Professional Documents
Culture Documents
3. Translate into English the following sentences using phrases given at the end of the
exercise, paying attention to the use of indefinite articles
1. Ca răsplată pentru silinţa lor studenţii foarte buni pleacă în tabere şi excursii. 2.
Tabloul se vede mai bine de la distanţă. 3. Vorbeşte tare ca să te pot auzi. 4. El este
totdeauna grăbit. 5. Copii au început să-l îndrăgească pe vărul lor. 6. Nu face atâta caz
de fleacuri. 7. E păcat să-ţi iroseşti timpul cu astfel de chestiuni. 8. În vederea realizării
acestui plan au fost alocate sume importante. 9. În medie sunt 20 de studenţi într-o
grupă. 10. Am avut prilejul să văd multe peisaje frumoase în cursul excursiei.
to have an opportunity; at a distance; as a reward; in a loud voice; to be in a hurry; to
take a fancy to; to make a fuss; it’s a pity; with a view to; on an average.
4. Translate into English using the phrases given at the end of the exercise paying attention
to the use of definite articles
1. Deocamdată nu putem da un răspuns definitiv la scrisoarea clientului. 2. Ei vor reuşi
în cele din urmă să obţină rezultatul dorit. 3. Trebuie să le răspundeţi cel mai târziu până
la 1 octombrie. 4. În Marea Britanie circulaţia se face pe stânga şi nu pe dreapta. 5. Pe
de o parte va trebui să acordăm o atenţie sporită gramaticii iar pe de altă parte foneticii.
6. Dimineaţa luăm micul dejun la ora 7. 7. Ei vor petrece câteva săptămâni la ţară. 8. Pe
ansamblu rezultatele obţinute sunt mai bune. 9. La drept vorbind el are dreptate. 10. În
situaţia dată nu putem accepta comanda. 11. Această metodă a trecut proba timpului.
for the time being; in the long run; at the latest; to the left (right) side of the road; on
the one hand; on the other hand; on the whole; in the morning; in the country; on the
whole; to tell the truth; under the circumstances; to stand the test.
9. Make up sentences with one of the nouns given below used as part of a nominal predicate.
Mind the use of the indefinite article
Model: I am a teacher…
Physician, composer, bricklayer, research worker, student, driver, turner, economist,
accountant, engineer.
10. Make up sentences with the words or phrases from the list given below, minding the use of
the definite article.
Model: He is in the classroom…
At the blackboard, at the map, at the door, at the window, by the fireplace, near the desk,
at the university, to break the ice, to take the trouble, to tell the time.
2. State how the nouns below are formed: (convertion; contraction; abbreviation; affixation;
deflexion)
Romanian; driver; the Pacific; UNO; outlaw; song; expectation; native; the present; failure;
car; loss; white; translator; pen; HP; suggestion; the Mediterranean; bus; building; the
ancients; the moderns; writing; captain; enlargement; gvt; guidance; the poor; the rich; exam;
Dr; strength; ad; self-administration; vac; superstructure; breadth; co-partner.
3. Form sentences according to the model, choosing the appropriate noun in column two:
e.g. A Romanian is a native of Romania.
Frenchman England
Italian Finland
Englishman Japan
Greek Italy
Finn China
Spaniard Egypt
Belgian Poland
Dane Greece
Pole France
Portuguese Belgium
Swede Denmark
Chinese Spain
Egyptian Sweden
Japanese Portugal
4. Make up sentences according to the model, choosing the appropriate noun in column two:
e.g. The language spoken by the people of England is English
Romania Indian
Denmark Bulgarian
France Chinese
Germany Turkish
Holland Portuguese
Norway French
Poland German
Portugal Romanian
Bulgaria Danish
Turkey Dutch
India Norwegian
China Polish
5. Attach the appropriate prefixes (b) to the following nouns (a)
a) father; offer; management; structure; president; print; title; neutron; arrangement;
postulation; shore; mobility; action, summer; intervention; realism; suppositon;
rector; afforestation; seller.
b) self-; mis-; dis-; in-; pre-; under-; counter; vice-; anti-; im-; neo-; re-; co-; super-;
sub-; fore-; non-; pro-; mid-; ex-.
9. Answer these questions by changing the verbs into derived nouns. (Make all the other
necessary changes as in the model)
e.g. Do you prefer spring or autumn?
I have no preference for either.
1. Can you suggest a way out of this trouble?
2. Does he intend to tell her the truth?
3. Can you describe him the rules of the game?
4. Can they achieve such a goal?
5. Have you informed them about the trip?
6. Can you examine all these students today?
7. Can he guide the group to the forest?
12. Write the plural of the following nouns according to the models (A) and/or (B) arranging
them on two colums:
potato; photo; soprano; tomato; solo; echo; Negro; casino; hero; concerto; mosquito;
volcano; motto; studio; salvo; portfolio; grotto.
(A) cargo cargoes (B) piano pianos
13. Make up sentences with the nouns given below according to the model:
She knows that the plural of crisis is crises.
basis; phenomenon; erratum; hippopotamus; formula; bureau; series; analysis;
bacterium; datum; oasis; minimum; thesis; stadium; species; criterion; genius; addendum;
memorandum; gymnasium; sanatorium.
15. Turn the following sentences into the plural making all the necessary changes:
1. As a student you should wait for your teacher in the classroom. 2. I am looking at
the blackboard in front of me. 3. The white butterfly is dangerous for the cabbage
crop. 4. My school mate is a brilliant person. 5. This goods train must arrive in time. 6.
The passerby has stopped in front of the beautifully dressed shopwindow. 7. Her
sister-in-law is a pleasant woman. 8. My daughter enjoys looking at a merry-go-round.
9. A forget-me-not is a blue, delicate flower. 10. There is a finger post at the corner of
this street. 11. This sportsman has been awarded a gold medal. 12. I think that I have
lost at least one penknife in my life. 13. His fellow-traveller had a good knowledge of
the event. 14. She prefers being examined by a woman doctor. 15. This shoolmaster is
a person of broad experience. 16. They hoped that there was at least one on-looker. 17.
That person in front of the shopwindow seems interested in our grods.
16. Translate the following sentences into Romanian paying attention to the different
meanings of the plural form
1. I like her paintings because of their light colours.
2. They have been waiting for the two presidents with colours flying.
3. His opinion was that the compasses were out of order.
4. He received a pair of compasses as a birthday present.
5. The Bank of England preserved many of its old customs.
6. You have to pay customs duties for these items.
7. In that case the damages were very serious.
8. As the company was insured it received important damages.
9. Don’t be so impressed because of some stage effects!
10. The personal effects are duty free.
11. The Letters of Credit should arrive in time.
12. He is a famous man of letters.
13. I have been waiting for you for more than 10 minutes.
14. One of us should write down the minutes of our meeting.
15. They started from good premises.
16. We shall meet on the premises of our company.
17. His life covered three quarters of the century.
18. I think that I shall shift my quarters.
19. We have received the receipts in good time.
20. Their company obtained important receipts for its sales.
21. The gross returns are very important this year.
22. During the first two terms of the year they met several times for discussing.
23. You should not try to reckon your happiness in terms of wordly success.
17. A. Give the Romanian translation of the plural form of the following nouns paying
attention to their possible double meaning
commodity; facility; glass; manner; number; pain; work; scale; spectacle; ground.
B. Practice the two possible meanings of the plural form of the above mentioned nouns,
using them in pair sentences of your own.
20. Use the verb in brackets in the singular or plural form (present tense) as required by the
subject
1. Our faculty foot-ball team (to play) in your town today. 2. My family (to be) on a
trip in the mountains. 3. The government of this country (to agree) to take the
necessary steps in the problems under discussion. 4. When the audience (to be) in the
hall the performance begins. 5. Our group (to be) always the first in foreign languages.
6. The crowd (to gather) in front of the theatre door. 7. After more than 50 years
mankind (not to forget) the horrors or WW II. 8. The crow (to be) on board “The
Mures”. 9. The Parliament (to be) summoned in session. 10. People (to like) going on
trips in summer time. 11. The cattle (to enter) the farm-yard in the evening. 12. My
folk (to live) in the country.
21. Choose the correct form of the verb out of the two given in brackets:
1. I can see the trout that (move / moves) among the stones. 2. Poultry (is / are)
grown on this farm. 3. The sheep (was / were) spread all over the field. 4. Mathematics
(is / are) a very useful science. 5. The pack of cards (was / were) lying all around
them. 6. Their class (is/ are) the best in the school. 7. (Is / are) there any fish in this
river? 8. The foot and the horse of a country (was / were) important in the
development of historical events. 9. The means of locomotion (was / were) old. 10. A
huge iron works (is / are) coming into being in our town. 12. The theatre had a corps
of ballet which (was / were) famous. 13. No thanks (is / are) needed.
24. Translate into English paying attention to the agreement between subject and predicate
1. Comitetul consta din 15 persoane. 2. Comitetul a ajuns la un punct de vedere
comun. 3. Această lucrare se adresează unui public larg. 4. Publicul este rugat să nu
fumeze în sala de spectacol. 5. Corpul didactic era foarte numeros în universitatea lor.
6. Este de aşteptat ca întregul corp didactic să aibă o înaltă calificare. 7. Progresele ei
la matematică sunt cu totul remarcabile. 8. Simţeam cum puterile mă părăseau. 9.
Tunetele şi fulgerele brăzdau cerul. 10. Un fulger ne-a luminat calea. 11. Etica se
preocupă de principiile moralei. 11. Etica sa este fără cusur. 12. Acustica studiază
sunetele.13. Acustica acestei săli nu lasă nimic de dorit. 14. Studenţii se plimbau în
parc câte unul sau câte doi. 15. Marfa aceasta vine din Grecia.
25. Arrange the underlined nouns in the following sentences on four columns corresponding
to their gender:
Model:
1) Masculine 2) Feminine 3) Common 4) Neuter
man woman cousin book
1. This student has got only high marks. 2. Boys and girls often walk together in the
park. 3. My friend often writes letters to his father and mother, to his brothers and
sisters and even to all his other relations. 4. I think that the author of this novel cannot
be old. 5. What a charming actress! 6. Of the two characters in “The Citadel”, the
doctor and his wife, I prefer the latter. 7. I didn’t know that his parents were so old! 8.
This bird must be either a goose or a gander. 9. Although “Vanity Fair” is “a novel
without a hero”, some people consider Becky as its heroine. 10. Beginning with the
15th of September this year, her son will be a pupil. 11. “Pride and Prejudice” is a
famous novel which you should read. 12. We shall never forget our colleagues and
teachers!
26. Give the feminine corresponding to the following nouns of the masculine gender:
a) boy; son; father; brother; uncle; husband; man; lad; tutor; bachelor; bull; dog;
drone; stallion;
b) actor; ambassador; author; doctor; heir; lion; master; negro; poet; proprietor;
steward; tiger; waiter;
c) administrator; director; hero; chauffeur; prosecutor;
d) grandson; male patient; airman; chairman; cock pheasant; he-bear; clerk.
27. Give the corresponding words denoting the masculine gender for the following nouns in
the feminine:
mayoress; protectress; shepherdess; empress; benefactress; aviatrix; executrix;
undergraduette; usherette; czarina; bride; lady; niece; madam; witch; widow; ewe; dow;
barmaid; saleswoman; hen sparrow.
28. In the texts below insert the appropriate pronouns (he, she, it, his, her, its) for the
corresponding gender of the nouns:
1. “The sun come up upon the left.
Out of the sea came (-)
And (-) shone bright, and on the right
Went down into the sea “
(Coleridge)
2. “When sunset came we stopped in the valley waiting for the moon to rise. At ten
(-) came up beautiful and serene as ever. Suddenly we felt that a lion came nearer:
(-) dreadful roar made us shudder with anger. We all knew that only about a
quarter of a mile out lay a boat, with (-) sails half down”.
(Hemingway)
3. The brave little insect never remained there; (-) came out in search of (-) friends.
(John Lubbock).
4. Great Britain is an island; (-) capital is London.
5. Romania has considerably developed (-) trade.
6. The Danube crosses the territory of our countruy; (-) springs in Germany and
flows into the Black Sea.
7. The storm unleashed in the evening; (-) prevented us from leaving the house.
8. Our friendship is a very strong feeling; (-) will last as long as we live.
9. The Carpathians are mountains of a medium height; however (-) peaks are covered
with snow even in summer.
31. Turn the Synthetic Genitive in the sentences below into the plural, wherever possible
1. I don’t remember this child’s name. 2. Entering the room I saw that the boy’s books
were spread all over the table. 3. A month’s holiday is what he mostly desires. 4. This
waitress’ smile is quite pleasant. 5. Today’s journey was very confortable. 6. His
father’s job is interesting. 7. That man’s seat is no longer vacant. 8. Charles’ family
left the town for a short trip. 9. The teacher’s remark should be taken into account. 10.
A week’s holiday will be really pleasant.
32. Justify the use of the Synthetic Genitive in the following sentences:
1. “We had a marvellous two hours’ walk along the sea coast. 2. A summer’s day in
Devon is quite special with all its unusual softness. 3. A window blazed like a jewel in
the sun’s last rays between the poplar trees”. (Galsworthy). 4. We wandered to the
Pine Forest / That skirts the ocean’s foam (Shelley). 5. Our country’s geography must
be well known by the students. 6. A twenty yards’ distance separates our houses. 7. I
don’t think that this parcel is more than a pound’s weight. 8. This book is two pounds’
worth. 9. We have seen Shakespeare’s plays “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “The
Winter’s Tale”. 10. Yesterday’s mail brought me the long expected letter. 11. The
vessel’s crew were on the deck. 12. I shall spend this week-and at the Smiths’. 13. The
commission is interested in Africa’s problems. 14. He had a hair’s breadth escape. 15.
Who else’s proposal shall we consider now? 16. London’s traffic is heavy at peek
hours. 17. We are interested in nobody’s problems.
33. A. Look up the following Synthetic Genitives and translate them into Romanian:
- at one’s fingers’ end - a bird’s eye view
- out of harm’s way - a needle’s eye
- her heart’s desire - a pin’s head
- at a stone’s throw - the journey’s end
- at one’s wit’s end - at swords’ point
B. Use them in sentences of your own
34. Explain the difference in meaning between the two forms of Genitive:
1. This film is a description of Dickens.
2. The short excerpt is a description of Dickens’.
1. This painting is a portrait of Sargent.
2. This masterpiece is a portrait of Sargent’s.
1. Cezar Petrescu wrote a novel of Eminescu.
2. “Cezara” is a novel of Eminescu’s.
1. He told us the story of Hemingway.
2. I read a story of Hemingway’s.
36. Choose the form which is recommended out of the two forms given below:
1. She is my brother’s friend’s wife.
2. She is the wife of my brother’s friend.
1. Kate’s parents’ visit pleased us very much.
2. The visit of Kate’s parents pleased us very much.
1. In the light of the moon we could see the big house in front of us.
2. In the moon’s light we could see the big house in front of us.
1. The house’s front door was unlocked.
2. The front door of the house was unlocked.
1. We went in the sound’s direction.
2. We went in the direction of the sound.
37. Study the following sentences paying attention to the different uses of the Genitive case
(The Saxon Genitive or the Prepositional Genitive). Explain the structures.
1. The students’ return interrupted our conversation. 2. The smoke or a wood-fire
went up in the air. 3. The students’ hostel is comfortable and cosy. 4. They were
welcomed with a feeling of joy. 5. Several of the students got very good results. 6. In
the city of Bucharest there are a lot of parks and gardens. 7. All of his books have
beautiful bindings. 8. I’ll be back in a few minutes’ time. 9. This is the well-known
American composer George Gershwin’s chief work “Porgy and Bess”. 10. I have
found in your library one of Lewis, Smith and Wilson’s works. 11. Receive this
present, with Mary’s and Jane’s compliments! 12. Everybody expected the jury’s
verdict. 13. He went into a shop and bought a pound’s worth of chocolates. 14. I met
him after two months’ absence from his job. 15. Last week I saw the play “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream”. 16. She was reading the day before’s paper. 17. We are
often astonished in front of Nature’s many wonders. 18. The ship’s mast was broken
by the storm. 19. We were walking along one of London’s parks. 20. The courage of
young people is wellknown. 21. This man is the father of the child I am going to
examine tomorrow. 22. The language of the “Sports Bulletin” reporter is often obscure
to the layman. 23. The achievements of a modern democratic state speak for
themselves.
39. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions “to”, “for”, “of”, “from”, as required by a
Prepositional Dative
1. Give my best regards … your friend. 2. I snatched the handkerchief … George’s
hand to wave at the newcomers. 3. I inquired … Dan what the subject for debate at the
seminar was. 4. I have bought a present … my mother. 5. This is an activity that
requires great precision … the workers. 6. He got a sum of money equivalent … the
quality of his work. 7. What did you ask … the students? 8. I’ve got a ticket … my
best friend. 9. What is your attitude … art? 10. The child begged pardon … his
parents. 11. Mary called a taxi … her daughter.
40. Change the following sentences using the “for” Prepositional Dative:
Model: He brought Mary some flowers.
He brought some flowers for Mary
1. I buy my daughter interesting books. 2. The teacher is choosing his students a new
text. 3. We found our parents good seats in the train. 4. The student got her friend a
ticket for the show. 5. I booked my sister a roon at the hotel. 6. The whole group
bought their colleague a bottle of wine in celebration of his birthday. 7. We have made
the guests a warm reception. 8. Cut this little girl a slice of bread! 9. We must order
that company some new equipment.
41. Translate into English using the two forms of the Dative – with or without preposition –
wherever possible.
1. I-am făcut lui George o aluzie în sensul celor discutate. 2. Au fost de acord cu
propunerea noastră. 3. Am cerut un autograf de la autorul romanului nou lansat. 4.
Profesorul explică studenţilor cuvintele noi. 5. I-am oferit lui Dan prilejul de a ne
însoţi în excursie. 6. I-am servit pe invitaţi cu prăjiturile făcute de mine. 7. Profesorul
dictează studenţilor un text necunoscut. 8. El a permis studenţilor folosirea
dicţionarului. 9. Intenţionez să o prezint părinţilor mei pe cea mai bună prietenă a mea.
10. Preşedintele a înmânat diplome şi premii câştigătorilor concursului. 11. Supunem
propunerea aprobării adunării generale.
43. Choose the corect form out of the two given in brackets.
1. Mary is the student with black (hair/hairs) who lives in our mansion. 2. Did you
have a good (travel/journey) from London? 3. Don’t forget to buy (a bread/some
bread) when coming back home. 4. I’d like to take some notes, have you got (a
paper/some paper)? 5. There (is/are) a lot of (traffic/traffics) in the city at the peak
hours. 6. He is trying hard to find a (work/job) at present, but, I’m afraid, there
(isn’t/aren’t) much (work/works) availabe. 7. (Is/are) good
(accommodation/accommodations) easy to find in your town? 8. I’ve got a problem
and I need some (advice/advices). 9. I like the (furniture/furnitures) in your room. 10.
Some (information/informations) you can give us, about the hotels in London (is/are)
useful. 11. My (luggage/luggages) (is/are) on the platform. 12. The (news/new) (is/are)
depressing.
THE ADJECTIVE
1. Change the adjectives below into their antonyms with the help of the following prefixes:
up-, in-, (il-, im-, ir), non-, dis-, misable,
academic, accurate, active, capable, changeable, competent, competitive,
connected, consistent, dependent, developed, economical, efficient, employed,
expensive, experienced, fair, formal, honest, interested, logical, official, pleasant,
productive, profitable, qualified, resolute, satisfied, similar, skilled, understood,
willing, welcome.
2. Complete the sentences using the adjective related to the noun or verb given in brackets:
1. Productivity can be defined as the ratio of (value) output to input. 2. To ensure high
(organisation) productivity, creativity and innovation should permeate every job. 3.
(Increase) productivity has a (benefit) impact on (economy) stability and on the (life)
standard. 4. From an (individual) point of view, increased productivity is both
psychologically and financially (reward). 5. (Skill) responsible management and
(height) productivity are inseparable. 6. A manager, in addition to being technically
(qualify), must be a (respect), people-oriented leader, (skill) in the techniques of
(behaviour) science and sound business practice. 7. (Aid) by the rapid spread of
(industry) robots, the (manufacture) industry has steadily become more effective and
more (product). 8. Early to bed and early to rise makes you (health), (wealth) and
wise.
5. Choose the right indefinite adjective from the ones in the brackets. Sometimes both are
right.
1. (Many, a large numer of) strikes are caused by bad management. 2. Is there
(much, a great deal of) unemployment in Romania? 3. There are hardly (any, no)
mistakes in the paper. 4. We went to only (one, other) party in (some, several)
months, but we enjoyed (every, each) minute of it. 5. Is there (any, some) common
thread linking statistics and accounting? 6. They expected us to come with (much,
many) solutions, but we could think of (none, any). 7. Our teacher gave us (much, a
lot of) advice from the beginning. 8. I’ve got (few, a few) English books on
management and I can lend you (some, any). – Thank you, but I can’t read (no, any)
books in English since I know (no, any) English at all. 9. (Both, either) my room
mates have won scholarships. 10. (Both, either) buses stop in front of the A.S.E., so
you may take (any, either) bus.
6. Fill the blanks with the right quantitative adjective, according to the meaning.
1. There are … words that I don’t know and there is … grammer problem that I
haven’t studied. 2. Have you got so … spare time? I thought you are snowed up in
work. 3. Very … ideas get farther than the inventor. 4. Have you seen … good films
recently? – Yes, quite … 5. Will you have … tea? No, thank you, I’ve drunk … cups
since morning. 6. Ther is too … flour left for the cake; will you go and buy some? 7.
