Verb Tenses (active and passive) ‘A. Put the verbs in the correct form, using either the simple present or present continuous. 1 The line (be) very bad. I can't hear what you (say) 2 ‘I (look) for a builder to do some work on my house. You (know) anyone who (be) suitable and (be) available at the moment?” “Afraid not. Everyone I (know) (be) up to their eyes in work repairing the damage caused by the gales. 3 Rob, I (try) to concentrate, but it (be) very difficult. The children (make) too much noise. You (think) you could take them out for an hour or so? 4 I (believe) Tom (be) the person who (try) to sell his house. He (want) to move out of the city. 5 Jeremy, you (be) rather foolish in refusing to speak. Everyone (get) rather fed up with your behaviour. 6 Anna (make) a lot of progress learning Russian mainly because she now (spend) two hours a day studying, 7 Talways (tidy up) my desk before I (leave) work. 8 Tony always (criticise) his family ~ they never (do) the right thing as far as he is concerned, 9 Tell me all about it. I (die) to hear all the latest news. 10 Oil (leak) from a petrol tanker onto the motorway, so the police (close) off the section between Junctions 5 and 6 B Complete the following sentences by putting the verb in either a future or present form as appropriate. 1 Stephen not (be) happy until he (be promoted) to the Chief Accountant's job. 2 When the sun (set) this evening, the sky for miles around (be suffused) with a rosy glow. 3 I (ring) my parents the moment I (get) my exam results 4 Many industrialists (predict) a major increase in trade when the new road network (come) into operation. 55 By the time Anthony (finish) work on the design project, he (be) exhausted. 6 The Opposition (be) ready and waiting to exploit any sign of disunity in the government ‘as soon as it (appear). 7 Ifyou (have) no objections, we (go ahead) with the project as planned. 8 What (be) the state of the planet when we (reach) the year 2100? 9 Once we (get) a reply from the ministry, we (be able) to confirm our intentions. 10 Before Alice (sign) the contract, she (need) to ensure that every detail (be) correct.‘Verb Tenses (active and passive) © Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, using either the present perfect or simple past tense as appropriate. 1 This is the first time I (visit) Hungary 2 On my visit to the school, I (be) pleased to see that many students (know) how to handle computers. 3 This is the best steak I ever (taste) 4 Sally (live) and (work) in Paris for several years now. 5 For five years from 1980 to 1985, Tom (live) in Madrid. 6 L already (read) 200 pages and so I expect to finish the book by the weekend. 7 Yesterday I (work) for six hours and (complete) two reports 8 Jane is only six and already she (pass) two piano exams. 9 Although I (know) Sarah and Frank for many years now, I never (understand) what (attract) them to each other. 10 I never (be) so pleased as when I (hear) Anna had recovered from her illness. D Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, using either the past continuous or simple past tense. 1 Jane (live) in France when she (meet) the man who later (become) her husband. 2 When Terry (hear) the job he (want) (be) his, he immediately (invite) his colleagues out for a celebration. 3 When the liner (hit) the iceberg, most of the passengers (have) dinner. 4 I (can) not accept Richard’s invitation to dinner because I (go) to the theatre that night. 5 Try as we might, it (be) impossible to manoeuvre our sailing boat out of the harbour. ‘The wind (blow) too hard. 6 It (be) a horrible day. Everything that (ean) go wrong (do). The children (get) up late. ‘The cat (be) sick. The car not (start). I just (want) to give up. 7 The clock just (strike) twelve when Cinderella (come) back from the ball. 8 The manager not (be) available. He (travel) to a meeting in Edinburgh. 9 Annabel not (ride) in the horse trials. No one (be) surprised when she later (announce) she (expect) a baby. 10 It (be) a fabulous day. The sun (shine), the birds (sing), the countryside (look) lovely.E Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, using the present perfect simple or continuous 1 appropriate 1 1(love) Tim all my life. 2 Talways (want) to travel around the world. 3 How many times I (be asked) why I live in the country? 4 Doctor, I (have) trouble with my hands for months, What's wrong? 5 Colin (have) bad headaches for two months now. They suspect a brain tumour. 6 You don't know what vir means! How long you (study) Latin? 7 Litry) to get you on the phone for over a week. Where you (be)? 8 Janet’s looking very fit! “Yes, she (go) to exercise classes.” 9 Who (take) my pen? a 10 ‘Who (sleep) in my bed” Jane asked, looking at the rumpled sheets. F Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, using the past perfect or simple past tense as appropriate. Use the continuous forms if necessary. 1 Jake (graduate) in 1987 and (spend) two years applying for jobs before he (be offered) the one he (want). 2 Tom (look) for the right person to be his wife for five years before he (meet) and (fall) in love with Sally 3 If I (know) what to do, everything would have been all right. As it (be), everything (go) wrong. 