Test Your Grammar Skills

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1.0 Tenses
Verb is the most important word in any English sentence. The form of a verb that depends on the
time at which an action occurred is called Tense. Tenses may indicate whether an action, activity,
or state occurs in the present, past or future time.

Tenses Time Auxiliary Verb (s) Example (Sentences)

(+) I like chips.

Present Simple regular time do / does (+) She likes chips
e.g. every day, always, am / are / is (be) (-) I do not like chips.
usually, often (-) She does not like chips.
(?) Do you like chips?
(?) Does he like chips?

(+) I am reading a book now

Present Continuous now or future (with time
phrase, e.g. at 8pm)
am / are / is (+) He is reading a book now
(-) I am not reading a book now
(-) They are not reading a book
now.
(?) Are you reading a book now?

(+) I met my friend yesterday.

Past Simple finished time in the past
e.g. last week, yesterday,
10 years ago
did (+) They met my friend yesterday
(-) I did not meet my friend
yesterday
(?) Did you meet your friend
yesterday?

(+) I was driving for two hours.

Past Continuous finished time in the past was / were (+) They were driving for two
e.g. last week hours.
(-) I was not driving for two hours.
(?) Were you driving for two
hours?

(+) I have finished my breakfast.

Present Perfect past up to now – unfinished
time, e.g. this week
have / has (-) I have not finished my
breakfast.
(+) She has finished her breakfast
(?) Have you finished your
breakfast?
(?) Has she finished her
breakfast?

(+) I have been playing football.

Present Perfect Continuous past up to now – unfinished
time, e.g. this week
Past Perfect time before another past
action
Modal Forms various times
Future with ‘will’ immediate future or predicted
future
Future with ‘going to’ planned future
have been / has been (-) I have not been playing
football.
(?) Have you been playing
football?
(+) I had been to Italy before.
had (-) I had not been to Italy before.
(?) Had you been to Italy before?
(+) I can swim.
modal auxiliary verbs (-) I cannot swim.
(?) Can you swim?
(+) I will pay for lunch.
will (-) I will not pay for lunch.
(?) Will you pay for lunch?
(+) I am going to join a gym.
am / is / are + going to (-) I am not going to join a gym.
(?) Are you going to join a gym?

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1.1 Simple Present Tense

FUNCTIONS
1. Expressed repeated action (includes the past, present
and future)
2. Expresses non-action (of a state or condition) or
indefinite occurrences
3. Expresses special short-term events/activities.
4. Expresses future action (especially with verbs of
arriving and departing) based on facts/information or
certain events/activities.
EXAMPLES
- Siti and Devi always bake cakes.
- The moon revolves around the earth.
- They travel to Kuala Lipis by car.
- They have many books.
- She hates her mother-in-law.
- I remember the day I married Shakirah.
- I declare this company bankrupt.
- I quit.
- They leave at 7a.m.
- The ship sails to Australia on Friday.
- The Puteri Gunung Ledang play begins at 8 p.m. on
Saturday.

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 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

BE
Positive: Negative: Question:

I am am not Am I?
you are are not Are you?
he is is not Is he?
she is is not Is she?
it is is not Is it?
we are are not Are we?
they are are not Are they?

DO

Positive: Negative: Question:

I do do not / don’t Do I?
you do do not / don’t Do you?
he does does not / doesn’t Does he?
she does does not / doesn’t Does she?
it does does not / doesn’t Does it?
we do do not / don’t Do we?
they do do not / don’t Do they?

HAVE

Positive: Negative*: Question:

I have have not / do not have Have I? / Do I have?

you have have not / do not have Have you? / Do you have?
he has has not / does not have Has he? / Does he have?
she has has not / does not have Has she? / Does she have?
it has has not / does not have Has it? / Does it have?
we have have not / do not have Have we? / Do we have?
they have have not / do not have Have they? / Do they have?

GO

Positive: Negative: Question:

I go do not go / don’t go Do I go?

you go do not go / don’t go Do you go?
he goes does not go / doesn’t go Does he go?
she goes does not go / doesn’t go Does she go?
it goes does not go / doesn’t go Does it go?
we go do not go / don’t go Do we go?
they go do not go / don’t go Do they go?

*contractions are possible, e.g. I have not = I haven’t; he does not have = he doesn’t have, etc.

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 Homework: Simple Present Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_____________

Practice 1
Write affirmative sentences. Use the verbs in the brackets.