We can do without … things, but we can’t do without water. 8. They think … money
is the source of happiness. 9. Quite … of employees have gone on strike. 10. There are
far … weapons in the world.
7. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same. Use
comparatives:
1. Dan is not as fast as Will. Will is … 2. I have an older sister, Mary. Mary is …
3. Silver is less valuable than gold. Gold is … 4. This is the earliest train. There aren’t
any… 5. That’s the best price we can quote. We can’t quote a…; there is no … 6.
Bravo! You’ve worked less chaotically than before. Bravo! Your work is … 7. Do you
agree that a Ford is safer, more economical and more comfortable than any other car?
Do you agree that no other car is …? 8. If you run a lor, you’ll get fitter. The more…
9. The e-mail seems to be the cheapest, the fastest and most reliable means of
communication at present. There doesn’t seem to be a … Any other means of
communication is … 10. This story is by far the funniest most interesting at all. I’ve
never heard a … All the other stories I’ve heard are…
8. Fill in the blanks with the right degree of comparison of the adjectives in the margin:
a. The teacher asks the pupils about the effects of heat and cold.
“Heat makes things … and cold makes things … “ says Dan.
“Quite right”, says the teacher. “Can you give an example?” long
In the summer, when it’s hot the days are … but in winter, when it’s short
cold, the days are …”, answers Dan. big
b. What is the … word in English? small
“Smiles. It is a mile between its first and last letter.
c. “Which word becomes … when you add a syllable to it?”
“Short”.
9. Use the adjectives in brackets in the right form of comparison, paying attention to the
irregular forms:
1. She is (ill) than we thought; she fell ill on Wednesday and she was (ill) on Friday,
when she was taken to hospital. 2. (Late) but not (little), there comes the maths exam.
3. Jim is a (little) boy; he is my (young) brother, much (young) than I am; actually I
am (old) brother, 15 years (old) than Jin, so I’m suppose to look after our (little) ones.
4. We worked on our project with no (little) single-mindedness than skill. 5. This is
(good) book I have read for a long time. 6. They provided us with (far) information as
agreed. 7. My (good) friend’s (late) novel was a (good) seller and it won’t be his
(late) one. 8. The (late) half of May was (rainy) than the first. 9. Mine is the (far)
house fron the ASE and Paul’s is the (near). 10. Upon (far) consideration they
decided to answer the latter without delay. 11. You’d better get off at the (near) stop
and ask where the (near) pharmacy is.
10. Use the double comparative of the adjectives in brackets for the Romanian “din ce în ce
mai”:
1. Your English is getting (good). 2. It’s becoming (important) to rely on our own
experts. 3. We were so tired, that the top of the mountains seemed to be getting (far).
4. As buses are becoming (fast) we are growing (idle). 5. The idea of spending the
summer at the seaside sounds (appealing). 6. (Great) attention is being paid to
computer-assisted learning. 7. The students are growing (loud) and the noise
(unbearable). 8. Computer modelling seems to be (exciting), (challenging). 9. It’s
becoming (plain) that we are growing (involved) in it.
11. Use the adjectives in brackets in the comparative form for the Romanian “cu cât … cu
atât”:
1. The (hard) the task, the (great) the satisfaction. 2. The (funny) the stories, the
(merry) we are. 3. The (little) time you spare for learning, the (little) satisfactory your
studies and the (bad) result you’ll get. 4. The (fertile) the land, the (little) the amount
of fertilizer given to it. 5. The (eager) the student, the (pertinent) the questions he
asks. 6. The (high) the manufacturing costs, the (high) the selling price. 7. The (big) a
business is, the (competitive) it is likely to be. 8. The (long) I have to wait for the
results, the (impatient) I become.
13. The excepts below, taken from authentic presentations, are good examples of “machine –
gunning” (emphasizing a point through the enumeration and repetition of comparatives of
superiority). Unfortunately they have been mixed up, so you will have to match the two parts
1-7 and a-g in order to make meaningful sentences. Then translate them into Romanian.
1. In terms of performance we’re
2. The home computer industry is likely
to be even
3. The Middle Eastern market is probably
4. The new cabriolet is
5. As a company, we’re quite simply
6. Our new sales manager seems to be
7. The future of tourism in Romania has
never looked
a. faster, sleeker, smoother, classier, racier,
roomier and better–looking than
anything else on the market
b. more competitive, more creative, more
responsive, non customer–conscious and
more market–driven than any of our
competitors.
c. more motivated, more productive, more
profitable, more efficient, more quality –
conscious and generally more successful
than ever.
d. Bigger, better, freer, fairer, more liberal
and more lucrative than any other
market.
e. More technology – driven, more cost –
conscious, more price–sensitive, more
risk–laden, more overcrowded and more
volatile that it is today.
f. better, brighter, more promising, more
encouraging, more successful and more
profitable then anyone would have
thought possible a few years ago.
g. younger, smarter, more efficient, more
experienced, better-qualified and more
customer–orientated than the previous
one.
14. Match the types of adjectives in column A with the right adjective (s) in column B. The
first one is done for you: 1 – l, r.
A. Type B. Adjective
1. taste, smell, etc
2. origin, place
3. material
4. size, length
5. colour
6. purpose, use
7. opinion, attitude, quality
8. age
9. emotion, personality
10. shape, width
11. past participle
a. silk
b. blue
c. walking
d. intusting
e. dining – room
f. knitted
g. young
h. Scottish
i. round
j. nice
k. large
l. sweet
m. stainless steel
n. full-length
o. Chinese
p. exciting
q. narrow
r. scented
s. expensive
t. inquisitive
15. Study the order of the adjectives in the following examples and complete the table below
with the missing types (see ex.14) in the order which appears to be most common; then fill in
each column with the right adjectives from the examples. Add more adjectives in time.
N.B.1. (subjective) opinion/attitude; adjectives usually come before all others
2. “First”, “last” usually come before numbers.
3. Avoid using more than three adjectives together.
Some examples have been done for you. (see table).
1. a pretty blue wollen scarf 8. the most recent custom-made Swiss wrist watch
2. a beautiful rectangular wooden table 9. the three-month money market rate
3. a magnificent handwoven Persian rug 10. a brilliant second-year student
4. a large smelly half-eaten lump of cheese 11. new hooded sweat-style jackets
5. an excellent mature scottish whisky 12. fantastic brand-new menswear – inspired office suits
6. fabulous round mother-of-pearl beads 13. my best long cream-coloured velvet evening-dress
7. old brown Spanish leather boots
24. Choose an emphasizing adjective from the box below to fill the gaps in the following
postcards:
absolute fascinating sheer
blissful majestic special
complete marvelous spectacular
entire outright terrific
excellent perfect true
exceptional positive utter
exuberant real
pure
1. Dear Mary,
We’re having a … holiday here at Swansea – it’s … bliss and we can finally have a …
rest. We’ve spent the … week on this … beach!
Love,
Mihaela.
2. Dear Mary,
What a … holiday! And only because of Mihaela! She’s ruined what could have been
a … holiday! She’s an … love; she talks and talks, even to … strangers! And she tells
… lies.
Wish you were here instead,
Love,
Ioana.
3. Dear Auntie,
It was … delight to read your … letter and hear that you are much better after your
operation. I gather it was a … success, although the hospital food was …! Please come
round any time you feel up to it. It’ll be … to see you again.
Take care,
Anna.
2. Choose the right personal pronoun (if both are possible sometimes, is there a difference in
style or meaning?)
a) 1. To my mind she is much more industrious than (I, me). 2. They all attended the
management course except (she, her). 3. It was (he, him) they were talking about.
4. It is my brother who goes in for economics, not (I, me). 5. She is much better in
maths than (we, us). 6. Was it (she, her) who knocked at the door? 7. We saw her
at the concert; at least we thought it was (she, her). 8. It is (they, them) who are the
experts.
b) A flea and a fly in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could (they, them) do?
Said the flea: “Let (we, us) fly”.
Said the fly: “Let (we, us) flee”.
So (they, them) flew through a flaw in the flue”.
4. Omit the relative pronoun wherever possible, making the necessary changes:
1. The town which we are going to visit today is a very old one. 2. The clerk
about whom you are inquiring went on holiday yesterday. 3. They are not the kind
of people to whom I like talking. 4. The definition which you gave to “joint
ventures” is the right one. 5. The business that he runs is very profitable. 6. They
read all the meanings in the dictionary and finally found that which they wanted.
7. What happened then was recorded in the documents of the time. 8. The prize
was awarded to the student who came out top in the professional competition. 9.
“All is well that ends well” is a proverb that is worth remembering.
5. Choose the proper possessive adjective or pronoun from the alternatives in brackets:
1. Of course, this is (my, mine) book, but where is (your, yours)? 2. (Our, ours)
is the only faculty which trains stock exchange brokers. 3. The complimentary
close of a business letter reads: “(Your, yours) faithfully”. 4. Best wishes to you
and (your, yours) from me and (my, mine). 5. I know (her, hers) favourite subject
is Trade, but what’s (their, theirs)? 6. I see (your, yours) point, let me tell you
(my, mine). 7. (Our, ours) stock situation is not as bad as (their, theirs). 8. An
associate of (our, ours) has acquired 20% of (our, ours) shares. 9. Is this book
(her, hers) or his? 10. Let’s summon some students of (your, yours) group and
some of (my, mine) and give a helping hand with the cleaning of the hostel.
6. Fill in the blanks with the indefinite pronouns some, any, none (or their compounds):
1. Have you got any letters for me? Yes, there are …… 2. I found all the course
books I need in the library so I shan’t buy …… 3. ……wants to speak to you on
the phone, Dan. 4.There’s …… I’d like to discuss with you. 5. Would you like
…… milk? No, thank you, won’t have …… 6. Have you any objection to my
continuing the studies? No, I have …… 7. Could you lend me some money?
Sorry, I haven’t got …… 8. Don’t let …… disturb us while we are learning. I
assure you that …… will disturb you. 9. …… of these books are in English, but
…… are in German.
8. Fill in the blanks with the indefinite pronouns or adjectives: one(s), other(s), the other(s),
another (one):
1. We understood nothing and looked from …… to …… 2. I don’t like this frock;
please, show me …… 3. These shoes are too tight, could I try …… pair? 4. Some
people like milk, …… like tea in the morning. 5. This group is as good as …… 6.
These classes are as interesting as …… 7. We study in this reading room, ……
prefer …… 8. When we saw him last, he was carrying a suitcase in …... hand and
a bag in …… 9. …… should always go for a walk after dinner. 10. One always
prides oneself on ……’s achievements. 11. We stayed in the hostel, … went out.
12. Only two guests arrived in time; …… were late. 13. Do you like this tie? Yes,
and I want …… like that. 14. These gloves look worn out; I’ll need some ……
10. Translate into Romanian and say which of the pronouns are reflexive and which are
emphatic:
1. I wash myself every morning. 2. I myself wash up after lunch. 3. One cannot do
everything by oneself. 4. What’s wrong? You don’t seem to be yourself today. 5.
I’m not feeling quite myself, indeed; I cut myself badly yesterday, you see. 6. We
learn to restrain ourselves as we grow older and wiser. 7. Did you enjoy
yourselves in the students’ camp? 8. I myself gave him the document. 9. Is this
shirt yours? Yes, I’ve made it myself. 10. The accountants themselves took the
money to the bank last night.
11. Choose the right pronoun – reflexive or personal. (If both are possible, is there a change
of meaning or a risk of confusion?):
1. We bought (him, himself) a CD for his birthday. 2. He bought (him, himself) a
CD-player. 3. I hope you understand this is a secret between (us, ourselves). 4.
She dressed (her, herself) and went to the faculty. 5. Children, behave (you,
yourselves)! 6. Our tutor invited the group monitor and (me, myself) to visit the
laboratories. 7. Before choosing our research topic we’d like to discuss things
with (them, themselves). 8. They are not as keen and ambitious as (we are,
ourselves). 9. She repeated the definition to (her, herself). 10. The umbrella
opened and shut (it, itself). 11. One can see for (one, oneself) the vast scale on
which automation is being carried out. 12. I took it upon (me, myself) to convene
the meeting. 13. She knew that her friend was preferred to (her, herself). 14. They
asked me to look after (me, myself).
15. Translate the following sentences into English paying attention to the different uses of ’it’
and ‘there’:
1. – Ce este lângă computer?
- E un scanner, iar alături e un fax.
2. Este timpul să învăţăm să ne folosim de Internet.
3. Crezi că este destul timp ca să terminăm de rescris traducerea înainte de
încheierea orei?
4. Este timpul să servim ceaiul.
5. Este timp şi de servit ceaiul dacă vă grăbiţi.
6. Câţi ani sunt de când ai terminat facultatea? – Trei ani, dar îmi pare mai mult.
7. Cât este până la poştă?
– Cam 600 m. Este clădirea aceea mai înaltă, de pe dreapta.
8. – Sunt deja 40 min. de când urcăm; cât crezi că mai este până în vârf?
- Mai sunt vreo 20 min; mai avem de urcat cam un kilometru, dar nu este un urcuş
prea greu.
9. Există un loc şi un timp pentru toate.
10. Ştiu un loc unde se serveşte o pizza grozavă.
11. La tine mă refeream.
12. Este de ajuns pentru toată lumea, vă rog să aşteptaţi la rând.
13. Mi-e de ajuns.
14. Este de ajuns că mi-ai spus mie.
15. Nu este nimic de făcut, decât să luăm lucrurile aşa cum sunt.
16. Nu are nici o legătură cu tine sau cu mine.
17. Bătea vântul când am plecat; era un vânt rece.
18. Este cineva acolo? – Nu-i nimeni.
19. Cine-i? – Eu, Ioana.
20. Este uşor să te rătăceşti în Veneţia, nu-i aşa?
21. Sunt trei km. până acolo.
22. Mai sunt trei km. până acolo, nu-i aşa?
23. Copernic este cel ce a descoperit că pământul se învârteşte în jurul axei sale.
24. Înţeleg că nu sunteţi de acord cu propunerea mea.
25. Are importanţă cine vorbeşte primul?
26. După cum se ştie, este cam o jumătate de secol de când s-au folosit primele
computere.
27. Dacă nu cer prea mult, având în vedere că mi-aţi permis să-mi fac lucrarea la
calculatorul d-voastră, aş putea s-o şi scot pe imprimantă?
28. Acolo unde se înalţă blocul acela turn era odată o biserică de lemn.
THE NUMERAL
1. Read aloud the following: 1) numbers, 2) years, 3) dates, 4) room numbers, 5) telephone
numbers:
1) 31
79
314
918
253
5325
8972
39.287
87.529
2) 1907
1914
1918
1944
1965
1985
3) January 11th 1945
February 18th 1972
March 29th 1930
January 3rd 1936
March 8th 1985
4) 107
513
829
1003
5) 610.49.18
221.29.13
611.39.53
649.44.27
777.36.28
777.36.77
2. Turn the following cardinal numerals into ordinal ones and use them in sentences of your
own:
- 2, 3, 9, 11, 12, 19, 22, 100, 181
3. Translate the following sentences into Romanian and state what kind of numerals are used:
1. I shook my head as for the twentieth time since my arrival he held out his
lottery tickets to me. (S.Maugham). 2. Four of the five shook their heads, but our
man spoke. (S.Maugham). 3. It will not cause a delay of more than five minutes.
(S.Maugham). 4. That perhaps at first sight may appear not very momentous.
(J.Swift),. 5. He was then past his prime being twenty-eight years and three
quarters old. (J.Swift). 6. Ask my G.P. and he will tell you that half his job is
sympathizing with people. That is ten times as difficult as treating them.
(R.Gordon). 7. A few dozen young men had an afernoon intellectual chat with the
examiners. (R.Gordon)., 8. In a couple of years the Government is going to send
me on a pension. (R.Gordon). 9. Give twice and thrice and twenty times their
money. / And get your souls again. (W.B.Yeats).
2. Complete the information about 3M’s business activities with the verbs in the box, in the
right form; some may be used more than once:
be, involve, see, have, range, put, give, export, spend, account, depend, bolster
3M …1… the epitome of all that is best in corporate America. To stay on top, the
company …2… its virtues to Europe… Its 60.000 products …3… from medical imaging
equipment to Scotch tape. It …4… more than 6% of its total sales on R&D. 3M ….5… its
future as lying increasingly outside the U.S. Europe …6… for some 30% of its worldwide
sales and one quarter of its employees. That …7… 3M among the 300 largest companies in
Europe. Although 3M …8… only 150 Americans working for the company outside the US,
the language of EMATS is English. A vast data-base …9… employees instant access to
company experts. Technical forums …10… this process increasing the chances of
crossfertilisation.
Group “Talks with Desi” (n.b. Mr. Desimone) …11… the chairman directly in
this process. Its future …12… on how well the company has learnt to addpt to change.
3. Talk about your daily programme and student life using the prompts below and your
inventiveness:
Model 1:
Prompt: live / hostel?
Student 1: Do you live at the hostel?
Student 2: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t
Model 2:
Prompt: Where / usually learn?
Student 1: Where do you usually learn?
Student 2: I usually learn in the reading room.
Prompts: What time / get up as a rule?
- always walk to the faculty?
How / do/ get to school as a rule?
- have classes every morning?
Which subject(s) of study / like best?
When / do/ homework?
- usually participate in professional competitions / scientific workshops?
When / begin/ summer vacation?
Where / usually go on holiday?
5. Look at Exercise 4 again and ask and answer questions about “Y” in the 3rd person:
e.g. Where does”Y”come from?
6. Open the brackets and put the verbs in either simple present or present continuous.
Note that verbs describing perception, states, beliefs, or which make a declaration
are never, or rarely, used in the continuous aspect.
1. We (think) of opening another office in Bucharest shortly. We (think) this will
help us to improve our performance in Romania.
2. Our records (show) that you (owe) us £ 1,000.
3. CIF (mean) that insurance is included in the quotation.
4. The consignment (measure) 2’ x 1’ x 15’ and (weigh) 50 kilos.
5. Our marketing people (try) to find a brand name that (sound) natural and
sophisticated.
6. I (taste) our new instant coffee and I (be) very pleased: it (taste) better than the
older one.
7. Ms. Brown (not seem) to be in the office.
8. I (not / know) what time I’ll be with you, it (depend) on the traffic.
9. I (agree) that payment terms should be changed; I (suggest) a 2.5% reduction.
10. We (confirm) that we (spend) some weeks studying the German market.
11. What trends (you notice) in this sales chart?
12. It (seems) that stative verbs are not normally used in the progressive.
7. Complete this news item with suitable verbs from the margin. It concerns the present time.
treat
help
approach
pipe
believe
keep
talk
allow
give
like
perk
put
call
give
play
DANCING YEAST
British gardeners ……… to their plants, so why shouldn’t some Japanese
bakers ……… music for their bread? Shikishima Banking Co., in Nagoya,
……… that classical music ……… to “dance” and ……… up the taste of
its white bread. The bakery ……… its dough in a freezer, then ……… in
Beethoven for three days to give the yeast a dash of verve. It ……… the
bread Pasco Adagio because, says Yukichi Minowa, Shikishima’s sales
manager, the yeast ……… slow, adagio-type music. “It ……… the bread
more body and a sweeter taste,” he ….……
Sake brewers are joining the fad. Ohara Shuzo brewery, in Fukushuma
prefecture, ……… its fermenting Kura Shikku (Classic) sake to Mozart
twice a day “Music ……… the microorganisms in yeast from dying,” says
Fumiko Ohara of the brewery. What next? Will Frank Sinatra wander the
vineyards of Bordeaux, singing his great hits as the harvest ………? It
should be a very good year.
8. Look back at Exercise 7 and ask a few questions about the text.
e.g. – How do British gardeners treat their plants? Or
Who(m) do British gardeners talk to?
9. A. Think about the way of life of people in Romania: how life is organize; education,
customs, etc.
Make generalisations about the groups below using verbs in the Simple Present and
the generalising phrases from the box whenever appropiate:
Example: Children go to school at the age of seven.
Many people… In general …
Most families … Generally speaking …
Children … On the whole …
The rich … As a rule …
The poor … … usually …
The famous … … generally …
Young people … … never …
Old people …
Most women …
(Most) students …
You may add other categories.
9. B. Then use these ideas to ask your foreign colleagues about their way of life.
Example: What do students usually do at weekends?
9. C.1. Write five generalisations about the inhabitants of five different countries. Do not
name the country and do not write about your own nationality.
9. C.2. Now exchange lists with your partner, then with the entire class; try to guess which
nationalities they have written about. Discuss how true these generalisations are.
10. Choose the correct form, simple or continuous, to give meaning to the dialogue below:
John: Mike, what……………………………….
(do you do / are you doing)
Mike: I (read / am reading) a report on stress. According to this, life becomes / is
becoming) too stressful for some people. Scientists (just develop / are just
developing) a test to see what kind of personality responds to certain situations
involving stress.
Speaking of stress, you know that man Woods (is moving / moves) to advertising.
John: Yes, what about him?
Mike: Well, he (is going / goes) to hospital for a check up tomorrow. Apparently he never
(leaves / is leaving) the office before ten o’clock every night. I hope we (don’t get /
aren’t getting) like that! I (work / am working) hard myself, but I certainly (know /
am knowing) when to stop.
John: I can’t agree less, you know: “All work and no play (makes / is making) Jack a dull
boy”.
11. A colleague of your sister’s keeps telephoning her, but she doesn’t want to speak to him,
so she asked you to “save” her each time he rings.