4 Mary (have) a nervous breakdown last year. No one (be) surprised. She (work) much too hard for months. 5 The garden (look) absolutely lovely last year, mainly because of the hard work we (put in) the previous autumn. 6 Stories about the two politicians and their liaison (circulate) for many months before any statement (be made). 7 John (receive) treatment for two years before he finally (be told) he (be cured). 8 Before she (begin) her university course, Lesley (read) all the books on the first year reading list. 49 ‘Why you not (go) to see the film at the Odeon last week! (think) you (ike) Paul Newman. ‘Because I already (see) it. I (go) when it (be) on in London’ 10 ‘Why (be) you not at the meeting?” ‘not (be told) about it’ uwVerb Tenses (active and passive) G Add the appropriate question tag to the following sentences. EXAMPLE: I suppose you wish I would come and see you whenever I can, don’t you? 1 You used to be in the army, ie 2 T'm going to play Hamlet in our next production, 3 They ought to be here by now, o 2 4 She must have known what was happening, eens? 5 You'd better get the work finished by Tuesday, 2 6 I think you'd rather do it by yourself, ....c.:0sn 2 7 It might have been a ghost, 8 It couldn't have been done by an animal, eves 9 T'm not sure that that’s the right answer, 0. osc 2 10 It’sa pity that Sheila didn't know about it, . Q 11 It will be the minister who decides what must be done if people refuse to pay, 12 He wouldn't have been arrested if the policeman hadn't seen through his disguise, > 13 Let's go to the beach, .... 7 2 14 Stop that noise, ! 15 Tdon't think he could have known what was going to happen, 16 Don't spend all your money at once, saad 17 They didn't, . vse 18 Do have another cucumber sandwich, . 2 19 Nobody wil believe that you are really Roger Tichborne, 20 There was nothing wwe could do about the decisions he made, H. Rewrite these sentences using a passive verb. Do not use by. EXAMPLE: They asked everyone to make a statement. Everyone was asked to make a statement. 1 You must check all the pipes for leaks. 2 They announced an increased dividend. 3 We will investigate the complaint thoroughly. 4 No one knew the place where the treasure was buried. 5 Somebody might have informed the police. 6 No one had noticed the eracks in the side of the fuselage, 7 No one would ever have known the truth if we hadn't found the diary. 8 They would have arrested him if they had realised his true identity. 9 Did they discuss anything important? 10 On the site you have to wear a safety helmet.I Rewrite these sentences using a passive verb. Include by in your sentence. 1 Guards patrol these premises every day. 2 The doctor is studying the X-rays. 3 The mechanic will repair the car tomorrow. 4 Martin, our new gardener, has planted seven apple trees. 5 The burglars took nothing of any real value 66 Robbers had opened the tomb long before archaeologists found it. 7 The smugglers were transferring the drugs from one car to another when the police arrived. 8 A famous architect is going to design Lord Fauntleroy's country-house. 9 Motorists convicted of speeding must pay a minimum fine of £100. 10 The museum might lose its annual government subsidy. I Rewrite the following sentences using the passive. Think carefully about whether or not the agent needs to be referred to and whether every verb in each sentence needs to be passive. 1 Someone told me that the best way to get marks off my trousers was to have them cleaned. 2 Tt was a shock for everyone when they announced the news of the disaster. 3 It was Newton who formulated the law of gravity. 4 Judith left the house under cover of darkness so that no one would see her. 5 An aide to the minister revealed details of the secret meeting with the representatives of the terrorist organisation. 6 They say that James is the most gifted mathematician the department has ever produced. 7 If they had found the accused guilty, the judge would surely have given him a prison sentence, 8 You must wash this sweater by hand. 9 We advise passengers travelling by air to wear comfortable clothing during long flights. 10 They are producing satellite dishes at the rate of 500 a week but they are selling slowly. 13Verb Tenses (active and passive) K Put the verbs in brackets into the correct passive form. 1 Foreign currency can (convert) into sterling at a number of points in the city, but the best rate and lowest commission charges (provide) at banks. 2 The impact of the postal strike began (feel) after only three days. 8 Visitors to the castle (show) around by an experienced guide. They not (allow) to wander around on their own. 4 ‘The nuclear power station at Berkeley currently (decommission), but the process not (finish) for a hundred years 5 Everyone (dress) up, as if they (invite) to a wedding, 6 Many medieval towns (damage) by fire because the houses (make) of wood. 7 By the end of next year, sixty houses (build) on that green field site. 8 Customers (ask) to ensure they (give) the correct change as mistakes cannot afterwards (rectify). 9 Trials now (conduct) to determine whether the aircraft is safe enough (use) by trainee pilots. 10 The identity of Jack the Ripper, a murderer responsible for a number of horrendous killings in the nineteenth century, never (establish).