Grammar Practice

Tenses
Grammar Reference p166169
1 For sentences ah, put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the past
continuous.
a She nearly (have) a heart attack when she (see) the tiger.
b We (go) down the road at 120 kph when the wheel (fall) off.
c They (read) the instructions when the lights (go) out.
d The happy couple (get) married three weeks after he
(propose).
e Our dog (jump) up into the air and (howl) when I
(stand) on his tail.
f The winning racing driver (shake) the bottle of champagne then
(take) the cork out.
g She (fill) in a questionnaire when the pen (run) out of ink.
h Uncle Sam (get) dressed when he (feel) a searing pain in his
back.

2 Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete sentences al.
Present Simple or Present Continuous
a Decisive people (make) their minds up very quickly.
b You want me to come and work for you! you ? (joke)
c Listen to the crowd. Everyone . (sing)
d He always (think) carefully before he (say) anything.
Past Simple or Past Continuous
e The midnight train (leave) five minutes early this evening.
f The linesman didnt see the fight because he (face) the other way.
g The referee (blow) his whistle when the game (finish).
h He (dive) off the coast of South Africa when a shark (swim)
right past his leg.
Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple
i you (vote) in the last General Election?
j Zak (go) to the cinema three times so far this week.
k Jack (study) Tai Chi until the day he died.
l you (think) about my offer yet?

3 For sentences ah rewrite the information using the words in brackets.

a Last week Jeff Smith finished writing a book about his life in Kenya. (recently)
..
b Three men escaped from a high security prison within the last hour. (just)
..
c I sorted out the software problems a short while ago. (already)
..
d Ollie Gonzales signed a new three-year contract earlier this morning. (just)
..
e I didnt tell my parents about my tattoo! (yet)
..
f Sorry, Mr Brown isnt here. He left for the airport a few minutes ago. (just)
..
g Did you go to the British Museum when you were in London? (ever)
..
h Sorry. I didnt get a chance to finish the report. (yet)
..

4 For AD, complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the box.
A

was looking has been looking looks looked

1 That man at that painting for the past ten minutes.

2 The schoolboy in five lockers, but he still didnt find his dictionary.
3 The robbers ran past the policeman when he the other way.
B

is seeing hadnt been seeing dont see hadnt seen

1 She the price list until the waiter pointed it out to her.
2 Daisy a specialist tomorrow about her back pains.
3 I how you can get all those books into that small box.
C

think will have thought have been thinking will be thinking

1 Even though they live apart, they often about each other.
2 Have a good trip. I of you.
3 I about emigrating to Canada for a long time.
D
have had was having had had has been having

1 Harry a shave when he cut himself.

2 He trouble with his computer since he installed the new software.
3 They enough of living in a big city. Theyre moving to the country

5 For af write an appropriate sentence using the words in brackets.

Marco bought his Fiat when he was 19. (next July/six years)
Next July Marco will have been driving his Fiat for six years.

a Anna is an English teacher in Portugal. (January/two months)

..
b The politician is giving a speech about public transport. (midnight/three hours)
..
c Mrs Green started to work for the FBI when she was eighteen. (Christmas/10
years)
..
d Ben came here to meet Kate. (Kate arrives/an hour and a half)
..
e Al Lorenzo is a second-hand car salesman. (next year/25 years)
..
f Ulli moved to Greece when she left university and has lived there ever since. (this
summer/eight years)
..