Use the verbs in brackets in the right form of the present tense, simple or continuous:
1. Sorry I can’t hear very well, Jean …(use) the hairdryer. Just a moment. She …
(say) “Coud you call back later?”
2. I’m sorry, but she can’t come to the phone. She (paint) … her nails.
3. I’m sorry, but you’ve just missed her. She …(go) to a Business English course on
Friday evenings.
4. I’m sorry, but she isn’t back yet. She … (usually come) home at about 10
o’clock.
5. Yes, she’s back, but she … (have) a bath. Hm. I know she had a shower earlier.
She … (always have) a shower before she … (go) out and a bath before she
…(go) to bed. She … (say) it … (help) her to sleep.
6. She … (be) still in the bathroom, I’m afraid, I think I can hear music, so I
suppose she … (listen) to cassettes.
7. I’m terribly sory, but she’s probably asleep by now. Yes, you’re right it’s still
early, but she … (get up) at seven o’clock so she always … (go) to bed before
eleven. Shall I ask her to call you tomorrow?
12. Put the verbs in brackets in the present tense, simple or continuous, according to
meaning:
a) “This house”, said the real estate salesman, (have) both its good points and its bad
points. To show you I (be) honest, I’m going to tell you about both. The
disadvantages (be) that there (be) a chemical plant one block south and a
staughterhouse a block north.”
“What (be) the advantages?” inquired the prospective buyer.
“The advantage (be) that you (can) always tell which way the wind (blow).
b) “I’ve invented a computer that’s almost human.”
“You (mean) it (think)?”
“No. But whenever it (make) a mistake it (can) put the blame on another computer”.
c) Two cangaroos were talking to each other and one said, “I (hope) it (not rain)
today, I just (hate) it when the children (play) inside.
13. Talk about present actions (general, in progress and which started in the past, using the
prompts):
Model: A. Do you learn every day?
B. Yes, I do.
A. Are you learning (now)? or What are you doing (now)?
B. Yes, I am, or I’m learning at maths.
A. How long have you been learning at maths?
B. Oh, for two mouns, since I came back to the motel.
Prompts:
1. Watch television.
2. Live at the motel.
3. a) work on a report; b) in the laboratory.
4. Study for the exams.
5. Play basketball.
6. Listen to music.
7. Write letters.
8. Think a) you have a gift for languages; b) of your future profession.
9. See films
10. Know a) him; b) statistics.
(Note that verbs to think [meaning: a crede], to see, to know, do not take the
continuous).
14. Join the sentences with “since” or “for” plus a time expression to show that the present
action started in the past and has been going on for some time now:
1. Economic needs and priorities have always changed. They are still changing.
2. When expert systems were developed, software grew more mature, but its
maturity is a long way off.
3. I first met Laura in September 1994, when we both came to ASE and we made
friends at once; we decided to share everything together and we’ve kept our
word.
4. As a manager, I have to work quite long hours; I am used to it now. It was more
difficult at first, when I got this job.
5. Understanding needs, finding solutions: this is how Alcatel constantly opens new
paths to progress in each country where it operates. This has always been its
mission.
6. I am working at the computer and I am in a hurry to finish since I started early
morning.
7. She is busy e-mailing my report at the moment; I asked her to do it a couple of
minutes ago.
15. Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense.
In some cases both could be used.
1. We (walk) ten miles. 2. How long you (walk)? 3. We (walk) for three hours. 4.
What you (do)? We (develop) a new computer system. 5. How many errors you
(pick out)? We (pick out) ten errors. 6. I (test) every computer in this centre and
I don’t like any of them. 7. Since when he (sleep)? 8. He (sleep) since ten
o’clock. It’s time he woke up. 9. What a lovely smell ! Mary (make) apple pie.
10. The students (work) very well this term. 11. I only (hear) from him twice
since he went away. 12. I (hear) from her regularly. She is a very good
correspondent. 13. I (work) for him for ten years and he never once (say) ‘Good
morning’ to me. 14. He (teach) in this school for five years. 15. I (teach)
hundreds of students but I never (meet) such a brilliant class as this. 16. Why you
(be) so long in the garage? The tyres were flat. I (pump) them up. 17. I (pump)
up three tyres. Would you like to do the fourth?
16. Fill in the blanks with suitable verbs in the right tense: present perfect or present, simple
or continuous:
1. I’ve been working on this essay since I returned from school, but I still ………
and tomorrow’s the deadline! What ……… I ……… to do?
2. We ……… this daft soap since lunchtime! ……… you ……… bored with it? I
……… to switch over to another channel, if you ………
3. Dan’s really excited about winning that scholarship at Harward. He ……… never
……… at a University abroad, although he ……… several times for scholarship
at universities outside Romania.
4. Why ……… for a little while? You ……… a break since we started work.
5. I ……… with my aunt in Toronto. I ……… there before, but she ……… there
for ten years now, so she can show me around.
6. Please understand that we ……… to spend any more money on clothes, because
we ……… as much as we can until we ……… on holiday.
17. Read this letter first, then complete it with suitable verbs according to context. Use
present perfect or present, simple or continuous.
Dear Dana,
We (1) ……… are having a marvellous time here, in Scotland’s historic
capital. Although we intended to spend only three days sightseeing in Edinburgh and a bit
beyond, we (2) ……… our minds and (3) ……… to stay an entire week, because we (4)
……… ourselves so much and (5) ……… that there’s a lot more worth seeing and doing here
than we thought at first.
We (6) ……… already the Edinburgh Castle, magnificent on its volcanic rock, and
this morning we (7) ……… down the cobbled Royal Mile, which (8) ……… something to
attract us at every step we (9) ……… We (10) ……… St.Giles’ Cathedral and (11) ……… in
quite a few woollens, cashmere and tartan shops. You know I (12) ……… always ……… to
have a kilt so I (13) ……… just ……… one: whenever I (14) ……… it, I’ll feel I (15)
……… back here, in this fascinating place.
I’m writing this while we (16) ……… for a cup of tea and oatcakes before we (17)
……… our tour of the Old Town. We (18) ……… no proper lunch today, as we (19) ………
to see the country’s finest royal place, Holyroodhouse.
Fortunately, the weather (20) ……… very good so far. People (21) ……… it can be
very cold and it often (22) ……… for days! As this is the first time I (23) ……… to Scotland,
I (24) ……… I’m just lucky.
Love,
Maria
18. A. Compare the use of the present tense and the present perfect tense for the Romanian
“prezent”, then do exercise:
Examples USES TENSES
I. ACTION VERBS
1. Folosim poşta electronică în fiecare zi.
We use the e-mail everyday
general habitual actions in the
present;
routine
Simple
Present
2. ……………..in clipa de faţă.
We are using the e-mail at the moment
actions in progress now;
temporary situations
Present
Continuous
3. ……………….…a. din anul 1994.
………………..….. b. de câţiva ani.
We ‘ve been using the e-mail
a. since 1994.
b. for several years now
present actions in progress
which started in the past
Present
Perfect
Continuous
II.STATIVE VERBS
1. Avem / Deţinem acţiuni la Connex
G.S.M.
We have / own / hold shares in Connex
general states, situations in
the present
Simple
Present
2. ……………………………….acum.
We have / own / hold shares in Connex
G.S.M. now.
current, temporary states,
situations
Simple
Present
3. ………………….…..a. din ianuarie.
…………………………….b. de câteva luni.
We have had / owned / held shares in
Connex G.S.M. a. since January
b. for several months
now
present states, situations in
progress which began in the
past
Present
Perfect
Simple
18. B. Translate into English, using present or present perfect simple or continuous for the
Romanian “prezent”, as appropriate (see 18. A.):
1. Ne facem bagajele; le facem de azi dimineaţă, dar încă n-am terminat.
2. Aceasta este casa în care locuiesc; locuiesc aici din copilărie.
3. Ce cauţi? Stiloul. – L-ai căutat peste tot? De când îl cauţi? Mereu îl pierzi!
4. Ninge tare; ninge de cinci ore aşa că n-am ieşit din casă toată ziua şi nici nu mai
putem ieşi.
5. Ce faci? N-a răspuns fratele tău? De cât timp încerci să iei legătura cu el?
6. - Citeşti cărţi englezeşti în original?
- Da, citesc în engleză de la 14 ani.
- Ce citeşti acum?
7. Unchiul meu e scriitor. De doi ani scrie un roman, dar nu l-a terminat încă. Acum
e în grădină şi scrie.
8. – Cât a scris până acum, ştii?
- E pe terminate; nu mai are decât puţin din ultimul capitol.
9. – De când ştii că John are un post de conducere? – De când îl văd îmbrăcat în
costum în fiecare zi.
10. Firma noastră înregistrează frumoase profituri de când s-a schimbat întreaga
conducere.
19.A. Compare the use of the past tense and the present perfect tense, common aspect, for
the Romanian “perfect compus”, then do 19.B.
Past Tense Present Perfect
1. When did you see him?
I saw him then / at 5 o’clock / an hour ago
Când l-ai văzut?
L-am văzut atunci / la ora 5 / acum o oră
Have you (ever) seen him?
I have seen him
(I’ve) already
often
seldom
sometimes
always
never
not………yet.
L-ai văzut (vreodată)?
L-am văzut (deja, adesea, rareori, uneori,
mereu).
Nu l-am văzut niciodată.
Nu l-am văzut încă.
2. I saw him just now
L-am văzut chiar acum
I’ve just seen him.
Tocmai l-am văzut.
3. I saw him yesterday /
Last week /
Long ago.
L-am văzut ieri / săptămâna trecută / de
mult.
I’ve seen him today/
This week/
Lately
L-am văzut astăzi / săptămâna aceasta / de
curând.
4. I last saw him in 1980
Ultima oară l-am văzut în 1980.
I haven’t seen him since then /
since 1980
Nu l-am (mai) văzut de atunci / din 1980.
19. B. Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect tense or the simple past tense and fill
the blanks by repeating the auxiliary used in the question:
1. Have you wound the clock? Yes, I …. I (wind) it last night.
2. Has he repaired the fridge? No, he … He only (repair) part of it so far.
3. Have you done your homework? Yes, we (do) it all. We (do) it yesterday.
4. Have you found the note-books? No, I …
5. Has Mary bought the coffee-machine? Yes, she … She (buy) some two days ago.
6. Have you been here before? No, I …
20. Change the present tense into the past tense or the present perfect, according to the
adverbs given in brackets and translate into Romanian (see ex. 19.A.):
1. We live in Bucharest (always, last year).
2. Do you often have guests? (ever, when …?).
3. I don’t miss any classes (never; when I was a student).
4. He listens to music every day (today, yesterday).
5. She works at the airport (last year; recently).
6. Does she make cookies? (ever, two days ago).
7. They call on her every week (last week, this week).
8. He does his homework every afternoon (never; a while ago).
21. Use either the simple past tense or the present perfect tense in short conversations
according to this model:
Have you (ever) seen that film?
Yes, I have.
When did you see it?
I saw it last week / yesterday / a month ago / in 1992.
Prompts: Been to London; met her before; worked on a farm; spoken to a film star; typed a
letter; invented anything; had guests; made cookies; listened to music; turned on the
TV; completed your degree project, introduced him to them; missed any classes;
caught a cold; had a sore throat; lived at the hotel.
22. Two friends are talking together a few days before a party they are going to give. They are
telling one another what they have done, when they did it, and what they haven’t done yet,
like that:
Jane: What about the invitations?
Maria: a) I’ve already done them! I wrote them yesterday. Or
b) I haven’t done them yet.
Write similar answers to the following sentences using present perfect and / or simple past,
according to the time marker in brackets:
Jane: Are Dan and Paul coming to the party?
Maria: I don’t know. (ask … yet).
Jane: What about Barbara and Peter?
Maria: (invite … already / last week).
Jane: What are we going to drink at the party?
Maria: I don’t know (decide … yet).
Jane: That cake smells good anyway.
Maria: (make … just).
Jane: We must buy some ham or cheese.
Maria: (buy … already / in the morning).
Jane: But, the room’s untidy.
Maria: (tidy up … yet).
Jane: What about the music, then? Have you a cassette-recorder, or something?
Maria: (have a stereo-system for two months / buy … two months ago).
Jane: We can play my records too. How many people are coming?
Maria: I don’t know (send invitations … yet).
Jane: Let’s go and post them now.
23. Notice how you can ask questions with “How long …” both for past and present time.
e.g. 1) X: I lived in Braşov for a time
You: Oh? How long did you live there?
e.g. 2) X: I live in Bucharest.
You: Oh? How long have lived / been living there?
Now you do it:
1. We lived in Bran at first, you know.
2. We live in Braşov, like you.
3. He studied English at school.
4. He’s learning French and Spanish.
5. I first worked as a receptionist.
6. I’m working for a small cosmetics company.
7. She’s looking for another job.
8. She was unemployed for a while.
9. Yes, we watched television last night.
10. Shh! We’ve watching a very interesting programme.
24. Put the verb into the correct form – present perfect or past simple (see also ex. 19.A.).
a) A. You have a lovely dress!
When … (you / buy) it?
B.Come on! You (see) me in it before; I (have) it for two years now.
b) A. Dear me! Somebody (spill) coffee on my carpet!
B. Well, it (be / not) me! I (not / do).
c) A. Is your brother at home?
B. No, I’m afraid he … (go) out.
A. When exactly … (he / go) out?
B. You … (just / miss) him; it isn’t more than three minutes since he / leave).
d) A. How long … (you / live) in Bucharest?
B. Two years.
A. And where … (you / live) before that!
A. In Braşov, my hometown.
e) A. Where is Mike?
B. Don’t you know? He … (break) his right leg.
A. Really? How … (that / happen) ?
B. He … (slip) on a banana skin.
f) A. Who … (be) Albert Einstain?
B. He (be) the scientist who (develop) the theory of relativity.
25. Ask questions in the simple past tense or present perfect (simple or continuous), using the
prompts below each of them:
1. It’s snowing
How long / snow?
How long ago / start / snow?
When / start / snow?
2. I’m learning Japanese
How long / learn?
How long ago / start / learn?
When / start / learn?
3. We know Mary and John quite well
How long / know?
How long ago / first / meet?
When / first / meet?
4. I’ve got a camera
How long / have?
How long ago / buy?
When / buy?
5. This jacket is so old! Got to get a new one.
How long / have?
How long ago / get?
When / buy?
6. It took me a long time to become a good doctor, and there are still many things I
don’t know
How long / take?
How long / learn?
When / start / learn?
1. We used to live in Braşov; That was before I went to University, but I’ll never get
used to Bucharest!
How long / live in Braşov?
How long ago / move from Braşov?
How long / live in Bucharest?
When / come to Bucharest?
8. I’ve been working here doing the same thing long enough. Time for a change in
my live
Since when / work here? How long / do the same thing?
How long ago / start /work?
How long / feel / time for a change?
When / get bored with this job?
26. Are the underlined parts of sentence right R or wrong W? Correct the wrong ones:
1. I’ve lost my glasses, I can’t find them anywhere…R…
2. When have you lost them? …W...: When DID you LOSE
3. Where have you been last Sunday? ….
4. I’m looking for Jane. Have you seen her? ….
5. I’m starving! I’ve learnt all day and haven’t had time to eat anything. ….
6. Did you see “Gone with the Wind”? …..
7. When did you see it?
8. Mr.Dombey has worked in a bank for 10 years; then he was made redundant and
decided to start his own business. …………….
9. Ms. Wilkins is a teacher; She has been a teacher for 20 years, more precisely,
since she has left her job at the bank…………………
10. When I got home last night, I was so tired, I went straight to bed………
11. I just got home and didn’t have time to check my answering machine…...
27. Use the time markers given in brackets instead of the one underlined. Make the necessary
changes in the tense of the predicate:
1. The plane from London got here at noon yesterday (every morning; every
morning since May). 2. Miss. Blake started work at seven o’clock this morning
(every day; every day since she got this job). 3. Mr.Whatt went out to lunch at one
o’clock yesterday (usually; just). 4. We are living in the country now (until 1996;
since 1976). 5. I know all about it at last (for years; days ago). 6. John doesn’t often
come to see us nowadays (never; last year). 7. What are you smiling at now? (just;
just now). 8. They always keep us waiting (since he got promoted; last night). 9. It is
raining now (just; yesterday; for two hours). 10. He was preparing for the
examination last month (today; for the last fortnight; never). 11. I am working on an
invention now (usually; for a long time; last year). 12. Jane helped us last Sunday
(tonight; often; last week). 13. I bought a lot of books last month (today; lately;
every time I get my pay).14. The students next door frequently practise singing (for
three hours yesterday; every afternoon since we moved here). 15. We play tennis
once a week (every day last year; never; since we joined the club).
28. Use the bracketed verb in the correct tense: present, past, or present perfect simple or
continuous:
1. “What part of Romania you (come) from?” “Timişoara; but I (live) in Ploieşti
just now”. 2. “How long it (be) since you (not be) in your native town?” “I
(not see) it since I (graduate) from the University”. 3. “What he (say)? I (not
hear) properly”. I think he (explain) that the train from Braşov (run) ten
minutes late”. 4. Science (begin) to dominate our lives. 5. “You (listen) ever
to pops?” “Not very often. I prefer classical music”. 6. He (not have) a
holiday for two years because he (be) too busy. 7. “What her brother (do) for a
living?” “Oh, he (be) a businessman. He (run) his own business” “It (do)
well?” “Yes, they (get) more and more business deals every year”. 8. Since
you (give) me our number I (phone) you four times and (not find) you at
home. 9. We (live) here for the last ten years, and just (decide) to move. 10.
The whole place rapidly (become) a huge tourist resort. 11. “What you (do)?”
“I (write) a letter now”. “I (see) you writing two hours ago, too”. “Yes, I
(write) letters for some hours now”. 12. “You (begin) to read up for your
exams yet?” “Yes, I … I (start) just now”. 13. I (go) to Spain five years ago.
Since then I (not speak) Spanish, and I (forget) nearly all I (learn) there. 14.
“You (read) The Bell?” “Yes, I … I (borrow) the book last week and just
(finish) it”. 15. Fog (not cover) England the whole time, as some people
(think).
29. Open the brackets using the present perfect or the past tense.
A. Lucy: Hello, Phil. Sorry I am late. You (be) here long?
Phil: No, I just (arrive). I (get) here 5 minutes ago.
Lucy: How are you?
Phil:Well, I (have) an awful morning at the faculty.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but (not be) able to study properly for a few
days now.
Lucy: You (have) many classes this morning?
Phil: Yes, I (have), and I (fall) asleep during the first hour, then I (not answer)
properly at Statistics and we (have) a test at General Economics, too.
Lucy: Luckily it’s your favourite subject!
Phil: Right. But today I (make) a mess of the test.
Lucy: I think it’s the weather. It (rain) so much these last few days. I (have) a
headache since yesterday morning. Perhaps a film may do us good.
Phil: What about going to a disco. We (not be) to one for ages.
Lucy: I’d love it. I can wear the gown I just (buy).
Phil: That’s good news. When you (buy) it?
Lucy: I (buy) it an hour ago.
B. Dan and Paul are on their way to the faculty. They just (catch) this bus.
Dan: Good mornig, Paul. You almost (miss) the bus.
Paul: I (oversleep). I really (have) to hurry.
Dan: You (look) tired. What (do)?
Paul: I (go) to a party last night. We (dance) for a couple of hours.
Dan: I not (be) to a party for ages. I (learn) too much lately. You (dance) all night?
Paul: Of course not. I also (sit) and (watch) TV. Some people (play) cards, too.
Dan: I never (play) cards. You (have)?
Paul: No, I (not have) always (find) it boring. By the way, You (know) Peter?
Dan: I (meet) him, but I really (not know) him.
Paul: He (be) a lot of fun at a party. He always (have) a funny story to tell. Last night
he (tell) us Irish jokes. I never (laugh) so hard in my life. You (hear) of the Irish
woman who (try) to iron her curtains?
Dan: No, I (not have).
Paul: She (fall) out of the window … or How you (make) an Irishman laugh on a
Monday morning?
Dan: I know it. Tell him a joke on Friday evening. Ha-ha! But let me tell you the one
about the Scotsman who (be) late in paying his bills.
Paul: Typical! What he (do)?
Dan: He (receive) the following note: “Your account (be) on our books for over a
year, just want to remind you. We (now, carry) you longer than your mother
(do)”.
Paul: Oh, no! We (just, miss) our stop! Now we are going to be late to class!
Dan: But we (have) a good laugh!
C. Here is another Irish joke told by Peter last night, choose the right form of the
predicate.
An Irishman (was planning to spend / planned) his holiday travelling through
Germany, so he (was deciding to / decided) learn a little German.
He (went / was going) to a language school and (wanted to / was wanting) pay the
fel when the secretary (said / was saying).
“Did you ever learn” / “Have you ever learnt another language?
“No, I (haven’t / didn’t) the Irishman (answered / was answering).
“Then you (must / had to) know that German may seem very difficult at first, but
after about lesson 7 it is much easier”, said the secretary. Hearing that the
Irishman (paid / has paid) his fee and (arranged / has arranged) to start next
day at lesson 8. No one (can be / was able to be) as logical as an Irishman!
30. Complete the following anecdote with the suitable verb form from the list on the right.
Some words may be used more times (as shown):
A student __________to sell his dog to one of this colleagues.
“This ______a talking dog”, he ______. “And I _____it away for five
dollars.”
His colleague ________, “Who ______you ______ you _____ with this
talking dog stuff?
I ________ never ____ a dog that can talk! “Suddenly the dog
________ up with tears in his eyes. “Please buy me, sir”, he _________.
“You _______not___ how cruel this man can be! He never _________
me a meal, never ________ me , never __________ me for a walk”
And I used to be the richest trick dog in America. I _________ before
kings; I _________in the Army and________decorated the times!”
