Explanations

Present simple generally refers to:

Facts that are always true

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Habits

British people drink a lot of tea.

States

/ don't like gangster films.

Present continuous (progressive) generally refers to actions which are in

progress at the moment. These can be temporary:

I'm staying in a hotel until I find a fiat.

They can be actually in progress:

The dog is sleeping on our bed!

Or they can be generally in progress but not actually happening at the

moment:

I'm learning to drive.

State verbs describe a continuing state, so do not usually have a continuous

form. Typical examples are:

believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, fit, have, know, like, love, matter, mean,

need, own, prefer, seem, suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish

Some verbs have a stative meaning and a different active meaning. Typical

examples are:

be, depend, feel, have, measure, see, taste, think, weigh

Compare these uses:

State

Event

Jack is noisy.

Jill's being noisy.

Deirdre has a Porsche.

We're having an interesting conversation!

David's thinking about getting a new job.

I think I like you!

This fish tastes awful!

I'm just tasting the soup.

I feel that you are wrong.

I'm feeling terrible.

This bag weighs a ton!

We're weighing the baby.

It depends what you mean.

Bill, I'm depending on you to win this

contract for us.

The differences here apply to all verb forms, not just to present verb forms.

Temporary situations

Are you enjoying your stay here?

Repeated actions

My car has broken down, so I am walking to work these days.

Complaints about annoying habits

You are always making snide remarks about my cooking!

Other possible adverbs are: constantly, continually, forever

With verbs describing change and development

The weather is getting worse!

More and more people are giving up smoking.

Making declarations

Verbs describing opinions and feelings tend to be state verbs.

I hope you'll come to my party.

I bet you don't know the answer!

I hereby declare this hospital open!

Headlines

These are written in a 'telegram' style, and references to the past are usually

simplified to present simple.

Ship sinks in midnight collision.

Instructions and itineraries

Instructions and recipes can be written in present simple instead of in

imperative forms. This style is more personal.

First you roll out the pastry.

Itineraries are descriptions of travel arrangements.

On day three we visit Stratford-upon-Avon.

Summaries of events

Plots of stories, films etc, and summaries of historical events use present (and

present perfect) verb forms.

May 1945: The war in Europe conies to an end.

...At the end of the play both families realise that their hatred caused the

deaths of the lovers ...

'Historic present' in narrative and funny stories

In informal speech, it is possible to use what we call the 'historic present' to

describe past events, especially to make the narration seem more immediate

and dramatic.

... So then the second man asks the first one why he has a banana in his ear

and the first one says ...

GRAMMAR 1

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) I haven't decided yet about whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one.

But / think about it/I'm thinking about it.

b) All right, you try to fix the television! But / hope/I'm hoping you know what

you're doing.

c) Every year / visit/I'm visiting Britain to improve my English.

d) It's time we turned on the central heating. It gets/It's getting colder every day.

e) Of course, you're Mary, aren't you! / recognise/I am recognising you now.

f) The film of 'War and Peace' is very long. It lasts/It is lasting over four hours.

g) I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do

you do/are you doing in the afternoons?

h) I'm going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn't fit/isn't fitting

any more,

i) That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is

happening now?

j) What's the matter? Why do you look/are you looking at me like that?

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a)

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

I work in this office all this year/all the time.

Emerson is currently/for long top of the driver's league.

I am not making much money these days/so far this year.

The food tastes even worse now/presently. You've put too much salt in.

Normally/previously we get in touch with customers by post.

Pete was ill but he is getting over his illness soon/now.

I'm feeling rather run down lately/at present, doctor,

I always stay on duty since/until six o'clock.

I'm often/forever picking your hairs out of the bath!

Fortunately the baby now/recently sleeps all night.

Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.

a)

b) British people

apparently.

I hope Sarah will be here soon. I

(depend) on her.

Please be quiet, David. You

(forever/interrupt).

Hey, you! What

(you/think) you're doing?

Could you come here please? I

(want) to talk to

you now.

Jane is away on holiday so Linda

(handle) her

work.

To be honest, I

(doubt) whether Jim will be here

next week.

You've only just started the job, haven't you? How

(you/get on)?

Pay no attention to Graham. He

(just/be) sarcastic.

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.

I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I

(know) quite well. We (2)

(spend) most of the day

(1)

together, so we have all become friends. In fact, most of my colleagues are so

interesting, that I (3)

(think) of writing a book about them!

