- •The abc of modern english grammar: a key to successful communication
- •Part 1. The system of present tenses Unit 1. The present simple
- •1.1. In the sentences below, decide if the verb underlined refers to the present (p), the future (f), or to something habitual (h).
- •1.2. Complete these sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- •1.3. Suggest some other expressions for this line.
- •1.4. In pairs, ask and answer questions, using this table to help.
- •1.5. In pairs, match a verb from the first column with a word from the second to make a phrase.
- •1.6. Regular events
- •In pairs, ask and answer questions about the activities suggested in Table 2, using the frequency expressions given in Table 1. Start your questions with How often do you …?
- •1.7. Discuss these topics.
- •2.1. Here are the beginnings of some sentences. Think of suitable endings using the present continuous.
- •2.4. Imagine you find your diary from a few years ago. As you leaf through it, you find different entries beginning with the following sentences. Continue each entry, e.G.
- •2.5. Speak out on what is happening in your life these days outside the classroom. Include information about the following.
- •2.6. In two groups, discuss what’s happening in the world these days. Include information about the following.
- •2.7. Future arrangements
- •2.8. Annoying habits
- •2.10. Project
- •Unit 3. The present simple vs. The present continuous
- •3.1. Choose the correct phrase in each sentence.
- •3.2. Rewrite each sentence so that the verb in italics is a negative contraction.
- •3.3. Decide whether the verb form in italics refers to the present or the future.
- •3.4. Choose the correct sentence for each situation.
- •3.5. Choose the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
- •3.6. Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous.
- •3.8. Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous.
- •3.9. Read the answers and then complete the questions.
- •3.12. Rewrite each sentence. Use a verb from the box to replace the words in italics.
- •3.13. Render the following sentences into English.
- •Unit 4. The present perfect and the present perfect continuous. Their contrast to the past simple
- •4.1. Put each verb into the present perfect.
- •4.2. Complete each sentence with a time expression from the box.
- •4.3. For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using no more than three words.
- •4.4. Complete the following sentences using the present perfect continuous of the verbs below.
- •4.5. Put each verb in brackets into either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous.
- •4.6. Complete each mini-dialogue by putting the verbs given in brackets into either the present perfect or present perfect continuous.
- •4.7. For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using no more than three words.
- •4.8. Complete the following sentences, putting one verb in the present perfect and one in the past simple.
- •4.9. Choose the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
- •4.10. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
- •4.11. Put each verb in brackets into either the past simple, the present perfect, or the present perfect continuous.
- •4.12. Find the errors in these sentences and correct them.
- •4.13. Choose the most suitable time expression.
- •4.14. Complete each sentence with one suitable word.
- •4.17. Past participles
- •4.18. Life experience
- •In pairs, ask and answer Have you ever …? questions about these subjects.
- •4.19. In pairs, ask and answer questions about whether you have ever done these things. If the answer is yes, find out some more information, e.G.
- •4.20. Preparations
- •In pairs, imagine you are making preparations for …
- •4.21. Changes
- •4.22. Come up with an explanation to answer each of the following questions, using the present perfect.
- •4.23. Time game
- •4.24. Make the sentences complete.
- •4.25. In pairs, suggest four endings for these sentences, using still, yet, already and (only) just, e.G.
- •4.27. Suggest the English for the sentences.
- •Unit 5. Review of the present tenses
- •5.1. Here are some very common question forms in English. First complete the questions by adding ‘do’, ‘does’, ‘has’, or ‘have’, then match the questions and answers.
- •5.2. Look carefully at the verbs in bold. Decide which of them refer to the future.
- •5.3. Render the following sentences into English.
- •Part 2. The system of past tenses Unit 6. The past simple. Used to do / would do
- •6.1. Find the past simple form of the following verbs:
- •6.2. Rewrite the sentences according to the instructions given.
- •6.3. Make past simple questions and answers using the words given.
- •6.4. Complete each sentence, using would or used to and the verb in brackets. More than one answer may be suitable.
- •6.5. Alphabet game
- •6.6. Work in pairs. Take turns to ask each other some questions about what each of you did using these time expressions:
- •6.7. Story chain.
- •6.8. The first time
- •6.9. The last time
- •6.10. First and last times
- •6.11. Matthew’s day
- •6.12. Join each pair of sentences to make one sentence in the past simple, beginning with when.
- •6.13. Changes
- •In four groups, list the ways life used to be different, e.G. 1,000 years ago most people used to go everywhere on foot.
- •6.14. Life-changing events
- •6.16. Here is some surprising news about people you haven’t seen for a long time. Take turns to say why you’re surprised, e.G. A: Christine has taken up acting. – b: Really? She used to be so shy.