1. Mariam and I __________ (go) to the cinema every Friday.

2. Chong and her friends ____________ (have) lunch once a month.
3. My brother Peter _______________ (do) karate three days a week.
4. Mr. William ____________ (be) a baker. He has a big bakery.
5. Mr. and Mrs. Parker ___________ (come) from Canada.
6. My parents _____________ (love) to travel.
7. Julia is a good teacher. She ____________ (prepare) her class with enthusiasm.
8. Kamal is a good swimmer. He ____________ (swim) very fast.
9. Suzy __________ (study) at Bella Arts School. She _________ (draw) beautiful pictures.
10. Ben’s sisters _________ (be) ballet dancers.
Practice 2
Write negative sentences. Use the verbs in the brackets.

1. My brother __________________ (not like) to dance but he loves having a good talk.
2. Liza ___________________ (not live) in Ipoh, she lives in Shah Alam.
3. My parents ___________________ (not be) lawyers, they work in a school.
4. My school workers _________________ (not do) the homework on time.
5. Aini ___________________ (not cook) well. She wants to have some cooking lessons.
6. My cousin ________________ (not have) to wash his car. He pays to someone else to do that.
7. If you ___________________ (not study) on time, you will have many problems.
8. Please, _____________________ (not forget) to do the chores.
9. Daniel ________________ (not wear) shirts because he ______________ (not like) them.
10. John and his brother _______________(not be) twins. John is 12 and his brother is 10.
Practice 3
Write interrogative sentences. Use Do or Does and the verbs in the brackets.
1. ________ you like to ________ ( go ) to the movies? ______________. Let’s go today.
2. ________ your mother _________ (read) the newspaper every day?
3. ________ your cousins _________ (come) to visit you every weekend?
4. What ________ you __________ (like) for dinner? I ______________ chicken.
5. What ________ Lily __________ (study)? She ___________ (study) Architecture.

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1.2 Present Progressive (Continuous)
(b) The Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense
FUNCTIONS
1. Expresses one action in the present:
(i) of short period of time.
(ii) of long period of time.
2. Expresses future action
(usually from a present plan or arrangement)
3. Expresses the beginning, progression or end of an
action.
EXAMPLES
- I am singing a song.
- The girls are playing games in the living room.
- He is drawing a portrait.
- She is studying Russian this year.
- Megat is playing futsal this season.
- She is travelling to Rome next year.
- He is drinking with her girlfriend tonight.
- The ship is sailing to South Africa next year.
- It is beginning to snow.
- My fever is getting better.
- Suhaila is completing her studies in University of
Selangor this month.
- They are attending the concert.
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 Homework: Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense using the hints in the brackets

1. The seamstress ____________________ (still, make) uniforms for the orphans.

2. J & J Company Sdn. Bhd. ____________________ (recruit workers) for its new branch in Melaka.
3. My staffs ____________________ (have) lunch with our client in the meeting room right now.
4. What _________ Abu _________ (do), Din? He _________________ (wash) my clothes.
5. The school ____________________ (train) its student to use a new English software.
6. At the moment, the students ____________________ (paints) the guard post.
7. Faiz ____________________ (watch) his favourite Korean soap opera.
8. They ____________________ (currently, show) French films at the cinemas nearby.
9. The child ____________________ (not, respond) to the teacher’ question.
10. _________ the kids _________ (still, visit) their grandparents in Ulu Kapit?
11. I ____________________ (make) a pot of hot coco. Would you like some?
12. It ____________________ (not, snow) now. We can go outside and build snowman.
13. My head ____________________ (throb). I need to take a nap.
14. Currently, the plumber ____________________ (mend) the broken sink.
15. Mariam cannot answer your call right now because ____________________ (talk) to the general manager.

Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense using the hints in the brackets.

1. The kids ____________________ so many questions about me. (to ask)

2. Natrah ____________________ to work. (not/to go)
3. I____________________the cookie jar. (not/to open)
4. Harith ____________________ jokes. (not/to tell)
5. My mother ____________________ now. (to cry)
6. We ____________________ the zoo. (not/to visit)
7. Manogaran____________________ the Whatsapp message. (not/to answer)
8. Siew Heng and Jogeswaran ____________________ hamburgers. (to eat)
9. My boyfriend ____________________ at the airport. (to wait)
10. The dog ____________________ over the pillow. (not/to climb)

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1.3 SIMPLE PAST TENSE

(c) The Simple Past Tense

FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES
- I wrote him an e-mail of condolence for his lost.

1. Expresses a definite, completed action or - We had breakfast at nine last night.

event/activity. - I talked to him yesterday at the office.