(4)

(take) Helen Watson, for example. Helen (5)

(run)

the accounts department. At the moment she (6)

(go out) with

Keith Ballantine, one of the sales representatives, and they (7)

(seem) very happy together. But everyone - except Helen apparently -

(8)

(know) that Keith (9)

(fancy) Susan Porter. But I

(10)

(happen) to know that Susan (11)

(dislike) Keith.

'I can't stand people who never (12)

(stop) apologising all the

time!' she told me. 'And besides, I know he (13)

(deceive) poor

Helen. He (14)

(see) Betty Wills from the overseas department.'

And plenty of other interesting things (15)

(currently/go on). For

instance, every week we (16)

(experience) more and more problems

with theft - personal belongings and even money have been stolen. When you

(17)

(realise) that someone in your office is a thief, it

(18)

(upset) you at first. But I (19)

(also/try) to catch

whoever it is before the police are called in. I'm not going to tell you who I

(20)

(suspect). Well, not yet anyway!

(hear) that you have been promoted. Congratulations!

(drink) more and more wine,

GRAMMAR 1

5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first

sentence, using one of the words in bold. Do not change the word in bold.

a) Charles and his father are exactly alike in appearance.

looks/looking

Charles

b) Take all your possessions and walk slowly to the exit.

belongs/belonging

Take everything

c) I'm finding it really enjoyable to work here.

enjoy/enjoying

I

d) I take work home regularly because of my new responsibility at work.

means/meaning

My new responsibility at work

home regularly.

e) In my cycling group there's George, Tom, Harry and me.

consists/consisting

My

George, Tom, Harry and me.

f) In your opinion, who's going to win the Cup?

think/thinking

Who do

g) I'm seeing how wide the door is.

measure/measuring

I

h) Neil always forgets his wife's birthday.

Neil

i) Its ability to catch fish is the key to the polar bear's survival.

depends/depending

The polar bear's

j) What's on your mind at the moment?

think/thinking

What ..

and walk slowly to the exit.

Most of these sentences contain an error. Where there is an error, rewrite the

sentence correctly.

a) I'm depending on you, so don't make any mistakes!

b) Is this total including the new students?

c) Excuse me, but do you wait for somebody?

d) These potatoes are tasting a bit funny.

e) How are you feeling today?

f) I look forward to hearing from you.

g) I have a feeling that something goes wrong.

h) What's that you're eating?

i) Are you hearing anything from Wendy these days?

j) I think you're being rather mean about this.

Complete the expressions using the words from the box.

a) I'm

b) Are you

c) Go on, I'm

d) I think we're

e) You're

f) It's

g) You don't seem to be

h) You're

Which expression means one of the following?

1 Are you in a hurry to leave?

2 We're talking about different things without realising it.

3 If you say or do this you will get into difficulties.

to concentrate.

off now, or can we talk?

at cross purposes.

for trouble.

along nicely.

a fuss about nothing.

much interest.

Explanations

Will is normally known as the predictive future, and describes known facts,

or what we supposes true.

I'll be late home this evening.

The company will make a profit next year.

This can also take the form of an assumption.

That'll be Jim at the door. (This means that I suppose it is Jim.)

Will is also used to express an immediate decision.

/'// take this one.

Be going to describes intentions or plans. At the moment of speaking the

plans have already been made.

I'm going to wait here until Carol gets back.

Going to is also used to describe an event whose cause is present or evident.

Look at that tree! It's going to fall.

Compare the following with the examples in the first bullet point:

I'm going to be late this evening. I've got lots of paperwork to finish off.

The figures are good. I can see the company is going to make a profit this year.

Decisions expressed with going to refer to a more distant point in the future.

Present continuous describes fixed arrangements, especially social and travel

arrangements. A time reference is usually included. Note the strong similarity

to the going to future. / am having a party next week and / am going to have a

party next week are communicating the same message.

This describes an event which will be happening at a future point.

Come round in the morning. I'll be painting in the kitchen.

It can also describe events which are going to happen anyway, rather than

events which we choose to make happen.

/ won't bother to fix a time to see you, because I'll be calling into the office

anyway several times next week.

In some contexts future continuous also sounds more polite than will.

Will you be going to the shops later? If you go, could you get me some milk?

It can also be used to refer to fixed arrangements and plans.

The band will be performing live in Paris this summer.

This has both simple and continuous forms, and refers to time which we

look back at from a future point.