“Wow, he _________!” the student. “Why _______you ________to sell
him for just five dollars?” “Because, “_________ the seller”, I
_________find of all his lies!”
want
be x 3
say x 3
kid
get
see
take
look
know
talk
buy
perform
plead
give
sell
try
think
bathe
exclaim
31. Translate into English:
1. Tocmai am terminat cursul de calculatoare. 2. Ne-am distrat de minune. 3. Arăta
mai bine când l-am văzut la conferinţa internaţională. 4. Irlandezul a plătit taxa
pentru cursul de germană şi a aranjat să înceapă a doua zi de la lecţia 8. 5. Ai
întârziat vreodată la ore? Da. Când ai întârziat? Când am dormit mai mult, deoarece
nu am auzit deşteptătorul. 6. Te-a ajutat Dan vreodată să faci cumpărăturile? Da.
Când te-a ajutat ultima oară? De fapt m-a ajutat doar odată, când a vrut să-şi
cumpere costum şi pantofi. 7. L-ai auzit vreodată pe Peter spunând anecdote? Nu,
nu l-am auzit niciodată. Trebuie să-l auzi. Eu l-am auzit aseară, la balul bobocilor şi
am râs ca niciodată în viaţă. 8. De cât timp lucrezi la proiectul de diplomă? Lucrez
la el de câteva luni, din decembrie trecut. 9. Prietena noastră este răcită rău şi noi
suntem îngrijorate. Când a răcit? Când am fost în excursie. De atunci o doare în gât
şi are temperatură. 10. Aştepţi de mult? Nu, abia am sosit. De fapt am ajuns aici
acum 10 minute şi în timp ce te aşteptam, am citit ziarul.
32.A. Turn the following present routines and events into the past by substituting the past
time expressions given in the box for the present time ones wherever applicable:
Yesterday (morning / afternoon), last week / month, etc, a year / month / week
ago, a long time ago, in 1995, just now.
1. I eat at least ten apples every day, though I’m not a vegetarian.
2. We play tennis every Saturday afternoon.
3. I work for an insurance company.
4. We usually stay at Youth hostels when we go on holiday.
5. He needs a new pair of shoes every month.
6. We want to buy a car today.
7. We often have just coffee and toast for breakfast.
8. The students are free every Sunday.
9. She buys a new dress every week.
10. He goes shopping only at weekends.
32.B. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past tense, then make the sentences both
negative and interrogative like this:
Mary (buy) a dress yesterday
a) Mary bought a dress yesterday.
b) Mary (did not/ didn’t) buy a dress yesterday.
c) Did Mary buy a dress yesterday?
Now you do it.
1. This dress (fit) her last year.
2. I (see) a lovely skirt in the shop-window last week.
3. We (find) a lot of good books two weeks ago.
4. They (watch) television last night.
5. Gabriel (buy) a record four months ago.
6. We (enjoy) our lunch yesterday.
7. Mary (choose) a fancy silk for a minute ago.
8. Ann (look) for a pair of skis last Friday.
9. I (take) size 30 in shoes when I was a child.
10. My watch (stop) a while ago.
33. Put the verbs in brackets in the simple past tense, then retell the anecdotes.
A. Did you hear about the cheerful truck-driver who (pull up) at a roadside café in
the middle of the night for a dinner stop? Halfway through his dinner, three wildlooking
motorcyclists (roar up) bearded, leather-jacketed, filthy with swastikas
adorning their chests and helmets.
For no reason at all they (select) the truck driver as a target. One (pour) pepper over
his head, another (steal) his apple pie, the third (upset) his cup of coffee. The truck
driver never (say) a word – just (arise), (pay) his bill and (go) out.
“That trucker sure ain’t much of a fighter (sneer) one of the bullies. The girl behind
the counter, peering out into the night, (add); “He doesn’t seem to be much of a driver
either. He just (run) his truck right over three motorcycles!”.
B. Striking a bargain
Just occasionally, the seller does come out of a clever business deal on top – as in this
example of a man who (sell) an idea to a manufacturing company.
The particular beauty of this deal lies in the fact that the idea (be) not one which he
(can) put into practice himself.
He simply (approach) a leading match company and (offer) to tell them how they
could save thousands of pounds by means of one change to their manufacturing
products. The change (will) cost absolutely nothing to carry out – but he (want) a
substantial percentage of the savings in return for the idea.
Not surprisingly, the match company (be) more than a little suspicious, and (turn) him
down. After all, if this idea (be) so obvious to an outsider, surely they (can) work it
out for themselves.
They duly (go) through the whole factory with a fine tooth-comb – but (find) nothing.
By this time, they were so intrigued by the man’s offer that they (go) back to him and
(agree) that if he (save) them money, he could have the cut he (want).
“Just put one striking surface on each matchbox instead of two” he (advise) them
“You’ll cut the money you spend on abrasives by 50%.
They (do) – and they (do). And over the next few years, the man who (sell) them the
idea (make) a small fortune.
C. All stitched up
In the unstable and unpredictable world of popular music, there have been many
astonishing business deals (both good and bad) – but perhaps the greatest of them all
(occur) in 1955.
In that year, RCA Records (pay) Sam Phillips, the owner of a Memphis recording
company called Sun Records, the sum of $ 35,00 for the exclusive contract he (have)
with an unconventional young singer with a grossly exaggerate action.
Phillips (be) happy with the deal at the time. After all, it (seam) like a lot of money
and, in any case, the young man only (wander) into his studio one day to cut a record
on specially as a present for his mother.
But RCA (know) what they were doing. In the years that (follow), Elvis Presley (go)
on to sell over a billion records – and is still selling today.
34. Talk about past actions and situations using the prompts:
Model:
Prompt: ask your colleague when he was born.
Student1: When were you born?
Student2: I was born in july 18, 1969.
Prompts: Ask your colleague:
1. Where he was born.
2. Where he lived as a child.
3. What schools he attended and where.
4. How he decided to study economics.
5. If he had a job before becoming a student.
6. When he had his entrance exam.
7. How long he studied for it.
8. If he liked his last summer vacation better than all the others before it and why.
35. Talk with your friend about your lives now and in the past. Complete the table with
the information you receive:
Topic Life now Life as a child
What / do at the weekend?
What / do in the morning?
What / do in the evening?
Where / go on holiday?
What sports / play?
What TV programmes / like?
What newspapers / books /
magazines / read?
What food / like?
36. Answer the following questions to show the difference between momentary actions and
actions in progress in the past.
Model:
When did it happen? (while I walk).
It happened while I was walking.
(momentary) (action in progress)
1. When did the lights go out? (just as I / leave).
2. When did you leave the faculty yesterday? (while it / rain).
3. When did the computer break down? (while the programmer / run it).
4. When did you come it? (just as they / feed data into the computer).
5. When did you hear someone moving in the next room. (while I / work out a
problem).
I (usually) do the
shopping and ….
I used to play with my
friends and …….
What do you do at the
weekend?
What did you do when
you were a child?
37. Change the predicates from simple past to past continuous. Add appropiate time markers
or explanatory clauses to account for the change:
e.g. I studied my English lesson last night.
Becomes: I was studying my English leason 1) when Dan arrived. Or
2) this time last night.
1. I went shopping yesterday. 2. Did you walk home from the faculty last night?
3. It didn’t rain yesterday morning. 4. He watched his favourite TV programme
last night. 5. Paul wrote several letters the day before yesterday. 6. I got off the
bus at the faculty. 7. Did you dance and tell jokes last weekend? 8. My friend did
not drive at high speed last Sunday. 9. My students worked on a project last
autumn. 10. We ran up five flights of stairs to our classroom.
38. Open the brackets using past tense simple or continuous, as appropiate:
Dan: What you (do) yesterday afternoon when I (phone) you?
Anna: What time you (phone) me?
Dan: About 5.
Anna: You (dial) the right number?
Dan: Of course I (do). I (try) again and again. The line (be) busy. I (think) there (be)
something wrong with your telephone. At last I (give) up.
Anna: Oh, now I remember. I (leave) the receiver off the hook. I (write) letters and I
(not want) to be disturbed. So, you see, I (work) hard while you (waste) your time
telephoning.
Dan: But you (write) letters.
Anna: That’s right. Isn’t that hard work?
39. Complete the following sentences to express an action in progress in the past:
1. She confessed that she …
2. I was trying to find the keys when/while….
3. He took up working when we (still)…
4. I didn’t leave the house as it …
5. She arrived when he …
6. I fell down while I …
7. I was watching TV while she …
8. We didn’t agree with her because she …
40. Use the verbs in brackets in the right past tense, to tell the story:
Yesterday morning was another of those mad mornings. The alarm clock (not wake
up) me at 6:30. When my roommate (wake up) me at last, the sun (shine) and the
radio (announce) 8:00. I (go to be) late for class again! While I (have) breakfast I
(throw) all my books and copybooks into the bag. Just as I (leave) I (see) the bus
coming. As I (run) as quickly as I could to the bus-stop, I (run) into an elderly woman
and nearly (knock) her over. I (apologize) and (start) running again. I (get) to the
bus-stop just as the bus (leave). As I (get on), I (slip) on a banana skin and (fall) on
my back and (break) a leg. So, while my groupmates (have) classes I (be) driven to
hospital.
41. Translate into English using past tense simple and continuous as appropriate.
1. Prietenul meu se întorcea din excursie când l-am întâlnit. 2. Ieri la ora asta învăţam
la engleză. 3. Ploua când aţi pornit-o la drum? 4. Nu conduceam maşina în mare viteză
când am dat peste cea din faţă. 5. Te uitai la televizor aseară la ora 8? 6. În timp ce
urcam pe munte ploua, dar când am ajuns în vârf era soare. 7. Chiar în clipa în care
ieşeam din cămin am văzut autobuzul venind. 8. În timp ce fugeam spre staţia de
autobuz, am dat peste o persoană mai în vârstă şi mi-am cerut scuze. 9. Când am ajuns
la facultate, tocmai suna de intrare. 10. Cu ce te ocupai anul trecut pe vremea aceasta?
11. Când lucra la planul de afaceri se tot plângea că nu are datele exacte cu privire la
concurenţă. 12. La secţia Relaţii Externe, mă întâlneam cu o mulţime de oameni de
peste tot, dar nu ajungeam să cunosc pe nimeni cu adevărat.
42. Answer the questions about the following pairs of sentences:
1. In which sentence did Mary not see John?
a) Mary left when John arrived.
b) Mary had left when John arrived.
2. In which sentence is it certain that Margot is studying economics at the time of
speaking?
a) We knew Margot was studying economics.
b) We knew Margot had studied economics.
3. In which sentence has Mike behaved wisely only on one particular occasion?
a) We all thought that Mike was wise.
b) We all thought that Mike had been wise.
4. In which sentence did they miss the beginning of the film?
a) By the time we got to the cinema, the film had already started.
b) Hardly had we got to the cinema when the film started.
Bring arguments in support of your answer.
43. In each pair below, pick the sentence referring to a past action in progress for a longer
period of time. Underline the verb forms and the time markers that prove your point:
1. a) We were playing tennis when the rain started.
b) We had been playing tennis for 1 hour when the rain started.
2. a) This time yesterday Jane was watching TV.
b) By this time yesterday Jane had been watching TV for a couple of hours.
3. a)When I arrived, they were all waiting for me.
b) When I arrived, they had all been waiting for me for a long time, so they were
rather angred.
4. a) It was very noisy next door, as our neighbours were having a party.
b) It was very noisy next door, as our neighbours had been having a party since they
got home.
5. a) Where were they living at that time?
b) They’d been living in a caravan for several months, actually since the big fire that
(had) destroyed the entire village, remember?
44. Name the tenses underlined in the following sentences:
1. I’d phoned my friend, Elaine, from the airport before the plane took off.
2. I’d always wanted to go to Athens and now my dream was coming true.
3. I sipped a gin and tonic, pushed my seat back and snoozed until I heard a
voice……..
4. We’d been flying for about two hours when we met an airpocket.
5. I still haven’t worked out how I slept through all that.
Now match the tenses underlined above with the definitions given below:
This tense is used to describe a past event or situation that:
a. occurred before another past event / situation
b. Happened at an indefinite time and is relevant to the present
c. Happened at a specified time in the past
d. Continued over a period of time in the past, starting before another past moment
e. Was in progress at a certain time in the past
45. Put the verbs in brackets into Simple Past, Past Continuous, Simple Past Perfect or Past
Perfect Continuous depending on whether the past actions are simultaneous or one of
them had happened or had begun before the respective past time:
1. While we (stay) in London the dome of St.Paul’s (repair). It (repair) still
when I (return) to London a year later. 2. Although the sun (shine) and (fall)
kindly upon them and the scene (be) really very pretty, they (not be able to)
feel at ease until they (get) home. 3. By the time they (arrive) it (rain) hard.4
Before the sun (set) down the already (come) to a little inn; the landlord
(show) them into a large room where a cheerful fire (burn). 5. I hardly (go) out
when it (start) raining, so I (open) up the umbrella while I (cross) the street to
catch the bus which (wait) there and a car nearly (knock) me down. 6. Mary
hardly (go) to bed when the telephone (ring); she (talk) on the phone when
there (be) a knock at the door. 7. When eleven o’clock (come) and he still (not
get) home, I (begin) to wonder if he (have) an accident. 8. When we finally
(return) to Bucharest we (travel) twenty thousand miles. 9. Why you
(interrupt) me just now? I (have) quite an interesting conversation with my
old friend, Jake. 10. They (say) they (can not) help thinking that they (see) that
face somewhere before. 11. After he (see) that film, he (tell) all his friends that
he never (see) a better one. 12. I no sooner (arrive) at the station than I (see)
Jill waiting for me. She (wear) a white dress and (look) very pretty. As soon as
she (see) me she (wave) her hand and (shout) something, but I (can not) hear
what she (say) because everybody (make) a terrible noise. 13. After he (enter)
the room he (fling) open all the windows. 14. We (call) on our friend yesterday
and (find) that he (be) out for some hours. 15. While he (make) a speech, the
manager suddenly (feel) faint and (pour) himself a glass of water.
46. Translate the two stories into English, using all the past tenses:
A. După ce am aflat că voi putea pleca la mare, am venit acasă şi mi-am făcut bagajul,
dar, deoarece eram tare grăbită, nu am mai verificat dacă mi-am luat toate cele
necesare. Când am ajuns în staţie, tocmai plecase autobuzul. Până când a venit
următorul, m-am hotărât să caut un taxi. Nici n-am ajuns bine la gară, că a şi pornit
trenul. Oricât am fugit eu după el, tot nu l-am prins. Abia m-am întors tristă acasă, că
m-a sunat la telefon prietena mea să mă roage să mergem împreună la ştrand. Mi-am
zis că, dacă nu-i marea, e bun şi ştrandul. Dar în timp ce-mi căutam costumul de baie
în valiză, mi-am dat seama că uitasem de el când mi-am făcut bagajul pentru mare.
Dacă prindeam trenul, ajungeam la mare fără costum de baie!
Morala: graba strică treaba!
B. (Here you may have to use emphatic inversion):
Niciodată nu visasem eu să-mi apară în cale un asemenea noroc: nu numai că
bunicul îmi lăsase prin testament toată averea lui, dar, în acelaşi timp, niciodată nu mai
avusesem atâta noroc în afaceri.
De acum înainte, nu va mai trebui să-mi fac griji pentru viitor! Nu voi mai fi nevoit să
împrumut bani de la prieteni şi, cu atât mai puţin, nu voi mai depinde de bunul plac al
rudelor bogate! Dimpotrivă, nu va mai fi niciodată, dar absolut niciodată, cazul să
depind de nimeni din punct de vedere financiar. Rareori îmi mai păruse totul atât de
minunat! De unde să ştiu, însă, că în curând norocul avea să mă părăsească?
Abia am câştigat averea (came into money) că au şi scăzut acţiunile la bursă foarte
mult. Nici nu am apucat să mă bucur de bogăţie, că am recăzut în starea de sărăcie
dinainte. Niciodată în viaţă nu mă mai simţisem atât de nenorocit! În zadar am aşteptat
ca acţiunile să-şi recapete valoarea anterioară. Dar după mulţi ani de muncă grea miam
dat seama că banii nu aduc fericirea şi, întorcându-mă cu gândul la acel episod din
viaţa mea, nu mi-aş mai dori să fiu bogat vreodată. … Doar dacă …
47. Match the following utterances (1-7) with the corresponding functions (a-f) of the Simple
Future.
1. I’ll answer the door.
2. Shall I give you a lift?
3. Unless you pass the test, you won’t get the scholarship.
4. There’ll probably be another exam and I expect you’ll sit for it.
5. Honestly, I’ll never be late again.
6. By the way, will you please make a spech at our “Appreciation Day”?
7. I like this printer; I’ll offer you £ 200 for it.
a. prediction
b. promise
c. invitation, polite request
d. offer of help
e. instant decision, spontaneous reaction
f. First Conditional.
48. Choose the right form of the verbs in brackets. There may be two right answers
sometimes. Explain your choice(s). You may have to make some changes:
1. finish ’ll be exhausted
When you have finished your project, you ’ll have been exhausted
’ll finish are exhausted
2. What our world will be like
is going to be like in the year 2000?
3. I shan’t have ’ll se
’m not going to have peace of mind until I see the doctor
have seen
‘ve passed
4. By this time next week I hopefully ‘ll pass all my exams.
‘ll have passed
5. Look at the lovely blue sky: it isn’t raining today.
isn’t going to rain
’ve graduated,
6. When I graduate, I start my own business.
’ll graduate, ’ll start
are going
7. All the members of this department ’ll be going to their wedding anniversary
will go
next Saturday.
’ll have finished are going to celebrate
8. We ’ll finish our exams by Friday and we ’ll celebrate over
finish ’ll be celebrating
the entire weekend.
leaves
9. Our train is leaving at 11:15 you know! We have to hurry!
will leave will have to
will do
10. What you will be going this time next year?
are going to do
’ll support ’ll need
11. I promise I ’m going to support you whenever you need me.
’ll be supporting ’ll be needing
’ll ask
12. If there (’ll be / is) no objection, we are asking the committee to approve
are going to ask
the proposal.
phases out
13. Over the next five years the government will phase out income taxes.
will be phasing out
49. Put the verbs between brackets into present or future, indefinite or perfect:
1. We’ll go out when the weather (get) warmer. 2. I’ll begin the lesson as soon as Jack
(stop) talking. 3. His father will not lend him any more money until he (learn) not to
waste it. 4. See that it is clean before you (touch) it. 5. As soon as you (buy) the book
I’ll borrow it from you. 6. The radio (be) fixed by the time you get back. 7. You (not
forget) to lock up before you go out, will you? 8. As soon as the ship (reach) port, its
cargo will be unloaded. 9. I (do) a lot of work by the time she wakes up. 10. Don’t
count your chickens before they (be) hatched.
50. Use future or present, simple, perfect, or continuous:
1. We (go) to the nountains for our next holiday. Roy (be pleased) to see us again. 2.
“When you (be) twenty-one” “In June, and I (have) a wonderful twenty-first birthday
party. There (be) champagne, caviare and dancing. We (have) the time out life!”. 3.
Hugh is very good at his work; he (earn) a high salary when he (be) thirty. 4. I (think)
of you every day while you (be) away. 5. I hope you (feel) better when I next (see)
you. 6. Mr. Timms has applied for a job in Indonesia. This time next year he (teach)
English there if he (get) the job. 7. We (have) a long journey tomorrow; We (drive)
all day. 8. I still (go) my homework when my room-mate (come) home from the
faculty. 9. This time tomorrow I (bathe) in the sea if the water (be) warm enough. 10.
Mary (fly) to Cluj tomorrow. She (send) her family a telegram as soon as she (arrive).
11. By the end of the month the new factory (commission). 12. I (read) the paper
while I (have) lunch. 13. How much he (save) by the end of this year?. 14. By 1999
John (write) a lot of novels. 15. I just (begin) reading one of his novels. It (be) a very
long book and I (have) only time to read some pages a day. I (not think) I (be able to)
finish it by Sunday, or by the time he (ask) it back from me.
51. Look through this extract from the conversation between a Young Entrepreneur (YE) and
a Small Business Adviser (SBA).
Part 1
Fill the gaps (a-h) with appropriate words and phrases from the box below to express
plans, intentions and wishes:
plan intend mean think want
wish be going to be looking to set out to
SBA: How much money (a) … you… to borrow?
YE: I (b)… of a sum around USD 5,000.
SBA: What (c) …you… to do with this money?
YE: I (d) … to start a small catering business and to buy new seasonal inventory.
SBA: What type of loan(e) … you … to take out?
YE: I(f) … of a short-term lean; three months, I suppose.
SBA: Fine.(g) … you … to pledge any security in support of your application?
YE: Yes, I (h) … of your accepting the line on the equipment I’m planning to buy.
Part 2
Use the verbs in brackets in the appropriate form to express future conditions.
SBA: This is a possibility. On the other hand, if you open a business start-up account with our
bank, there’ll be more advantages for you.
YE: Could you be more specific, please?
SBA: Well, if you open a start-up account, there (be) a preferential rate of interest, below our
normale rate.
YE: It sounds great!
SBA: If you (be) aware of all these factors and (understand) their workings, you’ll certainly
avoid the pitfalls awaiting those who are less cautious. Above all, remember the golden
rule: “Plan carefully, right from the start; any other time is too late”.
Ye: I know there’s a risk in everything. But, if you (not take) risks, there (be) no gain.