- She practised the cello every day for ten years.

- She studied cosmetology at Ipoh, Perak.
2. Expresses a series of actions happening over a - He prepared for the math examination for the
certain period of time. last two year.

- I lived in Pulau Pinang as a teenager.

3. Expresses a state of affairs continuing over a - For a long time, people believed that the earth
period of time with an unclear beginning and end. was flat.

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1.3.1 Simple Past Tense

BE

Positive: Negative: Question:

I was was not / wasn’t Was I?

you were were not / weren’t Were you?
he was was not / wasn’t Was he?
she was was not / wasn’t Was she?
it was was not / wasn’t Was it?
we were were not / weren’t Were we?
they were were not / weren’t Were they?

DO

Positive: Negative: Question:

I did did not / didn’t Did I?

you did did not / didn’t Did you?
he did did not / didn’t Did he?
she did did not / didn’t Did she?
it did did not / didn’t Did it?
we did did not / didn’t Did we?
they did did not / didn’t Did they?

HAVE

Positive: Negative*: Question:

I had had not / did not have Had I? / Did I have?

you had had not / did not have Had you? / Did you have?
he had had not / did not have Had he? / Did he have?
she had had not / did not have Had she? / Did she have?
it had had not / did not have Had it? / Did it have?
we had had not / did not have Had we? / Did we have?
they had had not / did not have Had they? / Did they have?

GO

Positive: Negative: Question:

I went did not go / didn’t go Did I go?

you went did not go / didn’t go Did you go?
he went did not go / didn’t go Did he go?
she went did not go / didn’t go Did she go?
it went did not go / didn’t go Did it go?
we went did not go / didn’t go Did we go?
they went did not go / didn’t go Did they go?

*contractions are possible, e.g. I had not = I hadn’t; she did not have = she didn’t have, etc.

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 Homework: Simple Past Tense
Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets

1. Umairah ________________ (not, go) to work yesterday because she _________ (be) ill.
2. Chen’s granduncle _________ (die) in 1989 in a road accident.
3. The police_________ (arrest) seven people for the murder five days ago.
4. _________ Ahmad _________ (call) me last night?
5. Jievitha _________ (live) in Alor Star for nine years but now she lives in Kuala Lumpur.
6. _________ Madihah _________ (water) the flowers yesterday?
7. A wasp _________ (sting) Kim when he was cycling home from the park.
8. Fathin _________ (forget) to drink a glass of water last night.
9. Priya _________ (celebrate) her birthday with her friends at a fast food restaurant.
10. I_________ (be,not) at the office last Wednesday.

Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense using the hints in the brackets.

1. It _________ (be) hot last week.

2. Zakaria _________ (be) tired.
3. The staffs _________ (be) late for the event.
4. I _________ (be) exhausted yesterday.
5. I ________ (work) in a school for five years.
6. Where __________________ (you/live) when you were little?
7. He __________________ (not/study) German at university.
8. She _________ (travel) through Asia last year.
9. ___________________ (they/visit) the Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur?
10. They_________ (not/watch) netflix yesterday.
11. We _________ (buy) a new house last month.
12. Where___________________ (Mazlan/teach) before he came here?
13. ____________________ (Liew/read) ‘The Lord of The Ring” at school?
14. I ______________ (love) cheese cake when I was a young.

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1.4 Past Progressive (Continuous)Tense

(
(d) The Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense

FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES

- They were drinking coffee in the restaurant a few

minutes ago.
- We were watching movie all day.
1. Expresses duration of an action or single
event/activity in the past: - She was thinking about the breakup all night
long.
(i) of short period of time. - She was working in a bank the last time I met
(ii) interrupted by a non-continuous her.
past action. - Hanim was washing her clothes when the phone
rang.
- They were watching soap opera when the lights
went out.

- My sisters was eating breakfast.

2. Expresses an incomplete action in the past that is - The kids were playing in the playground.
itself likely to be of limited duration - My brother and my father were arguing about
who would win the competition.

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 Homework: The Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense or Past Progressive (Continuous) Tense.

1. What __________________ (you / do) when mom__________________ (call) you last Tuesday?

2. I __________________ (sit) in the living room when mom__________________ (call).

3. When you __________________ (arrive) at the wedding, who__________________ (be) there?

4. Siti __________________ (watch) a drama when she__________________ (hear) the whispers.

5. Yesterday I __________________ (go) to the mall, next I__________________ (have) a drink at Coffee
café, later I__________________ (meet) Chandran for the meeting.