- •6.18. Supply the English equivalents for the underlying sentences.
- •Unit 7. The past continuous
- •7.1. In pairs, ask each other what you were doing yesterday at these times. In your answers, tell two lies and see if your partner can identify which answers are lies.
- •7.2. In pairs, discuss what was happening when …
- •7.3. Role-play: alibis
- •Unit 8. The past simple vs. The past continuous
- •8.1. Choose the correct word or phrase in each sentence.
- •8.2. Complete these sentences, putting the verbs in the past simple or the past continuous.
- •8.3. Complete each sentence with a suitable time expression from the box. You can use an expression more than once.
- •8.4. Match each sentence (a-h) with a suitable response (1-8).
- •8.5. Newspaper headlines
- •8.6. What next?
- •8.7. Lifelines
- •8.8. Accident report
- •8.9. Suggest the English for the sentences.
- •Unit 9. The past perfect
- •9.1. Combine the two sentences to make one sentence. Use when and the past perfect.
- •9.2. Complete these sentences with one verb in the past simple and the other in the past perfect.
- •9.3. Look at these sentences and match questions and answers.
- •9.4. Use the information from the sentences above to complete these sentences.
- •9.5. Look at this narrative of a day at school.
- •9.6. Work in pairs. Join a sentence from the first column with one from the second to make longer sentences, using when, e.G. The guests left. We tidied up. – When the guests had left, we tidied up.
- •Unit 10. Review of the past tenses and the related constructions
- •10.1. Use these verbs and verb groups to complete the narrative below.
- •10.2. Find the errors in these sentences and correct them.
- •10.3. Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable.
- •10.4. Choose the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
- •10.5. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
- •10.6. Put each verb given into the past simple, past continuous or past perfect. More than one answer may be suitable.
- •10.7. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
- •10.8. Rewrite the sentences below using ‘be going to’.
- •10.9. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown. Use a participle clause.
- •10.10. For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using no more than three words.
- •10.11. Supply the English equivalents for the following sentences.
- •Unit 11. Review of the present and the past tenses
- •11.1. Use these auxiliaries to complete the sentences that follow. In some cases, more than one answer may be possible.
- •11.2. Use one of the following verbs in the present continuous or the past continuous to complete each of the sentences below. You may use each verb more than once.
- •11.3. Put each verb in brackets into either the present perfect, past simple or present simple.
- •11.4. Render the following sentences into English.
- •Most typical state verbs
- •List of most frequent irregular verbs
- •Abbreviations and reference characters
- •Recommended learning resources Reference and grammar books
- •Dictionaries
- •Internet resources
Unit 11. Review of the present and the past tenses
11.1. Use these auxiliaries to complete the sentences that follow. In some cases, more than one answer may be possible.
do has is don’t was does have been doesn’t hasn’t did didn’t |
1. I … enjoy the film very much. It was far too long.
2. Where … you want to go for dinner this evening?
3. … be silly!
4. John … left home. He … living in Italy now.
5. How long … it take you to drive to London last night?
6. How long … it usually take?
7. … anyone know the answer?
8. I … going to write to you, but I … have time.
9. … you still work in the shop, or … you have another job now?
10. You … phone him yesterday. Why? He was waiting eagerly.
11. … shout! You can wake the baby.
12. We … waiting for hours, but he still … phoned.
13. … the secretary know what time the meeting starts?
14. … you think we’ll be late?
15. I … go to the match last Saturday because it was pouring down.
16. … you like living in England?
17. … anybody know where the key to this cupboard is?
18. He … approve of rash actions.
11.2. Use one of the following verbs in the present continuous or the past continuous to complete each of the sentences below. You may use each verb more than once.
change get grow up improve increase |
1. Jean has been very ill but she … better now.
2. The world’s population … by 8% every year.
3. My French isn’t very good but it … .
4. Scientists believe that the world’s climate … . It … warmer every year.
5. John is a good player and he … all the time.
6. The weather had been dreadful that year, and it … worse.
7. My farther has retired from his job now. He … old.
8. The children … quickly now that they have reached their teens. 9. Unemployment is still high in Britain but things … slowly.
10. Office work … rapidly with the introduction of computers.
11.3. Put each verb in brackets into either the present perfect, past simple or present simple.
1. Last week I (lose) my scarf, and now I (just lose) my gloves.
2. I (work) for Lloyd’s Bank at the moment but I (decide) to change jobs.
3. We (be) here for hours. Are you sure we (come) to the right place?
4. (you see) my calculator? I’m sure I (leave) it here earlier.