SBA: Right you are. And our bank believes in small entrepreneurs like you with enterprising
spirit and realistic business plans.
YE: Thank you.
SBA: OK then, if you (bring) the modified business plan by Tuesday this week, I (get) the
forms prepared and sent to you with our confimation letter by Monday.
52. Translate into English, paying attention to the verb forms used to express future time:
A.
1. Îţi voi telefona imediat ce voi ajunge la Londra.
2. Când vei sosi, mă vei găsi lucrând la raport.
3. Vom aştepta aici până se va întoarce Paul. El se va întoarce seara târziu.
4. Dacă Dan o să mă invite, probabil că o să mă duc la petrecere.
5. Nu ştiu dacă voi pleca săptămâna viitoare, sau dacă o să mai stau o
săptămână în Bucureşti.
6. Anul viitor pe vremea aceasta vom locui într-un apartament nou. Ne mutăm
în ianuarie.
7. E prea devreme. Prietenii noştri vor fi încă la masă când vom ajunge acolo.
8. Când va absolvi Adrian facultatea, va fi studiat aici patru ani.
9. Peste o lună se vor împlini 10 ani de când lucrez în această fabrică.
10. Cât voi trăi nu voi uita anii de studenţie.
B.
Dacă i-aţi întreba azi pe oameni de ce folosesc telefonul pentru a comunica cu
prietenii lor, ori de ce deschid televizorul ca să se distreze sau să afle ştiri, s-ar uita la
voi ca şi cum aţi fi nebuni. Nu considerăm telefonul, televizorul sau automobilul ca
fiind ceva neobişnuit. Acestea au devenit o parte atât de integrantă a vieţii, încât nu mai
sunt remarcate sau comentate.
În acelaşi fel, în zece ani, majoritatea americanilor şi a multor altora de pe tot globul
nu vor mai remarca Web-ul. Va fi un simplu reflex să operezi Web-ul pentru ştiri,
educaţie, divertisment şi comunicare, exact aşa cum astăzi este atât de firesc să ridici
receptorul ca să vorbeşti cu cineva ori că comanzi ceva dintr-un catalog.
Există un interes extraordinar pentru Web. Cu toate acestea, este încă la începuturi.
Tehnologia şi viteza de răspuns sunt pe cale de a face un salt important. Aceasta va face
ca oamenii să considere Web-ul ca parte din viaţa lor cotidiană.
În cele din urmă, toate cărţile de vizită ale oamenilor de afaceri vor specifica o adresă
pentru e-mail. Fiecare avocat, fiecare doctor şi fiecare firmă – mare sau mică – vor fi
conectaţi.
Unde o să găsim timpul pentru Web? De fapt, în unele cazuri, oamenii vor economisi
timp, pentru că Web-ul va face ca orice acţiune să fie mai eficientă ca în trecut. Cum ar
fi, de exemplu, să obţii informaţii despre o achiziţie importantă. Aceasta se poate foarte
uşor afla pe Web, încă de astăzi.
În alte cazuri, oamenii vor folosi timpul petrecut acum citind ziarul sau uitându-se la
televizor pentru a găsi informaţii sau divertisment pe ecranul computerului. Acest lucru
va deveni evident în 1998. Americanii, mai ales cei tineri, vor sta mai puţin timp în faţa
televizorului decât în faţa computerului.
În viitor, vom putea nu numai să batem pe tastatură, ci şi să introducem verbal în
computer cereri de informaţii, iar dacă ne va interesa viteza unor chip-uri, răspunsul
care ne va parveni se va referi la computere, şi nu la cips-uri de cartofi.
Web-ul va fi în 2008 tot atât de obişnuit ca şi automobilul. Poate chiar mai curând.
(Supliment Capital, 18 dec.1997)
Final tense review
53. Match these utterances to numbers on the time flowchart below taking into account only
the predicates underlined. Give reasons for your choice.
a. Our order LZ-456 hasn’t arrived yet.
b.1. We were meeting the Japanese delegation on Monday, but there was a change of
plans and they had to go to Switerland first;
b.2. so we‘re seeing them on Wednesday instead.
c. Have you seen the revised contract?
d. I’m afraid I can’t see you next week because I’ll be attending a training course.
e. Did you go to Italy last year?
f. After you’ve worked with us for six months, we’ll renegotiate your pay.
g. After I’d worked with them for a year, I decided to ask for a promotion.
h. We’ve been doing business with them for many years now.
i. Business is good.
j. When his car broke down, he was driving to Geneva for a conference.
k. When his car broke down, he had been driving for two hours.
l. I live in Bucharest.
m. I also lived in Bradford for three years long ago.
n.1. By the time we graduate do you think
n.2. we’ll have learnt everything we need to know about international trade?
o. They said they’d spend the weekend in London.
p. Did you ask them what hotel they’d booked in?
r. I didn’t know you wanted to meet them.
Time flowchart
4
1
THE PRESENT
5
seen from
the present
seen from
the past
6
2
THE PAST
789
3
THE FUTURE
10 11
seen from
the past
seen from
the present
seen from
the future
seen from
the past
seen from
the
present
seen
from the
future
(adapted from Discover English, by Rod Bolitho and Brian Tomlinson, Heinemann 1995)
54. Use the verbs in brackets in the right tense:
1. The tourists arrived at London Airport early on Monday morning. They (leave)
Bucharest on Sunday night. They (spend) a fortnight in Romania and (see) all the
sights. After they (show) their passports to the official and (pass) through the
customs they (get) on the bus and (go) to the terminal.
2. I saw Mr.Green yesterday, driving my old car. I (sell) it to him three months
before and he (pay) me half the price. But he still (owe) me 125. When I (see)
him in my car, I (tell) myself that I (do) a foolish thing, selling it to a man like
Mr.Green.
3. I left home one morning at eight o’clock, (jump) on a bus, and (sit) down. The
conductor (ask) for the fare. I (put) my hand in my pocket for the money, but it
(be) empty. I (forget) my money. I (leave) it on the table in the living-room. I
(have) to get off the bus and go home again. I (be) half an hour late at the office
that morning. I never (be) late before.
4. Lilly will fly back to Rome next July after she (take) a degree in Economics at the
Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. Her parents (meet) her at the airport.
She (not see) them for four years. They (feel) very proud of her when she (tell)
them that she (pass) all her examinations with high marks. She (be) happy to be
home again, for sometimes she (feel) lonely in Bucharest, away from her family
and friends, although she (make) lots of friends in Romania.
5. An American tourist was boasting to a Kerryman about the fact that the Americans
just (put) a man on the moon: “That (be) nothing” (say) the Kerryman, “we (have)
plans to land a man on the Sun”.
“That (be) crazy”, (say) the American, “he (burn) before he (get) within a million
miles of the sun”:
“We (think) of that, too”; (say) the Kerryman, “we (send) him a night.
55. This is a description of Jane. Read it carefully. Then write the correct forms of the
verbs in brackets.
e.g.: Jane (be) a newspaper reporter.
You write: is
1. Jane (be) born in Watford.
2. In other words she (come) from Watford.
3. For the past two years she (have) a job with a newspaper there.
4. From 1968 to 1991 she (go) to Manchester University.
5. Ever since she (leave) university she has wanted a job in television.
6. So now she (think) of giving up his job with the newspaper.
7. In fact, at this very moment she (have) an interview with a television director.
8. The director (need) a young television reporter.
9. The interview (start) half an hour ago.
10. In other words she and Jim (talk) for half an hour.
56. Complete each sentence with the right verbal form selected from the four alternatives
given below it.
1. This is the first time that we …… the Tower of London.
a. visited c. are visiting
b. have visited d. visit
2. We …… here since Monday.
a. are c. shall be
b. had been d. have been
3. I’ll wait here until you …… your work.
a. will finish c. will have finished
b. have finished d. finish
4. As soon as the book is published, I …… it.
a. will buy c. will have bought
b. have bought d. buy
5. By next october I …… the piano for one year.
a. have learnt c. will learn
b. have been learning d. will have been learning
6. Mike, you’re back again at last! We …… you for ages!
a. didn’t see c. haven’t been seeing
b. haven’t seen d. can’t see
7. Would you please give him this note the moment he ……
a. arrives c. will have arrived
b. has arrived d. will arrive
8. It was the second time she …… in love that year.
a. fell c. had fallen
b. was falling d. had been falling
9. I …… a wonderful dream when the alarm clock …… off at 7 o’clock in the
morning.
a. had, went c. was having, went
b. was having, had gone d. had dreamt, went
10. We …… softball for a few minutes when I …… and …… my ankle.
a. had been playing, tripped, twisted c. had played, tripped, twisted
b. were playing, tripped, twisted d. had been playing, had tripped, had
twisted
57. Read this letter of application and underline the right form of the predicates in brackets;
make any other necessary changes:
Dear Sir,
I (look for / am looking for) currently work in York and (wonder / was wondering)
whether you might have any vacancies.
I (enclose / am enclosing) my CV. I would like to point out that I (have / have had)
considerable experience as a Social Organiser in several well-known hotels and (can /
will be able to) give you the names of referees if you should require them.
I (am / am being) available for an interview during the coming month.
In the hope that you (will consider / will be concidering) my application favourably, I
(look/have been looking) forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
58. You would like a job with the London Import-Export Co. Ltd. in London for a year or two.
Write asking if they can offer you a post. Use these notes and deal with each in a separate
sentence. Pay particular attention to the use of tense forms.
1. name – when and where born
2. education – different schools – how long
3. present job – what is it – how long
4. English – past five years – better and better
5. but important – come to England – practise – everything – learned
6. other languages – French and Italian – hope-useful
7. consider – come – England – ever since school
8. not necessary – same job in English firm – English (language) important
9. friend suggested London Import-Export Co.Ltd. – worked there two years
10. application form, please
59. You are going to interview people who have applied for the vacancies advertised by your
company, or students applying for scholarships abroad.
Work in pairs to prepare questions so that you can fill in this form:
Personal data:
- name
- birth
- permanent address
- current address
Education:
- postgraduate
- higher education
- high school
Qualifications:
Languages:
Work experience:
Family
Interests, hobbies
Reasons for applying
Expectations from the job / scholarship
Hopes and intentions for the future
Others
You may start your questions with the following words.
What …?
When …?
Where …?
How …?
How long did you…?
How long have you …?
How many …?
Why …?
Do you …?
Have you…?
Model:
When / Where were you born?
60. Translate the following, paying attention to the rendering of the Romanian “prezent” into
English (see Time and Tense Chart and ex.18A)
1. – Ce faci duminică?
- Mă gândesc să plec puţin la munte. Deşi îmi place alpinismul, în ultimul timp
sunt atât de ocupat că reuşesc cu greu să ies din Bucureşti.
- Dacă am timp, vin şi eu cu tine, vrei?
2. Ce fac în Sala de Consiliu colegii noştri?
- Discută un nou proiect; îl discută de peste patru ore, cred că sunt pe terminate.
3. – Ieri am aflat că dna Popa predă ştiinţele comunicării.
- Nu ştiam că este profesoară.
- A, este profesoară din 1990, de când a absolvit facultatea.
4. Imediat ce termini de lucrat la calculator, te rog să-mi spui că am şi eu nevoie de
el.
5. Michael mi-a spus că nu poate veni cu noi; o aşteaptă pe Diana şi este puţin
îngrijorat, deoarece o aşteaptă de o oră, iar ea nu obişnuieşte să întârzie.
6. – De când ştii limba chineză?
- N-aş putea spune că o ştiu, abia o învăţ de câteva săptămâni.
7. – Crezi că are loc şedinţa Consiliului de Administraţie sau iar se amână?
- O amână într-una, din păcate.
8. Cine nu ştie că apa fierbe la 1000C şi îngheaţă la 00C?
61. Translate the following, paying attention to the rendering of the Romanian perfect
compus into English (see ex. 19. A).
1. a. Aţi încercat în ultimul timp să vorbiţi numai englezeşte?
b. Da, aseară, dar a fost foarte greu.
2. a. Am avut mult de lucru astăzi.
b. Am avut mult de lucru ieri.
3. a. Am exersat trei ore în dimineaţa aceasta.
b. Am exersat trei ore aseară.
4. a. Maria a fost în România cu mulţi ani în urmă;
b. Maria a fost în România de mai multe ori.
5. a. Până acum Maria a fost o studentă bună;
b. Maria a fost o studentă bună anul trecut.
6. a. S-au uitat seară de seară la televizor săptămâna trecută;
b. S-au uitat la televizor seară de seară zilele acestea.
7. a. Tocmai ne-am întors din excursie;
b. Tocmai acum ne-am întors din excursie.
8. a. Cât timp ai locuit aici?
b. Cât timp ai locuit acolo înainte de a veni să stai cu noi?
9. a. L-ai ascultat pe Menuhin cântând când a fost în România?
b. L-ai ascultat vreodată pe Menuhin?
10. a. Aţi fost vreodată la British Museum?
b. Da, am fost anul trecut, când am fost la Londra.
62. Translate the following, paying attention to the rendering of the Romanian “imperfect”
into English:
1. Dan citea o carte când am intrat noi în cameră.
2. Dan citea mult în vacanţă.
3. Dan citea multe poveşti când era mic. Acum citeşte doar romane istorice.
4. Dan citea o carte, apoi i-o povestea surorii mai mici.
5. Dan era acasă de la ora 4. Citea de o oră când i-am telefonat.
6. Dacă vremea era urâtă, Dan citea o carte, dacă era frumos, mergea la plimbare.
7. Nu citea cartea, dacă nu o găsea interesantă.
8. Când profesorul ne-a spus să ne oprim din scris, mai lucram încă la ultima
problemă; lucram la ea de vreo 20 de minute.
9. – Ce făceai luna trecută pe vremea asta?
- Învăţam pentru examene.
10. Sandra era ocupată cu împachetatul pentru că urma să plece la mare a doua zi.
Dacă nu se grăbea să plece atunci, o duceam eu cu maşina peste o săptămână, când
eram şi eu liberă.
11. Nu crezi că era mai bine să te fi dus la interviu? Poate primeai postul.
12. Era timpul să se fi încheiat prima etapă a privatizării.
63. Translate the following letters into English:
A. Domnilor,
Conform comenzii noastre nr.L/345, am primit ieri de la d-voastră un lot de 100 mese,
comandate din catalogul d-voastră de vară nr.154.
Dar, la despachetarea mărfii, am constatat că ni s-au trimis 100 mese mari din lemn de
mahon, în loc de 100 mese mici din lemn de pin, aşa cum cerusem noi.
Având în vedere faptul că avem deja comenzi ferme pentru comanda respectivă şi că
majoritatea clienţilor noştri locuiesc în apartamente mici şi au un venit mediu, este puţin
probabil că vom găsi aici piaţă de desfacere pentru mobilier voluminos, la preţuri mult mai
mari.
V-am ruga, aşadar, să expediaţi urgent lotul de 100 mese mici din lemn de pin şi să
ridicaţi marfa livrată greşit.
Aşteptăm cu interes răspunsul d-voastră, cu întoarcerea poştei.
Cu stimă,
………………….
B. Stimate domnule Maiden,
Vă scriu referitor la comanda dumneavoastră nr. CV 1154/d pe care ne-aţi trimis-o în
urmă cu 4 săptămâni. În acel moment am considerat că vom putea termina comanda înainte de
data livrării, 18 iunie, dar în această perioadă am aflat că principalul nostru furnizor de crom a
dat faliment.
Aceasta înseamnă că trebuie să găsim alt furnizor care să poată îndeplini toate
contractele pe care trebuie să le încheiem. După cum vă puteţi da seama, aceasta necesită
timp, dar suntem încrezători că vom reuşi să obţinem toate materialele, şi să livrăm mărfurile
către clienţii noştrii, până la mijlocul lunii viitoare.
Toate articolele comandate au fost asamblate şi necesită doar să fie finisate.
Regretăm această situaţie neplăcută asupra căreia nu am avut nici un control şi ne
cerem scuze pentru problemele cauzate. Este de înţeles dacă doriţi să anulaţi comanda, dar
accentuăm că vom putea onora livrarea până luna viitoare şi am aprecia dacă aţi rămâne
alături de noi până atunci.
Vă rog să ne transmiteţi decizia dumneavoastră cât mai curând posibil. Vă mulţumim
pentru înţelegere.
Cu stimă,
D. Panton
Director executiv
64. Translate these exerpts from newspaper articles using all the tenses of the Indicative
Mood.
A. Fenomenul deja a început. Pentru alegeri, în Statele Unite, oamenii accesează
Internetul ca să vadă rezultatele imediat. Misiunea Pathfinder spre Marte şi problemele
ivite pe staţia spaţială Mir au atras milioane de oameni pe Web pentru a afla mai multe
detalii de ultimă oră decât puteau afla din oricare altă sursă. O astfel de schimbare ţine
adesea de generaţii. În vreme ce oamenii în vârstă trebuie să înveţe ceva nou în afara
experienţei lor de zi cu zi, puştii care cresc cu o nouă tehnologie o iau drept firească.
În mod special, campusurile universitare oferă ingredientele pentru a crea masa critică
pentru o cultură pregătită pentru Web.
În Statele unite există azi peste 22 de milioane de adulţi care folosesc Web-ul, dintre
care cam jumătate accesează Internetul cel puţin o dată pe zi. Între timp, varietatea
activităţilor de pe Web creşte cu o viteză uimitoare. Aproape că nu există domeniu
pentru care să nu găsim materiale interesante pe Web. Multe dintre aceste site-uri sunt
accesate cu o frecvenţă extraordinară. Vrei să cumperi un căţel? Să vinzi o acţiune?
Sau să comanzi un automobil? Foloseşte Internetul!
Un mare avantaj al Web-ului este că ne permite să transferăm informaţii de pe hârtie
pe reţea. Mai multe state din SUA folosesc serios Web-ul. Poţi solicita diferite permise
sau licenţe comerciale. Unele state afişează liste cu locuri de muncă, nu doar din
cadrul instituţiilor de stat, ci din orice sector din statul respectiv. Cu timpul, cred, toate
datele publicate de guverne şi toate documentele pe hârtie vor fi transferate pe
Internet.
Comerţul electronic se dezvoltă şi el, de la o lună la alta. Este greu de făcut o
estimare, pentru că o mare parte a comerţului electronic implică clienţi şi furnizori
existenţi, care doar transferă tranzacţiile de pe hârtie pe Web. Acesta nu este nimic
nou.
Microsoft, de exemplu, a achiziţionat PC-uri de milioane de dolari, ce folosesc
reţeaua electronică în loc de documente de hârtie. Nu a fost o schimbare fundamentală,
ci doar o îmbunătăţire a eficienţei unui proces deja existent.
B. Presa, ca de obicei, va da o interpretare greşită. În primii ani ai deceniului, presa
americană a prevestit aproape cu isterie triumful Japoniei asupra firmelor americane,
tocmai în perioada în care pieţele din Tokio cunoşteau falimente catastrofale. În
următorii trei ani s-au publicat editoriale în care funcţionarilor corporaţiilor li se
reproşa brutalitatea faţă de muncitori, reducerea dimensiunii firmelor şi trecerea în
şomaj a unor angajaţi. Rezultatul nu a fost conform previziunilor, dezastruos, ci a
însemnat cea mai bună piaţă a forţei de muncă din istoria recentă. Acum, atenţie!
Aceiaşi autori preamăresc epoca unei “noi paradigme” în 1998 şi în anii următori.
Vechile adevăruri economice sunt înlocuite cu o nouă lume, tot mai prosperă şi
permanent stabilită. Aţi fost avertizaţi.
C. Acesta va fi anul în care ţările occidentale îşi vor încerca puterile pentru a aduce nu
prea recentele democraţii est-europene la un punct de plecare. Pentru a depista această
tendinţă, uitaţi-vă la noul pas vioi al diplomaţilor occidentali în oraşe ca Praga şi
Varşovia. A trecut multă vreme – şapte ani sau mai bine – de când se simt atât de
importanţi.
În primul război rece, ambasadele lor din Europa de Est erau locuri captivante care
făceau fărâme regulile comuniste prin strângerea de informaţii secrete, ajutorul acordat
dizidenţilor şi planuri puse la cale împotriva celor răi. După schimbare, s-a aşternut
liniştea.
Acum însă, diplomaţii lucrează din nou până noaptea târziu, având o sarcină diferită,
dar nu mai puţin solicitantă: aducerea guvernelor din Europa postcomunistă la nivelul
standardelor occidentale.
