Level 4 chapter 2 - Past and Present Tenses revision
Complete each sentence in the correct tense from the choices given
VERB TENSES
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
The present progressive is used to talk about things that are happening "at" the time of speaking and things that are happening "around" the time of speaking.
situation: example: John is in his car on his way to work. He IS DRIVING to work. Mary is in her bathtub. She IS TAKING a bath. You are in the middle of an English course, so it is correct to say: I AM LEARNING English.
SIMPLE PRESENT
The simple present is used to talk about habits, things that happen repeatedly and things that are generally true. Look at the examples:
DOES John VISIT his mother on Sundays? Fred LIKES ice cream. Ed PLAYS tennis; he DOESN'T PLAY golf. Harry WORKS at Berlitz. I often DRINK wine, I DON'T DRINK beer. Ann and Ted LIVE in Mainz.
SIMPLE PAST
The simple past is used to talk about actions completed at a certain time in the past:
Last year, Paul WENT to Spain. (Last year is finished.) I DRANK two cups of coffee yesterday. (Yesterday is now finished.) DID Janet GO to the party? (The party is over.) Jerry WORKED while he ATTENDED school. (He doesn't do either anymore)
PAST PROGRESSIVE
The past progressive is used to talk about things that were happening at a particular time in the past or to describe an action that was going on when it was interrupted by another action. Here are some examples:
At 11:00, Jack WAS READING. Jack WAS READING when I called him. We WERE SLEEPING at 7:00AM. We WERE SLEEPING when the alarm rang. It WASN'T RAINING this morning. It WASN'T RAINING when I left.
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How often _________ to Berlitz?
do you come
come
come you
are you coming
Alfred usually ________ his mother on Skype because it's cheaper
calls
is calling
call
calling
Tom and Harry aren't very athletic. As far as I know, they _______ tennis in their lives!
never play
never played
were never playing
are never playing
My brother was born in San Francisco. He _______ there now and says he'll never move away.
living
lives
live
was living
My wife ________ to Toronto on business. Her plane takes off in 5 minutes.
flew
is flying
flies
was flying
Martin is extremely lazy. He ________ in front of the television all day every day
sit
is sitting
was sitting
sits
I can't believe that Joe actually __________ all the way across the English Channel
swam
swim
swum
was swimming
You can see Janet now She _________ at the moment.
doesn't work
didn't work
isn't working
wasn't working
Jose _________ to Spain last week. I really miss him.
was returning
is returning
return
returned
John ________ the road when the accident happened.
didn't watch
not watching
wasn't watching
isn't watching
Look over there! Why _______ Karen ? I thought they didn't get along.
does John kiss
is John kissing
John kisses
John is kissing
____________ which way Mary went ?
Do you see
Were you seeing
Did you see
Are you seeing
Jack won't come to the restaurant with us because he only _________ vegetarian food.
eats
ate
was eating
is eating
Jill _________ at 7:00 this morning.
is waking up
was waking up
woke up
wakes up
Even though studying at home is very important, some students _______ to do just enough to get by. What about you?
are trying
is trying
tries
try
Margaret is in the kitchen. She ____________ .
is cooking
cook
cooks
cooked
See that smoke over there ? Mr Murphy ________ leaves. He does it every autumn.
is burning
has burned
burned
burns
No, Greg can't come out to play. He ____________.
studied.
studies.
was studying.
is studying.
__________ when I called?
Were you reading
Are you reading
Do you read
Did you read
Cheryl ________ television at the moment.
didn't watch
doesn't watch
isn't watching
never watches
Right now, you _________ a multiple choice exercise.
doing
are doing
were doing
do
Dave and Mike _______ to every game their football team plays
goes
went
are going
go
What ________ for a living?
you do
do you do
are you doing
do you
Larry _________ all the ice cream. He didn't leave us any.
eat
ate
eats
was eating
When Greg finally got home, his wife _________ .
sleeps already
was already sleeping
already slept
is already sleeping
Where ______ Susan first ____ Jack?
was + meeting
did + meet
is + meeting
are + meeting
What ___________ when the boss walked in?
did you
do you do
were you doing
you were doing
Yes, Sabrina and Carol usually ________ here. However, they're both off sick today.
are working
works
worked
work
I ___________ a book when you called.
am reading
read
reading
was reading
Look over there ! The president __________ hands with an astronaut.
is shaking
shook
shakes
was shaking
Bob and Mark don't have much free time this week. They _________ on a very important project.
are working
working
worked
work
I don't know whether they ________ tommorow evening or not.
come
are coming
came
coming
Ralph took lessons for three years, but he still _________ the guitar well.
don't play
doesn't play
play
isn't playing
_________ a book, are you?
You're not reading
You didn't read
You don't read
You weren't reading
I'm sorry Mr Johnson can't come to the phone right now. He ________ to a customer.
is speaking
speaks
spoke
was speaking
I called Brian when I was in town but I __________ him.
didn't see
wasn't seeing
'm not seeing
don't see
Fred _______ basketball when his mother called him for dinner.