6. We __________________ (play) bowling when John __________________ (hurt) his wrist.

7. What __________________ (they / do) at 11pm last night? It__________________ (be) really lively.

8. He __________________ (take) his bath when his phone__________________ (ring).

9. He __________________ (be) in the bathtub when the TV suddenly__________________ (turn) on.

10. When I __________________ (walk) into the hall, everyone__________________ (chat).

11. It __________________ (be) a day last December. The sun__________________ (shine), the birds
__________________(chrip). I __________________ (walk) along the park when I__________________
(meet) an old enemy.

12. He __________________ (live) in French when the Revolution__________________ (begin).

13. When her bus __________________ (get) to the bus stop, we__________________ (wait) on the platform.

14. He __________________ (be) so irritating! He__________________ (always / leave) his stuffs

everywhere.

15. During summer break, we __________________ (visit) my uncle in Perlis, __________________ (see) the
Penang bridge, and__________________ (spend) a few days at Port Dickson.

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1.5 Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Tense
FUNCTIONS
1. Expresses actions or a series of repeated
events/activities that extend from the past
to the present time and still continuing on.
2. Expresses indefinite events or happenings in a -
period leading up to the present time.
3. Expresses past actions or events with results
in the present time.
(e) The
EXAMPLES
- I have wrote this novel for three years.
- They have lived in Brunei since 2007.
- I have visited the Lining Tower of Pasir Salak
three times so far.
- The kids have had colds all winter.
We have had no trouble with our house up
to now.
- The landlord has called for the repairs. (and
so you must fix it)
- I have come to school without my pens. (and
now I cannot write anything)
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 Homework: Present Perfect Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Group No:___________

Exercise 1

Choose the correct option.

1. I (have / has) already finished my homework.

2. My son (have / has) just started his study in the university.
3. The family (have / has) gone to the seaside.
4. Dad (haven’t / hasn’t) watered the plants.
5. (Have / Has) Sam ever been to the USA?
6. Our English teachers ( have / has) never taken any leave.
7. Ann, Frank and Jim ( have / has) bought a new house.
8. (Have / Has) you taken the dog for a walk?
9. The weather (have / has) been terrible since yesterday.
10. My little sister (have / has) just stopped crying.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences with since or for.

1. My grandparents have lived here __________ 1962.

2. My grandparents have lived here __________ 50 years.
3. We have stayed at our friends’ house __________a long time.
4. Kate has been away __________ two weeks.
5. We have been friends __________we were children.
6. Joe and Tina have lived in England __________ 10 years.
7. My brother has worked hard __________the beginning of February.
8. I haven’t seen Eric __________ yesterday.
9. Our friends haven’t visited us __________ Christmas.

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Exercise 3
Write Present Perfect sentences.

1. Ernie / break / his leg / four times

____________________________________________

2. I / never / fly a kite

____________________________________________

3. your brother / ever / eat / snails?

____________________________________________

4. our friends / not play / volleyball / this month

____________________________________________

5. he / borrow / your pen?

____________________________________________

6. my father / never / read / romantic books

____________________________________________

7. I / not see / Julia / this morning

____________________________________________

8. Mrs Salwick / ever / write a book?

____________________________________________

9. my family / lived / in this town / for 6 years

____________________________________________

Exercise 4
Write Present Perfect questions.

1. your father / pay the bill?

_______________________________________

2. Peter / lose his keys?

_______________________________________

3. Susan / come back?

_______________________________________

4. you / hear about Mary?

_______________________________________

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1.6 The Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense
FUNCTIONS
1. Expresses a single temporary action that
extends from the past to the present, over a
limited duration.
2. Expresses a series of repeated actions
from the past up to the present time, over a
longer duration.
3. Expresses an action that happens in the
past but the results of the action happen in
the present.
EXAMPLES
- They have been waiting to see you since
morning.
- I have been waiting all day for his e-mail.
- He has been watering that cactus for an
hour.
- Jimmy have been playing the guitar since
I was seven.
- She has been working for the same
company for the last thirty-five years.
- He has been seeing a great deal of his
mother lately.
- The girls have been playing in the
sandbox. (and now they’re filthy)
- Careful! Mahmud has been painting the
chair. (and it’s still wet)
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 Homework: Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous) Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous).

1. ___________________ (we / arrive) already?