(Supliment Capital, 18 Decembrie, 1997)
SEQUENCE OF TENSES
1. Use the verbs in the main sentence in The Past Tense. Make all the necessary changes:
1. The captain says that every passenger will abandon the ship.
2. She anticipates that the waiter will pour the wine on her dress.
3. Father informs the guests that he will make coffee for everyone.
4. The employers announce the journalists that they have already settled the dispute.
5. The children answer that they have seen the cat stealing the meat.
6. The porter says that he has just heard a strange noise.
7. He is sure that he will sell all the merchandise by the end of the week.
8. Joan says that her friend has been complaining about the traffic.
9. Jane says that she hesitates to phone the police.
10. I answer him I will be there in time.
11. I know he is a very good driver.
12. I understand that the teacher confused your name with mine.
13. The farmers say that the frost has destroyed the buds.
14. He understands that I have been waiting for him too long.
15. The hospital officials consider that the disease will spread.
16. The weatherman considers that more snow is on the way.
17. It is sure that the employer will introduce a new salary scale.
18. I answer him I will be there in time.
19. He says that he has already spent his money.
20. I think that I will chop up the meat before frying it.
21. He imagines that the viewers will be watching his painting in silent admiration.
22. He states that he is responsible for all the crisis.
23. She is sure that she will have typed the novel by that day.
24. I remember I have been able to dive that time.
25. He is sure he has already given my books back.
26. They do not allow anybody inside as the show began 15 minutes ago.
27. The employees answer that they have been working for 6 months in that company.
28. It is clear they will do their best to finish the work in time.
29. He is angry as he has been waiting for her in the rain too long.
30. Our manager is sure that the strike will have stopped by midday.
31. She says she will be working for her test paper this time tomorrow.
32. She declares that she will be waiting for him up to the end of her life.
33. I think I have found out everything about her plans.
34. Grandma believes that the little boy is playing in the garden.
35. I know doctor Jespersen is a great practitioner.
36. She claims she has been ringing home, but the telephone is probably out of order.
37. I can see that she has quickly got accustomed to this new way of life.
38. The designer says that these styles can be adapted to suit individual tastes.
39. He thinks the weather is going to change for the better.
40. She replies that she has just bought her new dress.
41. She admits that she has been typing all day long.
2. Use the correct tense instead of the Infinitive in brackets
1. The dealer claimed that there (be) an acute shortage of goods.
2. He was angry that the police (refuse) to act without more evidence.
3. The court declared that the trial (be adjourn) until the following week.
4. The newspapers stated that the scientists (advance) a new theory to explain this
strange phenomenon.
5. The president declared that the tax increases (affect) us all.
6. The manager said that (be advertise) for a new secretary.
7. He was sure that he never (get) his money back.
8. The manager asked me what the next item on the agenda (be).
9. She said that she (not answer) the phone as she (take a bath) at that moment.
10. When I got back home, all my family (watch) TV.
11. I (lie) in bed thinking about getting up when the telephone rang.
12. Half way to school, Andrew turned round and (go) back because he (forget) to turn
the gas off.
13. We all knew she (have) a hard life, but she always (smile)
14. While I (talk) on the phone the children started fighting and (break) the window in
their bedroom.
15. We didn’t know that you (be) friends.
16. The whole family suddenly noticed that the little boy (miss).
17. We didn’t believe that you (succeed) in selling the merchandise.
18. I heard that the manager (be) rather alarmed that you (plan) to leave the company.
19. I asked him what his intentions (be).
20. He explained me that he (be) sorry he (not telephone) us yet.
21. I heard with amazement that he (intend) to reconsider his opinion.
22. The technician asked me how long the TV set (be) out of order.
23. He denied that they (enjoy) themselves by looking at old photographs for 2 hours.
24. The Prime Minister announced that he (resign).
25. He told me that it (annoy) him when people (forget) to say thank you.
26. I realized that I (have) it in my pocket all along.
27. We were told that we (spend) our entire allocation for this year.
28. The doctor said that the diet (allow) grandma one glass of wine a day.
29. We all noticed that he (hint) to certain developments in his speech and we asked
him what he really (mean).
30. We were sure that he (ignore) that bathing (be prohibited) there.
31. It was already known that tobacco (be taxed) in most countries along with alcohol.
32. We all knew that she always (love) gardening.
33. She (leave) already when I phoned her.
34. I’m afraid that the job (become) more and difficult for him.
35. I asked him who (be) that pretty girl he (speak to) last night?
36. It was amazing that they (not phone) and they (not write) either for such a long
time.
37. He was not the only one who (need) help.
38. They didn’t believe that I (call) before they (do).
39. I couldn’t imagine you (be) friends!
40. Grandma complained that the two children (keep quarreling) all day long.
3. Replace the Infinitive in brackets by the correct tense. Pay attention to the exceptions to
the rules of the sequence of tenses.
1. They all knew that atomic energy used in science (change) the world.
2. The doctor told me that the only cure for stress (consist) in learning to relax.
3. I was warned that she (be) a vengeful person.
4. They could never understand that only the law of supply and demand as well as
competition (govern) the free-enterprise system.
5. They found out that in almost all countries the railway system (be run) by the state.
6. When he retired he (work) for forty five years.
7. When I got home I felt better. My mother (cook) all day and (warm the house).
8. By the time I was forty, I (teach) for 15 years.
9. When I came back into the office, the post already (arrive).
10. When you visit me next month, I almost (finish) my military service.
11. We already (have) lunch by the time you arrived.
12. The baby had no sooner eaten the cake then he felt sick.
13. My brother said that, according to the law he (join) the army next September.
14. I asked him when he (have) our car serviced.
15. When I phoned Tim he (not finish) his homework.
16. By the time we got to the theatre, the play already (begin).
17. The doctor didn’t leave until the nurse (arrive).
18. Mrs. Smith left the supermarket after she (buy) everything she (need).
19. I had just entered the house and the telephone (ring).
20. The passengers had fastened their seat belts before the plane (take off).
21. Until I promissed him to teach him to ride his bicycle, the child (not want) to eat up
his lunch.
22. When we entered the house we realized that the radio (be on) all day long.
23. It happened that I (know) him.
24. It was known that water (boil) at 1000C.
25. I had already begun reading the book when he (come).
26. I thought that old people (hate) living in a city.
27. I can’t help (wonder) where he has disappeared.
28. Everyone knows that he (hate) sleeping with the windows closed.
29. I was sorry I (not remember) to bring the newspaper.
30. Mother was satisfied that her son (help) the old man to put his luggage in the car.
4. Translate into English:
1. Mama se întrebă dacă fiul ei se simte chiar atât de rău sau doar se preface că este
bolnav.
2. Copilul l-a întrebat dacă a încercat vreodată să scrie cu mâna stângă.
3. Sarah a dorit să ştie dacă fratele ei a ajuns cu bine în America.
4. Angajaţii se întrebau cui se vor plânge despre veniturile lor mici.
5. Mama m-a întrebat dacă mi-am terminat lecţiile.
6. Prietenii l-au întrebat dacă îi plăcea noua slujbă.
7. Aşteptăm cu nerăbdare să se întoarcă.
8. Bunicul mi-a spus că îi place să petreacă sărbătorile cu nepoţii.
9. Tata era atât de cufundat în lectura ziarului încât nu m-a auzit intrând în casă.
10. Copiii au spus că nu au auzit când mama i-a chemat în casă.
11. Îmi amintesc că i-am promis să-i scriu în fiecare zi.
12. Antrenorul, cât şi medicul ne-au spus că e bine ca Tim să înveţe să înoate cât mai
devreme.
13. Tata s-a lăsat de fumat când s-a îmbolnăvit.
14. Îmi pare rău că am uitat să-i dau banii.
15. Copii nu l-au plăcut pe profesor deşi acesta se străduia din răsputeri.
5. Choose the correct form from among the two given in brackets.
1. He told me that his sister (has been married; had been married) three times.
2. When I met her she (has been working; had been working) for a year or two.
3. We lived in Bucharest until I (was; have been) sixteen.
4. The newspaper announced that they (discover; had discovered) a new fuel.
5. He said to his friend that Romania (changed, had changed) a lot since he first (had
come; came) here.
6. She insisted on ringing the bell but there (was, has been) no answer.
7. We anticipated that demand (was, had been) likely to increase.
8. He was anxious for his family who (traveled, were travelling) abroad.
9. He said that I (will find; would find) him there at any hour of the day.
10. I noticed that he (left; was leaving) without speaking to anyone else.
11. He promised to be here at four o’clock but (didn’t turn up; would not turn up) until
six.
12. The teacher specifies that what she (has said; was saying) applies only to some of us.
13. His opinion was that one (can’t; couldn’t) fully appreciate foreign literature when
translated.
14. The coach told me that the club (was made; had made, made) an approach to a local
business firm for sponsorship.
15. It is a sign of progress that cable TV (has been; is) around for some time now.
16. He was angry he (was aroused; had been aroused) from his nap by the doorbell.
17. It seemed he (felt, was feeling) ashamed of having done so little work.
18. The old woman was ashamed she (fell; had fallen) asleep during the sermon.
19. It is a historical fact the USA (has assimilated; assimilated; is assimilating) people
from many different countries.
20. I noticed that the men (were assisting, have assisted) the police in their inquiries.
21. He declared that he (has never associated; had never associated) himself with political
extremism.
22. She declared she (attempts; would attempt) to beat the world record.
23. He was afraid his new play (has attracted; would attract) o good deal of criticism
24. The weatherman claimed that it (has been; it was one) of the coldest autumns in years.
25. He complained that instead of making progress, his work (seems; seemed) to have
come to a halt.
26. At the end of the year, the general manager declared that despite some failures our
firm (has had; had had) quite a good year on balance.
27. At the beginning of the negotiation the members of the committee were sure that they
(will reach; reached; would reach) an agreement.
28. The Prime Minister stated that the Government’s main aim … for the following year
(will be; is; would be) to beat the inflation.
29. Mother said to her little doughter that such language (does not become; wouldn’t
become; didn’t become) an educated child.
30. They said that they (would have accomplished; would accomplish) their work by the
end of the week.
31. The boys made believe that they (were; would be) astronauts.
32. She confessed that she (had; has) no relatives besides an aged aunt.
33. She said she (was, would be) sorry, but her eyes betrayed her secret delight.
34. The Prime Minister declared that reducing the gap between the rich and the poor (is;
was; would be) the main challenge facing the present government.
35. He told me that he (will see; see; would see) Mary in a few days’ time.
36. One of these days he will realize what a fool he (has been; he will be).
1. Traduceţi în limba engleză:
… Urmare lărgirii negoţului s-a trecut de la sistemul simplist al trocului la folosirea
anumitor mărfuri ca măsură a valorii, ca un echivalent general pentru restul produselor.
Drept instrumente pentru efectuarea plăţilor au fost folosite de-a lungul timpului diferite
produse ca vite, cereale, blănuri şi unele obiecte cu valoare simbolică recunoscută, de
pildă pietrele deosebite sau scoici, ajungându-se la o utilizare generalizată a metalelor
care vor începe mai apoi să fie bătute ca monede.
Tăbliţele de lut găsite stau mărturie că mai înainte încă de legiferarea lăsată de
Hamurabi, templele din Babilon aveau o activitate ce poate fi asemuită în unele privinţe
cu aceea a instituţiilor bancare moderne. Aşezămintele închinate zeilor acumulaseră mari
bogăţii imobiliare ori mobiliare, aveau pământuri, cirezi, ateliere, unelte, sclavi, depozite
de cereale, stocuri de lingouri de metale preţioase. Aceste avuţii nu conteneau să fie
sporite atât prin munca sclavilor cât şi prin împrumuturi cu dobânzi mari.
Radu Negrea – Banii şi Puterea
7. Choose the appropriate verb and fill in the blanks in the correct form:
The past century 1… one in which mankind 2… great pride. The world was of
enormous ferocity and the cruelty and ignorance 3… in more regional skirmishes
sometimes 4… us to question whether humanity 5… anything of value in the past 5,000
years. But perhaps that is a harsh judgement on a century that 6… remarkable progress in
science and technology and 7… the vision, or the illusion, of a superior quality of life for
a greater number of people. Vision or illusion 8… on the way in which men and women
of perception and imagination 9… and use the ideas, tools and techniques now available
to them for the greater good of all. The conditions 10… to make great strides forward in
the perenial battle against ignorance and prejudice. But for this to happen the next century
11… the learning century, 100 years of the realizing of innate human potential. An
alternative scenario, in which the powerful new technologies 12… to control us, or are
used by the few to control the many 13… are acceptable option
Start, depend, exist, tempt, not be, bring, understand, display, learn, create, not be, must
be, scare.
IF CLAUSES
If clause
1. Replace the Infinitives in brackets by the correct tense. Give several variants whore
possible:
1. We (play) basketball in the school yard if we (have) a longer break
2. If the weather (be) fine, we (leave) to the seaside.
3. If he (wake) up early in the morning he (can) catch the train.
4. I (speak) to him if I (see) him.
5. If I (win) the contest, it (be) a dream come true.
6. If he (have) his own car, he (drive) to his office every morning.
7. If she (not drop) her studies, she (get) a scholarship in Cambridge.
8. I (have to) dust off my French if we (move) to Paris.
9. If I (arrive) at the hospital at 8 o’clock, I (go) on duty at 9.
10. I (speak) to him if I (know) him better.
11. She (not learn) 5 languages if she (not have) a gift for languages.
12. If the bus (arrive) earlier we (not catch) it.
13. I (speak) to him about that if I (see) him.
14. What he (do) if he (be) you?
15. Nobody (blame) you if you (not support) him.
16. If (there be) a staircase at either end of the corridor, the house (be used) by two
separate families.
17. If you (not run) you (be) late.
18. If foreign aid (dry up), the situation (be desperate).
19. If you (not tell) me the truth, I (punish) you.
20. If there (be) any problem, I (contact) you.
2. Finish the following sentences:
1. If no new evidences emerge during the enquiry, ….
2. If they didn’t keep that animal in cage, …
3. If he had not been encouraged by his parents, …
4. If you had not been engaged to decorate the house, …
5. The children wouldn’t enjoy themselves so much playing in the water if …
6. He wouldn’t have got the job if …
7. If many people were concerned about the pollution of the environment …
8. If the fire-escape had not been at the back of the building …
9. If the police establishes where he was at that time …
10. If she goes to the cinema …
11. They wouldn’t have been able to evolve such a theory after many years of research
if …
12. If they were not patient, …
13. If they had these repairs, holidays and other expenses reduced …
14. He would have extended his visit if …
15. If the burgler hadn’t turned the corner and found himself face to face with a
policeman, …
16. If you fail the next examination, …
17. If you need my help, …
18. If anyone calls, …
3. Replace the Infinitive in brackets by the correct tense:
1. If you work hard you (come out) top.
2. She will get the First Prize if she (answer) all the questions.
3. If I find him at home the problem (be settled).
4. If he (be) ill he would have called for a doctor.
5. If he (come) back she will bring you up, for sure.
6. If the book (have) a large print, grandma would be able to read it.
7. If she (find out) the news she will be happy.
8. If they (be) elected, they would reform the economy.
9. If you (not see) it you wouldn’t believe the increase of navigation through the
canal.
10. She (answer) the letter if she knew their address.
11. I (come) to see you at once, if you have no objection.
12. If he didn’t come to see her, how (can) he know his mother (be) ill?
13. If you had know him better, you (understand) him.
14. I would have bought it if I (have) the money.
15. What would you have done if you (be) in my place?
16. If you had take your medicine regularly you (recover) sooner.
17. We wouldn’t submit the case to your attention if it (not be) a special one.
18. Money laundry wouldn’t be possible if the legal framework (be) more severe.
19. If we divided the work between us we (finish) it earlier.
20. She wouldn’t have felt betrayed if she (know) the truth.
21. If you (not change) your behavior, you wouldn’t have been accepted here.
22. If she (be) really quite human, she wouldn’t have understood and forgiven.
23. If the product (not be) so successful, its name wouldn’t have become a household
word.
24. He would have become more interested if he (read) the second part of the story
too.
25. You would have gained a lot if you (watch) her working.
26. No new business would have flourished if the economic climate (not change).
4. Rephrase the following sentences using unless or provided (that)
1. If you do not come, it will be no fun.
2. They will receive the good news in due time if you post the letter today.
3. The manager will never receive you if you do not ask for an appointment before.
4. She would understand if you only explained it to her.
5. If we didn’t have enough money, we should not be able to manage.
6. You will feel better if you give up smoking.
7. I wouldn’t have attended the ceremony if I was not invited to.
8. I will speak to Mary again but only if she apologizes.
9. Children will be not admitted if they are not accompanied.
10. He will begin to eat again if he feels better.
11. The new champion will not keep himself fit if he doesn’t run 5 miles a day at least.
12. He wouldn’t betray our expectations if he gave us the money back.
13. Tom would have received the permission of his father if he had just good markes
in the final exams.
14. Nobody will believe his claim to be innocent if the police does not establish his
responsibility.
15. He will not be granted another loan if he doesn’t clear the previous one.
16. She will speak to us for sure if she is in a good mood.
17. You may leave the table if you have finished your dinner.
18. We shall have fun in the trip if we have good weather.
19. He would have never broken his engagement if he had been told the truth.
20. They will agree to take part into the contest if they get better pay.
21. He wouldn’t have complained to me if he hadn’t been so desperate.
5. Complete the following sentences:
1. If I were you …
2. If you came later …
3. If you understood the situation in due time …
4. If I knew how to handle the problem …
5. If only you could imagine him riding a bicycle …
6. If he took into consideration the tenor of the bill of exchange …
7. If grandma felt well …
8. She wouldn’t have finished her work if she …
9. There wouldn’t be so many illegal immigrants if …
10. What would be your opinion if I …
11. If you poured the wine carefully …
12. He would be out of hospital now if he …
13. She wouldn’t pretend illness as an excuse if …
14. They wouldn’t try to prove the truth if …
6. React to the following statement using “if only” and write your own sentences:
1. I do not see my parents very often.
2. He can’t swim.
3. If you called for a doctor earlier, we shouldn’t have to call for an ambulance.
4. He worries too much.
5. She won’t stop gossiping!
6. If the plane had taken off in time, it ought to have been here by now.
7. Flood water covered the fields.
8. Their argument has developed into a bitter quarrel.
9. She leads a double life!
7. Match these utterance (1-14) with their functions (A-C) grouped in three categories of
conditional or hypothetical meaning.
1. Were you to change your mind, we’d be glad to reopen negotiations.
2. If I had your address, I’d have sent you a postcard.
3. If people didn’t drive so fast, there wouldn’t be so many fatal accidents.
4. There might never have been an accident if the road had been dry.
5. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the train.
6. If you came to London, you’d probably be able to met your former colleagues.
7. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my time.
8. Unless they offer you a unit price of £ 13.00, I’d advise you not to accept.
9. You’ll be given the job provided the interview goes well.
10. Had you asked us, we’d certainly have reconsidered our prices.
11. Please, contact us in case you have any queries.
12. They can’t win the contract unless they make a better offer.
13. Were I to win a fortune on the lottery, I’d stop working and I’d start enjoying life
for a change!
14. Suppose you were in my position, what would you do?
IF – clauses type 1
A. utterances express developments which are most likely to take place (now or in the
future) if a condition is fulfilled; they speculate about possible conditions and their
probable consequences;
IF – clauses type 2
B. utterances express improbable or impossible situation developments as they
depend on conditions which are more unlikely to be fulfilled.
IF – clauses type 3
C. utterances express unreal or imaginary situations in the past; they speculate about
past impossibilities.
The first two have been done for you!
Conditional Function Utterance No.
A (Type 1) 5
B. (Type 2) 6
C. (Type 3)
8. Read this conversation between a secretary and her boss and put the verbs in brackets in
their right form:
Miss C.: I (like) to see you about something personal.
Mr.B.: Well, come in, Miss C. You (care) to sit down?
Miss C: Thank you, you see, I (go) to get married next month and…
Mr. B.: Get married! Congratulations!
Miss C: Thank you, but I’m afraid it means that I (ought to) give in my notice. I (like) to
leave at the end of the month.
Mr.B.: Realy? I (be) very sorry to hear that. I wish you (be able) to go on working here.
Miss C.: I (stay) if Bill, that’s my fiancé, weren’t a Canadian.
Mr.B.: What’s that got to do with it?
Miss C.: Well, Bill often (say) he’d earn far more if he (be) back in Canada.
Mr.B.: Oh, I see. What he (do) for a living, by the way?
Miss C: He (be) a chartered accountant.
Mr.B.: But chartered accountants (be) well paid here. How much he (earn) then, if I may
ask?
Miss C: £ 60 a week.
Mr.B: Well, that (be) very poor for a C.A. You (ought to) tell him he’d get far more if he
(come) and (work) for us.
Miss C. Well … er … you see …
Mr.B.: I mean I’m sure if I (be) a young C.A. and if my salary (be) that low, I’d want to
go to Canada, too. Where does he work, by the way?
Miss C.: Er … as a matter of fact, he works here, in your company, Mr.B. He’s in the
Finance Department!
9. Complete sentence b so that it means exactly the same as sentence a.
1. a. We got in from work late, that’s why we didn’t come to your party.
b. If we …, we’d …
2. a. Provided that you leave a forwarding address, we’ll be able to contact you.
b. Unless you …, we shan’t …
3. a. Unless you save some money, you’ll never be able to start a business.
b. Provided …
4. a. He forgot to put his watch on, that’s why he was late for the job interview.
b. Had …, he wouldn’t …
5. a. Of course the businesses have been doing better lately: the country is wealthier than
until ten year ago!
b. The businesses wouldn’t be …
6. a. The buyer isn’t entitled to a refund because he hasn’t returned the good within 10
days.
b. If the buyer had …, he’d …
7. a. In the event of loss, you’ll have to get a certificate from the police.
b. Should any loss …
8. a. They don’t pay their workers well, so they can’t attract good workers.
b. If they …, they’d be able to …
9. a. We didn’t renew to contract because they refused to accept our proposals.
b. We would …
10. a. We’ll survive, but first we’ll have to invest in new plant.
b. We’ll … on condition that…
10. Imagine that you and a friend were talking about past and present impossibilities,
speculating about the future, such as:
Your friend: Can this be a real diamond? It costs only 1.
You: I don’t think so. If it were a real diamond, it would cost much more than that.
1. Are those people really English? They speak with an Italian accent.
2. Do you think that man really has a lot of money? His clothes are so shabby.
3. Does that French student really want to learn English? He talks French all the time.
4. Is this meat really fresh? It has a strange smell.
5. Has she really learned typing? Look how many mistakes she’s making and how
slowly she’s typing!
6. Do you think we’ll make it on time to the exam? Shall we take the tube or just
walk to the faculty?