5. We (have) some coffee and then (catch) the bus home.
6. I (never eat) octopus, but once on holiday I (eat) some squid.
7. I (hope) you aren’t a vegetarian. I (cook) you some lamb chops.
8. Recently a lot of young people (take up) kite surfing.
9. When we (reach) the cinema, there (not be) any tickets left.
10. Please come quickly! Nick (have) an accident, and he (go) to hospital.
11.4. Render the following sentences into English.
1. Ты уже видел этот мюзикл? – Нет, не видел, но я иду на него в субботу с Кэтрин.
2. В чём дело? – Телевизор сломался. Я пытаюсь его починить. – A когда он сломался? – Вчера вечером, после семичасовых новостей.
3. Где вы познакомились? – Мы познакомились в Италии, когда я был в отпуске.
4. Как давно вы знакомы? – Мы дружим с 1997 года, а познакомились мы в 1995.
5. Ты постоянно забываешь отключать телефон во время собраний!
6. Я спросил его, где он провёл каникулы. Он ответил, что провёл месяц в Аргентине и собирается туда вновь.
7. Прежде я не вставал так рано. Я спал до 9 или 10 часов и только потом начинал заниматься делами.
8. Я работаю здесь уже 8 лет и подумываю сменить сферу деятельности.
9. Раньше он вообще не занимался спортом и был каким-то бесформенным. Теперь он ходит в спортзал и катается на велосипеде три раза в неделю.
10. Ты сломал руку? – Да. Я упал с лестницы, когда пытался достать кошку с дерева.
11. Вчера к 8 часам вечера мы развесили на стенах выставочного зала большую часть картин.
12. Он никогда не говорит о своей семье. По крайней мере, я ни разу не слышал.
13. В прошлый раз мы виделись на концерте два года назад.
14. Зачем вы хотели меня видеть? – Я надеялся поговорить наедине.
15. Новый директор отдела персонала вступает в должность 1 июня.
16. Как вы его нашли? – Как обычно, мы пришли в офис, включили свет, открыли окна. Затем мы подошли каждый к своему рабочему столу, и Джеймс увидел записку, адресованную Полу. Почерк показался ему знакомым. Остальное было просто.
17. На какую должность Вы рассчитываете после окончания университета? – Я ещё не думал об этом. Когда я закончу, ситуация на рынке труда может быть совсем иной.
18. В последнее время вы слишком много времени проводите на работе.
19. Куда он уехал? – Я не знаю. Он никому не сказал.
20. Я не понимал, почему он так поступил. Но он не хотел никого обидеть.Appendix 1
PRESENT TIME |
||||
TENSE
|
FORM
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLES
|
MOST FREQUENT TIME EXPRESSIONS |
Present Simple
|
(+) S + V1/V1s
(–) S + don’t/doesn’t + V1
(?) Do/does + S + V1 |
1. Habitual actions |
I go swimming twice a week. |
always, often, frequently, normally, usually, as usual, generally, in general, as a rule, sometimes, occasionally, on and off, rarely, seldom, ever, hardly ever, never, every day/week/month/year, once/twice a day/a week/a fortnight/a month/a year |
2. Situations that are generally true |
I work in a multinational company and live in the city centre. |
|||
3. Facts which are always true (universal truths) |
The Thames flows into the English Channel. |
|||
4. Future events in schemes, timetables, programmes, calendars, etc. |
Flight 2345 arrives at 6:35 tomorrow morning. The company’s chairman retires next month. |
any definite time in the future |
||
5. Narratives (historic present) |
On 1 September 1939 Hitler invades Poland. The Second World War begins. |
always, often, frequently, normally, usually, as usual, generally, in general, as a rule, sometimes, occasionally, on and off, rarely, seldom, ever, hardly ever, never, every day/week/month/year, once/twice a day/a week/a fortnight/a month/a year or any definite time in the past |
||
6. In some language patterns referring to the future |
As soon as I know the results, I’ll phone you. |
when, the moment sb does sth, after, before, if, unless, in case, as soon as, as long as, till, until, by the time, the next time |
||
7. Instructions |
First, you open the necessary system folder and then you find the required file. |
first, second, then |
||
Present Continuous*
|
(+) S + am/is/are + Ving
(–) S + am not/isn’t/aren’t + Ving
(?) am/is/are + S + Ving |
1. An action happening at the moment of speaking |
We are watching a film by Alfred Hitchcock. |
now, at the moment, right now, still |
2. A temporary action/situation (“around now”) |
They are building a new bridge over the river. |
|||
3. Future actions/events/situations at a definite future time |
She is flying to Sydney next Monday. |
any definite time in the future |
||
4. Repeated temporary actions / annoying habits (emphatic sentences) |
You are always complaining about everything! |
always, constantly, whenever, again, forever |
||
Present Perfect
|
(+) S + have/has + V3
(–) S + haven’t/hasn’t + V3
(?) have/has + S + V3 |