2. Amin ___________________ (run) 2000 metres today.

3. I ___________________ (clean) all day – I’m fed up!

4. How long ___________________ (you / know) Rajeswaran?

5. I ___________________ (eat) more vegetable lately, and I feel better.

6. Sorry about the mess! I ___________________ (cook).

7. How many times ___________________ (you / write) this essay?

8. Xin Ling___________________ (eat) three pieces of cake today!

9. Kassim ___________________ (cook) lunch. Let’s go and eat!

10. The pupils ___________________ (finish) their exams. They’re very tired.

11. The boy’s face is really dirty! What ___________________ (he / do)?

12. Yoona is exhausted these days. She ___________________ (work) too hard recently.

13. Choo ___________________ (never / be) abroad.

14. I ___________________ (wait) here for two hours already!

15. ___________________ (you / finish) your assignment yet?

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1.7 The Past Perfect Tense

FUNCTIONS
1. Expresses a single happening in past time
that precedes another past time.
2. Expresses a state of affairs continuing over
a period of time up to past time.
EXAMPLES
- They had locked all the windows and
doors before they left for the holidays.
- The robber had escaped the bank before
the police arrived.
- After she had send the e-mail, she
realized her mistake.
- I had known him since my teens.
- She had never been ill in his life until he
visited Africa.

Homework: Past Perfect Tense

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:_________________

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct Past Perfect Tense using the hints in the brackets.

1. When I arrived at Pizza Hut, Janet___________________ a glass of water. (already/to order)

2. He noticed that Pooja ___________________ the new wall. (not/to paint)

3. Before Mashitah clear up the table, she___________________ a talk with her mother. (to have)

4. He asked me if I___________________ the new words. (to learn)

5. There were no chicken nuggets left when I came back. The dog___________________ them all.

(to eat)

6. It___________________ for two weeks, so the field was hot and dry. (not/to rain)

7. Zack did not wait for my sister because I___________________ his text message. (to read)

8. Harun___________________ to a play before yesterday evening. (never/to be)

9. He told me that Mikail___________________ his room. (not/to clean)

10. ___________________ his fish before she left her office? (Emma/to feed)

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1.8 Future Tense
(i) Future Time
 There are several ways to express future time:
FUNCTIONS
(i) The Future Tense: the auxiliaries ‘we’ll and
‘shall’ are used to express intention, prediction
or willingness.
(ii) be going to + infinitive expresses what
somebody has already decided to do.
(iii) The Future Progressive (Continuous):
Tense the auxiliaries will and shall + the
progressive (continuous) express action at a
particular time in the future
(iv) The Future Perfect Tense
(will/shall + the perfect) expresses action in the
future before another action in the future.
EXAMPLES
- He will call you tonight.
- The ferry will arrive at 11 p.m.
- I shall meet you outside the school.
- Khalid is going to leave for Canada tomorrow.
- He is going to call you about the contract
tomorrow.
- They are going to renovate the room for three
months.
- He will be getting a raise next year.
- We will be having a party near the lake tomorrow
night.
- I will be playing badminton at 9 in the morning
tomorrow.
- The bus will have left when you arrive.
- In ten years, we will have paid off the mortgage
on our house.
- By next year, we will have forgotten everything
we learned in school.
- We will have completed our project by next year.
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 Homework: Future Time

Name: ______________________________ Matric No.:__________

Exercise 1

Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.

1. (I / leave by two)
_______________________________________________________________
2. (you / finish the essay by the deadline?)
_______________________________________________________________
3. (when / we / cook the turkey?)
_______________________________________________________________
4. (she / finish her test by then, so we can go out for party)
_______________________________________________________________
5. (I / read the book before the next lesson)
_______________________________________________________________
6. (she / not / finish studying by eight)
_______________________________________________________________
7. (when / you / complete the house?
_______________________________________________________________
8. (they / arrive by tea time)
_______________________________________________________________
9. (we / be in Malaysia for four years next week)
_______________________________________________________________
10. (she / get home by dinnertime?)
_______________________________________________________________

Exercise 2

Build the correct Future Time sentences using the hints in the brackets.

At two o’clock tomorrow…

1. I ________________________ (work) in my workshop.
2. You ________________________ (lie) on the bed.
3. He ________________________ (wait) for the plane.
4. She ________________________ (shop) in Paris.
5. It ___________________________ (not/rain).

When she arrives…

6. Anna and Theniswari ___________________________ (not/bake) the pie.
7. He ___________________________ (not/play) the piano.
8. I ___________________________ (not/study) for the final exam.
9. The baby ___________________________ (not/cry).
10. David ___________________________ (not/use) the computer or the internet.

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