7. “Did you have a good time on your back-to-nature holiday?”
“Fun? It rained every day, it was very cold and windy…”
8. “Why didn’t you return sooner, then?”
“Because, to crown it all, when we wanted to leave after two miserable days, the
car broke down! We looked for a mechanic, but there wasn’t any around”.
9. “Why didn’t you phone a garage?”
“There was just one telephone in that godforsaken place and it didn’t work!”
10. I need some more information about their advertising services. Do you think I
should phone them?”
11. Mixed Conditionals
A. Use your imagination to finish the following sentences with present results:
e.g. If we hadn’t brought a map with us, we’d still be looking for the chalet.
1. If I’d won the lottery yesterday, …
2. If we’d saved all our money for the last few years, …
3. If I hadn’t had such a good education, …
4. If you had taken my advice last year, …
5. Had the customer refused to accept the goods, …
B. Here are some facts, speculate about them as in the example given at exercise A.
1. Jack passed all his exams in winter, so he is taking a long vacation in June. If …
2. The supplier failed to deliver on time, so a penalty clause will be applied. If …
3. Since they didn’t take their lawyer’s advice, they are in a very tight spot now.
Provided …
4. Our company has made little profit, so it will have to reduce the final dividend,
which will greatly displease our shareholders. On condition …
5. You don’t know Harry at all, otherwise you wouldn’t have talked like that about
him.
If …
12. Make the following more polite by adding a politeness marker such as will/would or
can/could and making some minor changes if necessary:
1. Phone me if you need more information on the titles listed in the catalogue….
2. If you deliver the goods on time, we’ll place our next order immediately…..
3. If you drive me to the station, I can catch the 8:30 train….
4. If you should see Mike, give him this message….
5. If they called round tomorrow, we could discuss the final draft then….
6. We would appreciate it if you sent us your summer catalogue by DHL….
7. We would be very grateful if you collected the wrong goods as soon as possible….
8. We’d be willing to give you a 10% discount if you paid in sterling….
9. We want to buy 1,000 computers from you if you give us your best terms ….
10. If you fill in this form, we’ll have your luggage sent up to your room…..
13. Make comments or give advice to one of your friends based on the following situations.
Use either IF I WERE YOU or IF I HAD BEEN YOU, as appropriate:
Your friend:
1. bought an expensive new suit which fell to pieces after three days.
2. is thinking of climbing Mount Everest alone.
3. wants to drive across the Sahara desert in midsummer.
4. is on holiday and has spent too much money in nightclubs; now he can’t afford to
pay his hotel bill.
5. ate some oysters in the Millosa Restaurant, which is not very clean. He is now ill
and you are visiting him.
6. would like to buy a car which you have also seen; you think that it would be a
waste of money even for 200,000,000 lei.
7. paid 400,000,000 for the car despite your advice-it broke down ten minutes after
he had bought it.
8. was stopped by the police for driving too fast through the middle of Bucharest.
9. arrived from the country one weekend expecting to be able to stay with you; he
hadn’t sent a letter and you had gone away.
10. is thinking of learning Latin; you think French or Spanish would be more useful.
14. Use your imagination and knowledge of the world to make up chain stories with at least 2
conditional clauses in them, based on the following situations:
A. Imagine what (would / could / might) (not) happen if …
B. Imagine what (could / might) (not) have happened if …
C. Decide what you (would / could / might / ought to) if …
D. Decide what you (would / could / might) have done if …
1. You have won 1.000.000 at lottery.
2. Your parents have bought you a car.
3. You turn the corner and came face to face with an old colleague whom you haven’t
seen for ages.
4. You are looking for funding for your new small business venture. The Bank will give
you a very advantageous start-up loan if you put in a fourth of the necessary money.
You have only a tenth of it, but you also have a very rich uncle.
5. You are looking for a house to buy. You find a beautiful one, quite cheap, but people
say it’s haunted.
6. At a formal party, a friend introduces you to some guests, she says many things about
you which aren’t quite true, but sound very impressive.
7. You are negotiating a very important new contract for your company. Your foreign
counterpart makes it clear to you that he will expect you to give him a handsome
“bride” if you want your company to be selected.
8. Your friend / partner / husband / wife keeps a diary that no one is allowed to see. It is
always kept under lock and key, but one day you see it on the table.
9. The police are about to take your car away because it was parked illegally. One of the
policemen seems to hint that he would let you off if you gave him a bribe of 100,000
lei.
10. You are in a hotel lobby. You see an elderly lady carrying two heavy bags approach
the door. You open the door for her and she gives you a tip, evidently mistaking you
for the hotel doorman.
11. Your deskmate and good friend is cheating at the maths exam. You’ve seen her once
before doing it.
12. Your guest begins telling you a joke you’ve heard before.
13. Your boss praizes you for an excellent idea and gives you a pay rise; however, it isn’t
your idea.
14. You see a boy finding a wallet in the street and putting it stealthy in his pocket.
15. Once you saw a fight in the street, there was no one around and you fled.
16. During the last elections, one of the candidates was speaking on TV about his / her
childhood. As you’d been at the same school, you realized that that he was telling lots
of lies, but kept quiet.
17. Yesterday evening you went to your favorite restaurant and had sea food. After that
you were very sick and you thought it was food poisoning, so you decided to sue the
restaurant.
18. Three years ago you were made redundant; you spent all your unemployment benefit
on a car as you intended to make your living as a taxi-driver, but the car was stolen
after 1 month.
15. Two managers are discussing for and against investing in more capital equipment. Here
are their reasons:
For Against
More equipment
More goods
Lower price
Bigger sales
More profit
Greater dividends
Happier shareholders
More equipment
Bigger premises
Higher overheads
Cash flow problems
Production difficulties
Delay in delivery
Complaints from customers
Write down (or role-play) their discussion using conditionals. You may come with
more arguments.
16. Your friend has been offered a job with a large tourist company specialized in rural
tourism. He has his own small business in Bucharest. He is 32 yours old his wife teaches
part-time at the American School; his son is going to school in autumn.
He has made a comparative chart to show you the advantages of working for the
tourist company your role is to point out the benefits of his present position. Bring at least six
arguments each.
Example:
Friend: If I took this job, I (‘d would (n’t) / could (n’t) / might (n’t) / would (n’t)) be
able to / have to ….
You: (Yes, but) if you didn’t, …
Present job Rural tourism
1. Salary 5.000.000 lei / month 17.000.000 lei / month
2. Job responsibility
a. – (number of staff) …
b. – (budgeted turnover) …
6
40,000,000 lei
24
500,000,000 lei
3. Pension --- 70% company
30% employee
4. Private health insurance No Yes
5. Prospects Fair Excellent
6. Holidays 5 weeks / year 4 weeks / year
7. Transport 5 minutes (walk) 30 minutes (tube + bus)
8. Cost of living X lei X lei + 5%
17. Translate into English:
1. Am gândit un gând. Dar gândul pe care l-am gândit nu era gândul pe care am
crezut că îl gândesc. Dacă gândul pe care am crezut că îl gândesc ar fi fost gândul
pe care l-am gândit, nu m-aş fi gândit atât de mult.
2. Heinrich Heine: Dacă romanii ar fi fost obligaţi să înveţe latina, n-ar mai fi avut
niciodată timp să cucerească lumea.
3. Byron: Ce bine ar fi să-şi explice explicaţia, dar ştiu dacă ar explica-o ne-ar
încurca şi mai rău.
4. Profesorul: Te-aş ruga să scrii mai clar.
Billy: Dacă aş scrie mai clar aţi începe să-mi corectaţi greşelile şi mi-aşi scădea
nota.
5. Călătorind prin Anglia cu mulţi ani în urmă o americancă intră într-un
compartiment de fumători unde se află un englez care fuma pipă. Dacă văzu că
englezul nu se opreşte din fumat americanca începu să tuşească în aşa fel încât să-I
dea englezului de înţeles, că o deranjează fumul. În cele din urmă, văzând că
englezul nu o bagă de loc în seamă şi nu-şi stinge pipa, americanca îi zise:
“Dacă ai fi “gentleman” nu ai mai fuma când este şi o doamnă în compartiment”.
“Dacă ai fi o doamnă adevărată, i-o întoarse englezul, nu ai sta într-un
compartiment pentru fumători”.
Supărată, americanca îi răspunse: “Dacă ai fi soţul meu, ţi-aş da otravă”.
Englezul o privi o clipă şi apoi îi zise: “Dacă aş fi soţul tău, chiar aş lua otrava”.
6. Profesorul: Dacă ar trebui să pregătiţi cina pentru şase persoane şi aţi avea doar 5
cartofi, cum i-aţi împărţi în mod egal între cei şase?
Saddie: I-aş face pireu.
7. Lui Einstein i se puse următoarea întrebare: “Cum aţi proceda dacă vi s-ar da 15
minute în care să rezolvaţi o problemă de care ar depinde întreaga dumneavoastră
viaţă?”
Einstein răspunse: “Dacă aş avea 15 minute pentru rezolvarea acestei probleme, 10
minute le-aş petrece gândindu-mă la ea, în 4 minute aş rezolva-o şi într-un minut
aş pune-o pe hârtie”.
8. Blaise Pascal a spus: “Dacă toţi oamenii ar şti ce spune unul despre celălalt, n-ar
mai exista nici măcar patru prieteni pe lume”.
- Dar cine a spus că, dacă n-ar fi fost Blaise Pascal, omul nu ar fi o trestie
gânditoare?!
9. Profesorul: “Şi acum d-le Jones, presupunând că ai fi chemat să îngrijeşti un
pacient care a înghiţit o monedă, ce metodă ai folosi?”
Tânărul student în medicină: “Aş trimite după un preot, domnule. Ăştia scot banul
de la oricine”.
10. În atelierul unui artist, o vizitatoare se entuziasma în faţa unei picturi: “Ce talent
original” exclamă ea, “tare-aş dori să pot lua aceste culori magnifice cu mine”.
“Vi se va împlini dorinţa”, zise pictorul, “v-aţi aşezat chiar pe paleta mea”.
11. - Şi-ar fi cheltuit averea într-un an, dacă n-ar fi fost soţia lui.
- Şi ea cum l-a împiedicat?
- I-a cheltuit-o singură.
12. Dac-ar fi după mine, aş interzice folosirea lui “dacă”. Prea se face caz de el:
“DACĂ am avea mai mulţi bani…, DACĂ aş avea o slujbă mai bună…, DACĂ
am avea o maşină ca cea a vecinului nostru din America…, DACĂ ne-am putea
permite să mergem în Grecia la vară…, DACĂ ai fi mai atent…, DACĂ mi-ar
surâde norocul…, DACĂ ai câştiga la loterie …, DACĂ, dacă, dacă! Dacă
oamenii n-ar mai visa n-am mai avea nevoie de DACĂ!
MODAL VERBS
1. Rewrite these sentences using must:
1. He is probably older than he looks. 2. It is probably very pleasant to live in a
mountain resort. 3. This is probably the best Romanian film of the year . 4.
Considering its being in great demand, it is probably a very good product.5. He
probably came home very early. 6. She is probably a very good doctor. 7. So
many people are speaking about it that it is probably a very good book. 8. It
probably took a long time to make this translation. 9. He probably thinks I am
wrong. 10. You probably left your umbrella in the shop.
2. Rewrite these sentences using may:
1. Don’t wait; it is possible for her to be very late. 2. I have bought his latest book;
perhaps it is a good one. 3. Take your umbrella; perhaps it will rain . 4. It is
possible that I come home early. 5. She didn’t speak to you because, I think, she
is angry with you. 6. A good knowledge of English is likely to help you a lot in
your career. 7. It is possible that he was right but I don’t think so. 8. Perhaps he
has done the exercise correctly but I doubt it. 9. Perhaps she has returned the book
to you and you have lent it to someone else.. 10. It is possible that someone stole
the missing object. 11. Perhaps she was out when you rang.
3. Fill in the blanks with can or can’t:
1. Man … travel through space now. 2. He … reach the moon and walk there. 3.
He … even drive on its surface. 4. But one still … breathe without extra oxygen
and you certainly … stay there very long. 5. When we … fly there as easily as we
fly to other countries of the earth, holidays will be very different.
4. Fill in the blanks, using could and couldn’t:
I had a terrible dream last night. I … open the door because it was locked.
Althought I tried to shout, I … . I … hear people laughing outside, but although I
banged on the door, they … hear me. Through the smoke I … see a window, but
when I tried to reach it I … move. I … feel myself getting hottter and hotter and I
… breathe. Suddenly I woke up. No wonder I was hot and … breathe. My cat was
sitting on top of my face
5. Give two negative answers to each of the following questions. Explain the difference:
1. Must I go now?. 2. Need I come very early tomorrow?. 3. Must he write a
composition for tomorrow’s class? 4. Must he take this medicine twice a day?. 5.
Must I type this text? 6. Need I explain everything to you? 7. Must I be in by ten
o’clock? 8.Need you take such things in earnest? 9. Need you always lie like that?
10. Need he stay at the office until 6 o’clock today?
6. Use must not or need not to fill the spaces in the following sentences:
1. Visitors … walk on the grass. 2. You … take an umbrella. 3. You … return the
books earlier than 2 weeks. 4. You … drive fast; there is a speed limit here. 5.
You … water the flowers; it will rain soon. 6. We … leave so early; we can take a
taxi up to the station. 7. You … smoke in this room. 8. You … talk to other
candidates during the exam. 9. We … miss this train. The next one is only due
after five hours. 10. One … travel on a bus without a ticket. 11. One … buy a
ticket for a slow train in advance. 12. You … think the others to be less intelligent
than yourself. 13. You … take this medicine, it will do you harm.
7. Fill in the blanks with must, mustn’t or needn’t:
“It’s as easy as boiling an egg” But boiling an egg is difficult. The egg … come
straight from the refrigerator because it will be too cold. And it … be fresh. It
certainly … be cracked. Some people say the water … be boiling but others say it
… be cold. You … put the egg into the water gently to stop it cracking. You …
time it carefully although you …have a stopwatch and you … watch it the whole
time. Enjoy your egg!
8. Fill in the blanks with should or would:
1. You … not go to bed so late at night. 2. … you help me solve this problem? 3. I
… hurry up in order not to miss the train. 4. You … invite John to the party, too.
5. When I was a child, my mother … read me stories. 6. My grandmother … sit
for hours watching TV. 7. … you be so kind and pass me the salt, please? 8. You
… have told me the truth from the very beginning. 9. He always makes mistakes
because he … never take my advice. 10. You … not eat so many sweets if you
don’t want to be fat. 11. You … not expect everybody to obey you. 12. John looks
pale; he … take a week’s holiday.
9. Fill in the blanks with shall or will:
1. He … read for hours on end. 2. … you sit down, please? 3. This … be John’s
house. 4. You … do this whether you like it or not. 5. If you win the contest, you
… have a nice present. 6. Go to sleep, I promise you … not be disturbed. 7. He …
often come to play chess with my brother. 8. She … write an article for this
periodical every week. 9. This letter is full of mistakes; you … re-type it. 10. He
always does what he. … 11. This radio … not work. 12. You … stop making this
noise right away. 13. … you correct my translation, please? 14 … you tell me the
truth for once?
10. Turn the following sentences into the future, using the model verb substitutes:
1. He can swim very well. 2. I must go soon. 3. You may leave earlier today. 4.
She can lend you that book. 5. The child may have another cake. 6. You may not
smoke here. 7. I can translate ten pages a day. 8. He may not come in wearing
dirty boots. 9. Can you help me? 10. I must look up the words in the dictionary.
11. Jane can type very quickly. 12. She can play the piano well. 13. I must send
her a birthday card. 14. We must speak to him about it. 15. I must learn English.
16. You may not speak to your mother like that. 17. He must study this subject
seriously. 18. She can read and write at the age of five. 19. Everybody may
borrow books from this library. 20. You must not wait long.
11. Turn the sentences from exercise (10) into the past tense, using modal verb substitutes
were necessary
12. Give the following sentences a past meaning using the perfect infinitive:
1. John must be ill. 2. It can’t be too late. 3. It might rain. 4. He must be delayed at
the office. 5. You might write to me more often. 6. You should visit your sick
friend in hospital. 7. He ought to tell me the truth. 8. You might change your mind
about that. 9. He may be at home. 10. He should go to the lectures every day. 11.
It can’t be easy to learn Chinese. 12. You can’t be very pleased with this piece of
news. 13. You might pay more attention to your work. 14. You needn’t do this.
15. You can’t see a bear in this part of the country. 16. I can’t be very pleased
when receiving such news. 17. I needn’t buy milk; there is plenty in the fridge 18.
He must be in the garden at this time of the day. 19. It must be difficult to climb
this mountain. 20. You shouldn’t go to bed so late, that’s why you are always
tired.
13. Insert “didn’t need to” or “needn’t have”, according to the meaning:
1. I. … (answer) the questions, which was very convenient. 2. I … (answer) the
questions, which would have saved me a lot of trouble 3. I … (buy) a new map of
London as my friend lent me one. 4. You … (say) anything about it as I knew the
truth anyway. 5. You … (lend) him so many books; he will never read them all. 6.
We … (wait) too long; he was back soon. 7. I … (see) him for that; I wrote him a
letter. 8.You … (wake) me so early today, it is Sunday. 9. You … (wait) for me, I
could have found the way by myself.. 10. The student … (write) such a long
composition because the teacher won’t have time to read it all.
14. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences by using must, can’t or needn’t with the
perfect infinitive:
1. It … (rain) here; the road is dry. 2. I haven’t got my bag with me; I … (leave) it
on the bus. 3. The child … (leave) home; I locked the door and took the key with
me. 4. You … (see) Ann yesterday. She is in the mountains. 5. You … (lend) him
so many books; he will never read them all. 6. John … (do) such a shing; he is a
nice boy. 7. I didn’t hear the phone; I … (be) in the garden. 8. He … (swim)
across the Danube; he is a very poor swimmer. 9. You … (lend) him your
text/book. He has one of his own. 10. You … (call) for the doctor. I am all right
now. 11. He … (be) at home, the light was on in his room. 12. It … (take) you a
long time to knit the dress. 13. You … (be) stung by a bee. 14. It … (be) too late
when you arrived home because I wasn’t asleep yet.
15. Make polite requests with will or would to get the following answers, as in the given
example:Wife: Get me a drink of water, will you, dear?
Husband: Certainly. Would you prefer it iced?
1. Customer: … ?
Shop/assistant: Certainly, sir. Which brand of cigarettes do you prefer?
2. Policeman: … ?
Driver: Yes, of course, I will show you my driving-licence.
3. Mother: … ?
Son: Of course. Shall I fetch you the red pen or the blue one?
4. Teacher: … ?
Student: Do you want to see my grammar exercise or my composition?
5. Girl: … ?
Friend: Of course I can lend you any of my books.
16. Make up a dialogue between a shop/assistant and customer intending to buy a pair of
shoes, inserting all the modal verb suiting the context.
17. Translate into English:
1. Toţi studenţii pot şi trebuie să facă această lucrare. 2. Va trebui să mă ajuţi mai
mult astăzi. 3. Sunt sigur că vei putea găsi timp să faci aceasta. 4. Mi-a spus mama
că pot să întârzii după ora 10. Mi s-a permis să dau referatul mâine în loc de
astăzi. 6. Ştiam să cânt la pian când eram copil. 7. Nu ştiu să înot. 8. Ai putea sămi
telefonezi mai des. 9. Ai fi putut să-mi scrii când ai fost în Anglia. 10. Ar
trebui ca toţi copiii să facă treburi în casă. 11. Ar fi trebuit să citesc bibliografia
pentru acest seminar. 12. Toată lumea va fi prezentă la şedinţă. 13. Va trebui să
plec peste o jumătate de oră. 14. Nu trebuie să-ţi cari singură valizele în gară, poţi
să iei un cărucior. 15. Trebuie să-mi schimb pantofii când intru în casă pentru că
sunt plini de noroi. 16. E nevoie să urcăm până la Cota 1400 pe jos? Nu, putem
lua autobuzul sau telefericul. 17. Nu a fost nevoie să-i telefonez Ioanei pentru că
urma să vină la mine peste o jumătate de oră. 18. Nu era nevoie să-mi faci cafea,
am băut deja două astăzi. 19. Nu era nevoie să spui mulţumesc când ai aflat ora
exactă la numărul 958, întrucât informaţia era înregistrată pe bandă. 20. Nu se
poate să fi plouat aici. Şoseaua e uscată. 21. Nu te mai lăuda; orice student ar fi
putut face această lucrare. 22. Nu se poate ca profesorul să fi fost mulţumit cu
acest răspuns. 23. Probabil că eram la facultate când m-ai căutat. 24. Când eram
elev, obişnuiam să citesc câte o carte pe zi. 25. Am cerut să vorbesc cu directorul,
dar acesta nu a vrut să vină la telefon. Ar fi trebuit să insist. 26. Niciodată nu vrei
să mă asculţi. De aceea intri în încurcături. 27. Du-te să vezi filmul; s-ar putea săţi
placă. 28. Nu se poate ca Shakespeare să fi scris această piesă, întrucât
evenimentele menţionate aici s-au petrecut după moartea lui. 29. De ce ai vorbit
atât de tare? S-ar fi putut să te audă cineva. 30. Îţi promit că vei avea cartea mâine.
31. Nu se poate să fi găsit uşa deschisă. O încuiasem chiar eu.
THE GERUND
1. Translate into Romanian pointing out the gerunds in each sentence and show their
function:
a) Avoid making mistakes in your composition. 2. He admitted having done wrong. 3.