1. Our life experience up to now |
I have never been to New Zealand. |
recently, lately, of late, for, since, ever, never, yet, so far, already, just, always, often |
2. A completed action in the past with a result in the present |
Jeremy has recently bought a new powerful computer. |
|||
3. An action that began in the past and continues in the present (for state verbs usually) |
We have known one another for ten years. |
|||
4. In some language patterns referring to the future (see Present Simple, meaning 6) to emphasize completion |
When you’ve checked everything, tell me immediately. |
when, the moment sb does sth, after, before, if, unless, in case, as soon as, as long as, till, until, by the time, the next time |
||
Present Perfect Continuous*
|
(+) S + have/has + been + Ving
(–) S + haven’t/hasn’t + been + Ving
(?) have/has + S + been + Ving |
1. An action that began in the past and continues in the present (for action/dynamic verbs) |
He has been watching the telly for hours. |
for, since, recently, lately, of late, so far, already, just, for hours/days/weeks/ months/years, all morning/afternoon/ evening/night/day/week/month/year, etc. |
2. An action that has finished recently, but has a visible result in the present |
We have been running so fast that we are now out of breath. |
Appendix 2
P A S T T I M E |
||||
TENSE
|
FORM
|
MEANING
|
EXAMPLES
|
MOST FREQUENT TIME EXPRESSIONS |
Past Simple
|
(+) S + V2
(–) S + didn’t + V1
(?) Did + S + V1 |
1. A non-continuous action, event, situation that happened at a definite time in the past |
I came to this town two years ago. |
yesterday, last night/week/month/year/November/Monday, last, two days/five minutes/an hour/ten years/a century ago, in 1996/1989/2004/1066, when |
2. Sequence of immediate events |
When Alice came home, she went into the kitchen, opened the fridge, took out some convenience food and put it in the microwave oven. |
|||
3. Repeated habitual actions in the past |
When we were on holiday, we went to the beach every day. |
See above + always, often, frequently, normally, usually, as usual, generally, in general, as a rule, sometimes, occasionally, on and off, rarely, seldom, ever, hardly ever, never, every day/week/month/year, once/twice a day/a week/a fortnight/a month/a year |
||
Used to |
(+) S + used to + V1
(–) S + didn’t use to + V1
(?) did + S + use to + V1 |
Past habits (for states and actions) that are no longer true |
I used to smoke a lot when I was younger. She didn’t use to be a good student. Did you use to work odd hours? |
|
Would |
S + would + V1 |
Typical activities in the past (repeated actions) that are no longer true |
The Campbells would sometimes invite us over for the weekend. |
|
Past Continuous*
|
(+) S + was/were + Ving
(–) S + wasn’t/weren’t + Ving
(?) Was/were + S + Ving |
1. An action in progress in the past (a background situation as opposed to a sudden event expressed by Past Simple). |
When I was having my dinner, the telephone rang. |
when, while, at the moment, at that moment, still |
2. Parallel actions in progress in the past |
Some of us were shopping, some were sleeping, the others were reading, but everyone was waiting for the news of the delayed plane. |
|||
3. Annoying habits in the past. |
When James was younger, he was always getting into fights. |
|||
4. Politeness and uncertainty (with hope, think, wonder). |
I was hoping to see you last night. We were thinking of having a night out. I was wondering if he would come in time. |
|||
Past Perfect
|
(+) S + had + V3
(–) S + hadn’t + V3
(?) Had + S + V3 |
1. A past action/event/situation that took place before another action/event/situation in the past |
I thought I had already seen her somewhere before. |
before, after, already |
2. An action/event/situation completed by a particular given time in the past. |
By 2006 I had visited about 25 different countries in different parts of the world. |
by …, by the beginning/middle/end of next week/month/year, etc. |
||
Past Perfect Continuous*
|
(+) S + had been + Ving
(–) S + hadn’t been + Ving
(?) Had + S + been + Ving |
1. A past action/event/situation in progress that started before another action/event/situation in the past
|
When I returned home, he had been surfing the Internet for hours on end. |
before, after, already, for, since |
Be going to do sth
|
(+) S + was/were + going to do sth
(–) S + wasn’t/weren’t + going to do sth
(?) Was/were + S + going to do sth |
1. Plans and intentions in the past |
He was going to phone me, but ran out of money on his mobile account. |
|
2. Predictions based on clear evidence in the past |
He was going to win the elections by a wide margin, but died of a snakebite two days before the vote. |
|
Appendix 3