.

3. We would always have/were always having breakfast in bed on Sundays.

4. Mary was always falling/always fell ill before important examinations.

5. My sister used to own/would own a motorcycle and sidecar.

6. Pay no attention to Dave's remarks. He wasn't meaning/didn't mean it.

g) I felt awful after lunch. I ate/had eaten too much.

h) Brenda left/had left before I had time to talk to her.

i) The explanation was simple. In 1781 HMS Sovereign on her way back from India had sighted/sighted an empty boat drifting off the African coast.

Ex. 15

Choose the right tenses (present perfect, past or past perfect: simple or progressive).

1. Reports are coming in that a train (crash) near Birmingham. According to eyewitnesses, it (hit) a concrete block which somebody (put) on the line.

2. Halfway to the office Paul (turn) round and (go) back home, because he (forget) to turn the gas off.

3. I (do) housework all day today. I (clean) every room in the house.

4. I (lie) in bed thinking about getting up when the doorbell (ring).

5. It wasn't surprising that she (start) getting toothache. She (not go) to the dentist for two years.

6. I (play) a lot of bridge recently.

7. When I (get) home everybody (watch) TV.

8. We (not see) your mother for ages.

9. How long (you learn) English?

10. London (change) a lot since we first (come) to live here.

11. "How many times (you see) this film?' 'This is the first time I (see) it.'

12. 'Who's that?' 'I (never see) him before in my life.'

13. I hear Joe (get) married last summer.

14. I (often wonder) where she (get) her money.

15. (You read) Pam Marshall's latest book?

16. They (just discover) a new fuel - it's half the price of petrol, and much cleaner.

17. (You hear) the storm last night?

18. My sister (be) married three times.

19. While she (talk) on the phone the children (start) lighting and (break) a window.

20. He used to talk to us for¹ hours about all the interesting things he (do) in his life.

21. You know, she (stand) looking at that picture for the last twenty minutes.

22. The old cross (stand) on top of the hill as long as anybody can remember.

23. I (spend) a lot of time travelling since I (get) this new job.

24. When I (be) at school we all (study) Latin.

25. After he (finish) breakfast he '(sit) down to write some letters.

26. When I (meet) him he (work) as a waiter for a year or so.

27. I (never learn) to ski.

28. (you finish) with the bathroom yet?

29. We (live) in Scotland until I (be) eighteen.

30. She (have) a hard life, but she's always smiling.

Ex 16

Choose the most appropriate time expression underlined.

a) Once/Afterwards I'd read the manual, I found I could use the computer quite well.

2. It was more than a month before/until I realised what had happened.

3. I managed to talk to Carol just as/while she was leaving.

4. It wasn't until/up to 1983 that Nigel could afford to take holidays abroad.

5. George always let me know by the time/whenever he was going to be late.

6. I was having a bath at the time/that time, so I didn't hear the doorbell.

7. We bought our tickets and five minutes after/later the train arrived.

h) According to Grandpa, people used to dress formally those days/in his day.

i) Everyone was talking but stopped at the time/the moment Mr Smith entered the room.

j) The letter still hadn't arrived by/until the end of the week.

Ex 17

Choose the most suitable tense.

1. I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

2. While Diana watched/was watching her favourite television programme, there was a power-cut.

3. Tom used to live/would live in the house at the end of the street.

d) Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident' c) By the time Sheila got back, Chris went/had gone.

6. David ate/had eaten Japanese food before, so he knew w hat to order.

7. I did/was doing some shopping yesterday, when I saw that Dutch friend of yours.

h) I used to like/was liking sweets much more than I do now.

i) What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday?

j) Laura missed the party because no-one was telling/had told her about it.

k) Tanya would/used to be a doctor.

Ex 18

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense. All sentences refer to past time. Onlv use the Past Perfect where this is absolutely necessary.

a) While I (try) was trying to get my car started, a passing car (stop) and the driver (offer) to help me.

b) The police (pay) no attention to Clare's complaint because she (phone) them so many times before.

c) Mary (not wear) her glasses at the time, so she (not notice) what kind of car the man (drive).

d) Nick (lie) down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who (feed) the ducks.

e) Tony (admit) that he (hit) the other car, but said that he (not damage) it.

6. Sorry, I (not listen) to you. I (think) about something else.

7. Helen (feel) very tired, and while she (finish) her studying, she (fall) asleep.

h) The police (get) to Clare's house as fast as they could, but the burglars (disappear).

i) I (phone) you last night but you (not answer). What (you do)?

j) We (not go) out yesterday because it (rain).

Ex 19

Decide whether the tense underlined is suitable or not.

1. While I had a bath, someone knocked on the door.

2. Sally didn't go to a boxing match before.

3. Harry tried to repair the car, but he didn't really know what he was doing.

4. What did you wear to the Ponsonbys' party?

c) Were you eating spaghetti every day when you lived in Italy?

6. I didn't know you had bought a new car.

7. They all wanted to believe her, but suspected she was lying.

h) As Peggy walked home, she tried to remember what happened.

i) 'What a terrible day!' thought Lucy. Everything had gone wrong!

j) Although it rained a lot, I was enjoying my holiday last year.

Ex. 20

Choose the right tenses (present perfect, past or past perfect; simple or progressive).

Going to the Pictures

That afternoon we all (1 get) ready to go to the pictures. We (2 get) a 63 bus to take us to the Elephant and Castle, because the pictures are just next door. There (3 be) a great big queue waiting to go in and we (4 be) at the very back. Soon we (5 get) in. The picture (6 already start) and it was very dark in there. We had to go down some stairs to get to our seats but instead of walking down them we (7 jail) down them. Soon we were in our seats. We (8 sit) there watching the film when something (9 hit) me on the head. It was an ice-cream tub. I (10 turn) round to see who it was and a little boy who (11 sit) two rows behind me said. 'I am very sorry. It wasn't meant to hit you. It was meant to hit the boy in front.'

Anonymous child

The Little Girl and the Wolf

One afternoon a big wolf (12 wait) in a dark forest for a little girl to come along carrying a basket of food to her grandmother. Finally a little girl did come along and she (13 carry) a basket of food. 'Are you carrying that basket to your grandmother?' asked the wolf. The little girl said yes, she was. So the wolf (14 ask) her where her grandmother lived and the little girl (15 tell) him and he (16 disappear) into the wood.

When the little girl (17 open) the door of her grandmother's house she (18 see) that there was somebody in bed with a nightcap and nightgown on. She (19 approach) no nearer than twenty-five feet from the bed when she (20 see) that it was not her grandmother but the wolf, for even in a nightcap a wolf does not look in the least like anybody's grandmother. So the little girl (21 take) an automatic pistol out of her basket and (22 shoot) the wolf dead.

Moral: It is not so easy to fool little girls nowadays as it used to be.

James Thurber: Fables for Our Time (adapted)

Rioting students battle against police

May 7 (1968). In the last two days. Paris (23 see) the worst street-fighting since the Liberation in 1944. Up to 30.000 students, locked out of their own campus yesterday by the Sorbonne rector, Jean Roche. (24 fight) the tear gas of the riot police with barricades, bricks, paving stones and Molotov cocktails.

The trouble (25 be) fermenting for some time. On March 20. six students (26 be) arrested after an anti-American demonstration: the next day, a mass sit-in at the Nanterre campus {27 begin). Last Friday, the police -whose alleged brutality is said to have sparked off the violence - forcibly evicted the students, who were led by Daniel Cohn-Bendit.

All day yesterday, the Latin Quarter (28 be) the arena for running street Sights centred on the Boulevard St Germain.

Chronicle of the 20th Century