She delayed answering my complaint. 4. He denied knowing anything about the plan
of his friends. 5. This room needs dusting. 6. Their house wants repairing. 7. He
finished reading the novel.
b) He was fined for crossing when the red light was on. 2. Owing to his starting late he
couldn’t be in time for the flight for which he had booked a seat. 3. He didn’t write his
examination paper because of his being late.
c) On arriving they called us up. 2. After having received your letter we’ll be able to look
into the matter. 3. Think before speaking.
d) He succeeded in convincing us he was right. 2. We insisted on going there
immediately. 3. I relied on receiving a correct answer. 4. I look forward to hearing
from you soon. 5. I thought of replying at once. 6. I prevented them from doing such a
thing.
e) She was angry at his laughing at her. 2. I was fond of reading fiction. 3. I was
surprised at hearing such news. 4. What is worth doing is worth doing well.
f) There was no hope of succeeding in our attempt. 2. “The Importance of Being
Earnest” is a play by Oscar Wilde. 3. You’ll have your chance of saying what you
think. 4. There was a possibility of getting better results.
2. Translate into English using gerunds wherever possible:
1. Citirea cărţilor de beletristică este un lucru plăcut şi interesant. 2. Este util să
citeşti cărţi noi. 3. A citi cărţi este o ocupaţie utilă. 4. Intenţiona să plece mai
devreme. 5. Încetă să mai citească. 6. A reuşit să găsească soluţia problemei. 7.
Îmi place să călătoresc. 8. Ploaia l-a împiedicat să ajungă la timp. 9. Nu avea nici
o obiecţie ca el să mai rămână câteva zile. 10. Nu avea intenţia de a te jigni. 11.
Cu toate că era tânăr, cunoştea meseria sa foarte bine. 12. Datorită faptului că ai
plecat mai devreme, ai prins trenul. 13. Problema a fost dată spre a fi rezolvată.
14. Şi-au petrecut ziua certându-se. 15. Te supără dacă fumez aici? 16. N-am
nimic împotrivă ca el să lucreze în această cameră. 17. Îmi place să citesc seara.
3. Translate into English, using set phrases such as:
It is no use; it is no good; it is worth (while), can’t help; can’t stand (can’t bear):
1. Nu are rost să plângi după laptele vărsat. 2. Această carte merită să fie citită. 3.
Nu are rost să cumperi aceşti pantofi, căci nu sunt măsura ta. 4. Nu mă pot abţine
să râd când îl aud cum se făleşte. 5. Merită osteneala să te duci să vezi această
expoziţie. 6. Nu poate să suporte să se râdă de el.
4. Complete the following sentences using gerunds:
Model: a) I stopped …
I stopped talking.
1. I postponed … 2. He hates …
3. They suggested … 4. Would you mind…
5. Excuse … 6. We deferred …
Model: b) He expressed his disappointment at …
He expressed his disappointment at having been cheated.
1. I’m in the habit of … 2. What’s your reason for … 3. He showed surprise at … 4. I
had the pleasure of … 5. Fancy the idea of … 6. A friend put him in the way of … 7.
His habit of …
Model: c) He was accused of …
He was accused of having broken the laws.
1. I’m engaged in … 2. She objected to … 3. We have devoted our attention to … 4.
They have succeeded in … 5. He felt like … 6. He complained of … 7. Thank you
for … 8. They aimed at … 9. They abstained from … 10. In the classroom, I refrain
from …
Model: d) I’m proud of …
I’m proud of having such good results in my examinations.
1. They were afraid of … 2. I’m capable of … 3. We are fond of … 4. They were
tired of …
4. Translate into English using
a) the “Genitive with the Gerund” construction:
1. Îmi place că el spune asta. 2. Nu am nimic împotrivă ca ea să fumeze aici. 3. Ei
îi displăcea ca el să fumeze ţigări din foi. 4. El apreciază foarte mult participarea
Mariei la discuţie. 5. Contez pe faptul că mă va ajuta să rezolvăm chestiunea.
b) the “Accusative with the Gerund”
1. Ea apreciază (faptul) că ei colaborează în aceste probleme dificile. 2. Te superi
dacă iau cu împrumut aceste cărţi? 3. Ploaia a împiedicat plecarea mea. 4. M-am
gândit ca el să meargă neîntârziat acolo.
6. Replace the subordinate clauses by gerunds:
1. I insist that he should help us in the present circumstances. 2. I remember that I
have read this book. 3. He admitted that he had made a mistake. 4. He objected
that we should leave so soon. 5. We are keen that you should come and see us. 6. I
prefer that you should make up your mind at once. 7. I decided that I should reply
at once.
VERBAL CONSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine two sentences into one, using the “Accusative with the Infinitive”:
Model: I saw him. 2. He left the room.
I saw him leave the room.
1. a) I hear him. b) He speaks in the next room.
2. a) I watched them. b) They played football.
3. a) We saw them. b) They danced in the hall.
4. a) I helped my friend. b) He solved some exercises in mathematics.
5. a) I expected you. b) You came by car.
6. a) I noticed the sea. b) It grew rough.
2. Use the for + Infinitive construction according to the model:
Model: The task is quite easy. He can perform it.
The task is quite easy for him to perform.
1. They shouted. They asked us to stop.
2. This a new bag. You can wear it with your blue dress.
3. We are sorry. You have to leave so soon.
4. Here is an armchair. You may sit down in it.
5. I bought a book. You can read it during the holidays.
6. Thursday is a good day. George leaves on Thursday.
3. Substitute the verb paying attention to the use of the “Accusative with Infinitive”
construction: Mind the use of long or short infinitives:
Model: I saw him work hard.
noticed I noticed him work hard.
watched I watched him work hard.
expected I expected him to work hard.
made I made him work hard.
wish I wish him to work hard.
1. He wished us to come again.
made
expected
saw
heard
watched
liked
2. I dislike them to quarrel about it.
made
heard
expected
hated
wished
let
wanted
3. She made me leave the room.
wished
saw
expected
let
invited
wanted
heard
4. I mean you to do it.
expect
let
shall see
shall watch
heard
made
forbade
wished
advise
4. Translate into English using the “Accusative with the Infinitive” construction:
1. Vreau ca tu să faci asta. 2. Declară că noi nu putem rezolva această problemă.
3. Mă faci să râd. 4. Vrei să mă ajuţi să duc acest bagaj la gară? 5. A admis că
ştirea e adevărată. 6. Voia să-i împrumut o sumă de bani. 7. Ce te-a făcut să
întârzii? 8. M-au invitat să vin mâine la ei. 9. L-am văzut căzând. 10. L-am auzit
cântând.
5. Change the following into “Nominative with the Infinitive” constructions:
Model: I expect him to come early.
He is expected to come early.
1. It happened that he is leaving.
2. I know him to be a good student.
3. He sees that we are coming.
4. We hear that he is singing.
5. I noticed that he was learning hard.
6. It proved that the boy was very good at foreign languages.
7. It is sure that he will arrive in time.
8. It is likely that they’ll be here at noon.
9. It is said that the bankers of today descend from the goldsmiths.
6. Translate into English using “Nominative with the Infinitive” constructions:
1. Se crede că ei sunt vinovaţi pentru cele întâmplate. 2. Se ştie că el este cel mai
bun din toţi. 3. Se aşteaptă ca noi să obţinem rezultate foarte bune. 4. S-a
întâmplat ca noi să putem să-i ajutăm. 5. Părea că are vreo 30 de ani. 6. S-a
dovedit că avea dreptate. 7. Li s-a cerut să plece. 8. S-a crezut că vor reuşi. 9. Se
anunţă că vremea este favorabilă. 10. A fost auzit repetând aceste cuvinte de mai
multe ori. 11. Au fost văzuţi plecând dimineaţa.
7. Change the following according to the model, to obtain an absolute participial
construction:
a) He learned very much.
He got tired. Learning very much, he got tired.
b) He had lost his pencil. Having lost his pencil, he had to buy a new one.
He had to buy a new one.
1. She had finished her book. She went to the library to borrow a new one. 2. They
have received the letter. They wrote an answer. 3. They got an inquiry. They sent the
offer. 4. They did not obtain an order. They drew up a follow-up letter. 5. He drove
very fast. He arrived in time. 6. He heard a noise. He rushed to the place from where
the noise came. 7. We expect them. So we stayed home the whole day. 8. We saw the
child. We were very glad.
8. Translate the following sentences into Romanian and point out the participial
constructions:
1. They could hear him reading aloud in the adjoining room. 2. We saw them
leaving the house. 3. We watched them preparing the cookies. 4. I found him
sleeping. 5. I got my hair cut. 6. I had my shoes mended. 7. I felt the raindrops
pouring down along my face. 8. They were seen running away. 9. She was heard
crying. 10. They were left quarrelling. 11. We were kept waiting.
9. Translate into English using the construction “Accusative with the Participle”:
1. L-am văzut fumând când se pregătea să intre în sala de examen. 2. L-am auzit
cântând ieri dimineaţa. 3. L-am găsit citind un roman interesant. 4. M-a urmărit
traversând strada pe culoarea roşie a semaforului şi m-a amendat. 5. Simţea
lacrimile umplându-i ochii la gândul nereuşitei. 6. Trebuie să-mi dau hainele la
curăţat. 7. Trebuie să mă tund. 8. Nu ne face să aşteptăm aşa de mult. 9. Am auzit
lângă mine pe cineva ţipând.
THE ADVERB
1. Choose the correct form from those given in brackets:
- (near, nearly) 1. They … resemble each other.
2. The book is … at hand.
3. She … fainted.
- (hard, hardly) 1. I could … understand what he was saying.
2. He tried … and finally found the right solution.
- (short, shortly) 1. They will .. return from their holidays.
2. Our supplies ran …
3. The chairman cut … the proceedings.
- (direct, directly) 1. The bus goes there …
2. Go to him … and tell him about it.
3. Come in …
- (late, lately) 1. I think he’ll be …
2. Have spoken to him …?
- (right, rightly) 1. Turn to the … and then go straight on.
2. He went … to the end of the street.
3. You have acted …
4. It serves him …
2. Make sentences with adverbs of manner:
Model: He is a good student.
He learns well.
1. He is a careful reader of English books. 2. The rooms have poor furniture. 3.
She is a fast typist. 4. He spoke in a loud voice. 5. He gave us correct answers. 6.
They sent a prompt reply to our letter. 7. His answer was clear and concise. The
correspondent must use a courteous tone in his letters. 9. His greeting was
respectful.
3. Add an adverb of time to each of the following sentences (either an adverb of indefinite
time or frequency or an adverb of definite time):
Examples:
- He is reading a novel. - He is reading a novel now.
- He wrote a reply to the letter. - He wrote a reply to the letter yesterday.
- He has asked some questions. - He has often/seldom asked some questions.
- He had arrived. - He had arrived before.
1. It is cold. 2. They have run fast. 3. I went to the theatre and saw an interesting
performance. 4. They will attend the lectures. 5. We had opened the window. 6.
Mary plays the piano. 7. She has performed a well known tune. 8. She will spend
her holidays at the seaside. 9. We spent our holidays in a mountain resort. 10.
Have you been to the Danube Delta?
4. Find the right place for the adverbs in the following sentences:
1. I have not answered her letter (yet). 2. They have failed in the exams. (seldom).
3. Have you been to theatre performances (often)? 4. We have met there (never).
5. You have received a prompt reply from them (usually). 6. They have found
someone suitable (already). 7. George is late for school (never). 8. Mr.Smith
travels to London by car (always). 9. John Brown goes shopping (every week).
10. He bought a new car (last month). 11. He called on us (two days ago). 12. He
had left the office (an hour before).
5. Use the following adverbs in different degrees of comparison in sentences of your own:
-well, fast, high, easily, far, little, slowly.
Example:
- hard - He works harder than you.
- He works as hard as you.
- He does not work as hard as you.
- He works the hardest of you all.
6. Put the adverbs in the right place:
a) 1. Father talked to her (kindly). 2. He speaks English (fluently). 3. He watched
the children play (silently). 4. They wrote the homework given by the teacher
(carefully). 5. I know English (very well). 6. He liked our house (very much). 7. I
agree to the terms of the contract (fully). 8. It is cold (too). 9. We have anything
to say on this (scarcely).
b) 1. He is due to arrive (early, tomorrow). 2. He will come (here, next week). 3.
They arrived (there, yesterday evening). 4. He left Bucharest (at night, late). 5.
She will work (gladly, tomorrow, there). 6. They return (home, always,
willingly).
7. Use still, yet or already:
1. Are you … here? 2. He has … left home, but he hasn’t arrived at my office …
3. He is … there. 4. They haven’t answered … 5. We haven’t received the advice
of dispatch …, but we hope the goods are … on their way to us.
8. Translate into English:
1. Am mers şi mai departe şi am acceptat ideea lui. 2. Am mers mai departe decât
tine în excursia de săptămâna trecută. 3. El ştie mai puţin decât tine, iar fratele lui
ştie cel mai puţin dintre voi toţi şi trebuie să lucreze sârguincios ca să poată să se
prezinte la examen. 4. Ne plăcea tot mai puţin felul în care îşi îndeplinea
obligaţiile sale. 5. Cu cât mergem mai iute, cu atât vom ajunge mai departe. 6. În
cele din urmă el găsi soluţia cea mai bună. 7. Cel mai târziu mâine vom expedia
marfa comandată de clienţii noştri. 8. Mi-ai dat mai puţin de lucru ca de obicei.
9. Add enough to the following sentences:
1. He is tall to reach where the things are. 2. I have money to pay the bill. 3. He is
old to decide for himself. 4. It is cold to make a fire inside. 5. They have time to
think it over.
10. Replace each group of underlined words by an adverb given at the end of the exercise:
1. Although unwilling to do it, he had to be rude in his answer. 2. Certain natural
substances can be obtained by artificial means. 3. He was known to have worked
with unremitting effort. 4. He had always worked with care and thoroughness. 5.
They were waiting for the answer with anxious fear. 6. His point of view seemed
correct but from the opposite point of view he was wrong.
- apprehensibely, conversely, conscientiously, sythetically, reluctantly, tirelessly.
11. Translate into English, paying attention to the different ways in which the Romanian
adverb “mai” is expressed in English:
1. Ce ţi-a mai spus? 2. Mai dă-mi o cană de ceai. 3. Cel mai bun lucru e să
aştepţi. 4. Mai niciodată nu m-a crezut pe mine. 5. Acest răspuns e şi mai
prost. 6. Mai stăm câteva minute.
12. Translate, using some compound adverbs from the list given below.
1. În zilele noastre ştiinţa a realizat progrese enorme. 2. A găsit metodele prin care
să obţină rezultatul dorit. 3. A semnat şi prin aceasta a confirmat primirea
coletului. 4. Părţile contractante vor fi denumite mai jos în acest document
vânzătorul şi cumpărătorul. 5. Care sunt metalele din care se fac bijuteriile? 6.
Orice acord la care se va ajunge de acum încolo trebuie să fie conform cu
înţelegerile anterioare.
- hereafter, hereinafter, nowadays, thereby, whereby, whereof.
13. Replace the underlined adverbial phrases by simple adverbs and make any necessary
changes:
1. At last he won the prize. 2. In the long run he proved he was right. 3. Little by
little he persuaded us to support him. 4. He lives a long way off. 5. They parted for
good. 6. At that time the things were not clear. 7. You are wrong, to a large extent.
8. From time to time we paid them a visit. 9. I lived in this place some years ago.
10. He has been absent in recent times, on account of his illness.
THE ADVERB
1. Choose the correct form from those given in brackets:
- (near, nearly) 1. They … resemble each other.
2. The book is … at hand.
3. She … fainted.
- (hard, hardly) 1. I could … understand what he was saying.
2. He tried … and finally found the right solution.
- (short, shortly) 1. They will .. return from their holidays.
2. Our supplies ran …
3. The chairman cut … the proceedings.
- (direct, directly) 1. The bus goes there …
2. Go to him … and tell him about it.
3. Come in …
- (late, lately) 1. I think he’ll be …
2. Have spoken to him …?
- (right, rightly) 1. Turn to the … and then go straight on.
2. He went … to the end of the street.
3. You have acted …
4. It serves him …
2. Make sentences with adverbs of manner:
Model: He is a good student.
He learns well.
1. He is a careful reader of English books. 2. The rooms have poor furniture. 3.
She is a fast typist. 4. He spoke in a loud voice. 5. He gave us correct answers. 6.
They sent a prompt reply to our letter. 7. His answer was clear and concise. The
correspondent must use a courteous tone in his letters. 9. His greeting was
respectful.
3. Add an adverb of time to each of the following sentences (either an adverb of indefinite
time or frequency or an adverb of definite time):
Examples:
- He is reading a novel. - He is reading a novel now.
- He wrote a reply to the letter. - He wrote a reply to the letter yesterday.
- He has asked some questions. - He has often/seldom asked some questions.
- He had arrived. - He had arrived before.
1. It is cold. 2. They have run fast. 3. I went to the theatre and saw an interesting
performance. 4. They will attend the lectures. 5. We had opened the window. 6.
Mary plays the piano. 7. She has performed a well known tune. 8. She will spend
her holidays at the seaside. 9. We spent our holidays in a mountain resort. 10.
Have you been to the Danube Delta?
4. Find the right place for the adverbs in the following sentences:
1. I have not answered her letter (yet). 2. They have failed in the exams. (seldom).
3. Have you been to theatre performances (often)? 4. We have met there (never).
5. You have received a prompt reply from them (usually). 6. They have found
someone suitable (already). 7. George is late for school (never). 8. Mr.Smith
travels to London by car (always). 9. John Brown goes shopping (every week).
10. He bought a new car (last month). 11. He called on us (two days ago). 12. He
had left the office (an hour before).
5. Use the following adverbs in different degrees of comparison in sentences of your own:
-well, fast, high, easily, far, little, slowly.
Example:
- hard - He works harder than you.
- He works as hard as you.
- He does not work as hard as you.
- He works the hardest of you all.
6. Put the adverbs in the right place:
a) 1. Father talked to her (kindly). 2. He speaks English (fluently). 3. He watched
the children play (silently). 4. They wrote the homework given by the teacher
(carefully). 5. I know English (very well). 6. He liked our house (very much). 7. I
agree to the terms of the contract (fully). 8. It is cold (too). 9. We have anything
to say on this (scarcely).
b) 1. He is due to arrive (early, tomorrow). 2. He will come (here, next week). 3.
They arrived (there, yesterday evening). 4. He left Bucharest (at night, late). 5.
She will work (gladly, tomorrow, there). 6. They return (home, always,
willingly).
7. Use still, yet or already:
1. Are you … here? 2. He has … left home, but he hasn’t arrived at my office …
3. He is … there. 4. They haven’t answered … 5. We haven’t received the advice
of dispatch …, but we hope the goods are … on their way to us.
8. Translate into English:
1. Am mers şi mai departe şi am acceptat ideea lui. 2. Am mers mai departe decât
tine în excursia de săptămâna trecută. 3. El ştie mai puţin decât tine, iar fratele lui
ştie cel mai puţin dintre voi toţi şi trebuie să lucreze sârguincios ca să poată să se
prezinte la examen. 4. Ne plăcea tot mai puţin felul în care îşi îndeplinea
obligaţiile sale. 5. Cu cât mergem mai iute, cu atât vom ajunge mai departe. 6. În
cele din urmă el găsi soluţia cea mai bună. 7. Cel mai târziu mâine vom expedia
marfa comandată de clienţii noştri. 8. Mi-ai dat mai puţin de lucru ca de obicei.
9. Add enough to the following sentences:
1. He is tall to reach where the things are. 2. I have money to pay the bill. 3. He is
old to decide for himself. 4. It is cold to make a fire inside. 5. They have time to
think it over.
10. Replace each group of underlined words by an adverb given at the end of the exercise:
1. Although unwilling to do it, he had to be rude in his answer. 2. Certain natural
substances can be obtained by artificial means. 3. He was known to have worked
with unremitting effort. 4. He had always worked with care and thoroughness. 5.
They were waiting for the answer with anxious fear. 6. His point of view seemed
correct but from the opposite point of view he was wrong.
- apprehensibely, conversely, conscientiously, sythetically, reluctantly, tirelessly.
11. Translate into English, paying attention to the different ways in which the Romanian
adverb “mai” is expressed in English:
1. Ce ţi-a mai spus? 2. Mai dă-mi o cană de ceai. 3. Cel mai bun lucru e să
aştepţi. 4. Mai niciodată nu m-a crezut pe mine. 5. Acest răspuns e şi mai
prost. 6. Mai stăm câteva minute.
12. Translate, using some compound adverbs from the list given below.
1. În zilele noastre ştiinţa a realizat progrese enorme. 2. A găsit metodele prin care
să obţină rezultatul dorit. 3. A semnat şi prin aceasta a confirmat primirea
coletului. 4. Părţile contractante vor fi denumite mai jos în acest document
vânzătorul şi cumpărătorul. 5. Care sunt metalele din care se fac bijuteriile? 6.
Orice acord la care se va ajunge de acum încolo trebuie să fie conform cu
înţelegerile anterioare.
- hereafter, hereinafter, nowadays, thereby, whereby, whereof.
13. Replace the underlined adverbial phrases by simple adverbs and make any necessary
changes:
1. At last he won the prize. 2. In the long run he proved he was right. 3. Little by
little he persuaded us to support him. 4. He lives a long way off. 5. They parted for
good. 6. At that time the things were not clear. 7. You are wrong, to a large extent.
8. From time to time we paid them a visit. 9. I lived in this place some years ago.
10. He has been absent in recent times, on account of his illness.