In two year's time I'll have finished the book.

By the end of the month, I'll have been working for this firm for a year.

It can also be used to express an assumption on the part of the speaker.

You won't have heard the news, of course.

(This means that I assume you have not heard the news.)

Is/are to be

This is used to describe formal arrangements.

All students are to assemble in the hall at 9.00.

See also Grammar 11 and 12 for uses expressing obligation.

Be about to, be on the point of, be due to, just/just about to

Be about to and be on the point of both refer to the next moment.

/ think the play is about to start now.

Mary is on the point of resigning.

Be due to refers to scheduled times.

The play is due to start in five minutes.

Ann's flight is due at 6.20.

Just can be used to describe something on the point of happening.

Hurry up! The train is just leaving/just about to leave.

Present simple and present perfect

Present simple is used to refer to future time in future time clauses.

When we get there, we'll have dinner.

Present perfect can also be used instead of present simple when the

completion of the event is emphasised.

When we've had a rest, we'll go out.

Present simple is also used to describe fixed events which are not simply the

wishes of the speaker.

Tom retires in three years.

Similarly, calendar references use the present simple.

Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.

Hope

This can be followed by either present or future verb forms.

/ hope it doesn't rain.

I hope it won't rain.

Other verbs followed by will.

Most verbs of thinking can be followed by will if there is future reference.

These include: think, believe, expect, doubt.

I expect the train will be late.

I doubt whether United will win.

Shall

The use of shall for first person in future reference is generally considered to

be restricted to British English and possibly declining in use. See Grammar

11 and 12 for other uses of shall and will. For some speakers, shall is used in

formal speech and in written language.

GRAMMAR 2

This section also includes time phrases used in expressing future time.

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.

a) In twenty-four hours' time

yacht.

b) There's someone at the door.' That

postman.'

c) By the time you get back Harry

d) It's only a short trip. I

e) What

you like to go out?

f) By the end of the week we

g) It

(not/be) long before Doctor Smith is here.

h) We'll go to the park when you

(finish) your tea.

i) It's very hot in here. I think I

j) What

you decided yet?

In most lines of this text there is an extra word. Write the extra word, or put a

tick if the line is correct.

In August Gordon will then have been at his company for 25 years,

and he's getting for a bonus of three weeks paid holiday. So we've

decided to hire a car and drive around Eastern Europe. We'll be

leaving towards the end of August, and our aim there is to visit as

many countries as we can. We're flying out to Budapest - soon we're

5

due to catch a plane on the 28th day - and then we'll be stopping over 6

at a friend's house, before starting our grand tour. We'll most probably 7

spend the best part of a week in Hungary. When we've just finished

there, we'll probably be go to Romania, but beyond that we haven't

9

planned too much arrangements. We will know a bit more by the end 10

of this week, when we're getting a whole load of brochures from the

tourist board. We'd like to get to as far as Russia, but realistically I

doubt whether we'll have time. I hope it won't be too expensive -

from till now on we'll really have to tighten our belts! I can't wait!

In just over two months' of time we'll be having the time of our lives! 15

(I/relax) on my

(leave).

(be) back in an hour.

(you/do) this Saturday evening? Would

(decide) what to do.

(faint).

(you/give) Ann for her birthday? Have

Choose the most appropriate continuation for each sentence.

a) According to the latest forecast, the tunnel

A will be finished next year.

B will have been finished next year.

C is finishing next year.

b) Paula's flight is bound to be late although

A it arrives at 6.00.

B it's due at 6.00.

C it's arriving at six.

c) It's no use phoning Bob at the office, he

A will be leaving. B is leaving. C will have left.

d) Everyone says that this year City

A are going to win the Cup.

B are winning the Cup.

C win the Cup.

e) I don't feel like visiting my relatives this year so

A I won't go.

B I'm not going.

C I don't go.

f) You can borrow this calculator, I

A am not going to need it. B won't have been needing it.

C am not needing it.

g) I'm sorry dinner isn't ready yet, but it

A is going to be ready in a minute.

B will have been ready in a minute.

C will be ready in a minute,

h) Can you send me the results as soon as you

A hear anything? B are hearing anything? C will have heard anything?

i) You can try asking Martin for help but

A it won't do you any good.

B it's not doing you any good.

C it won't be doing you any good,

j) Don't worry about the mistake you made, nobody

A is noticing.

B will notice.

C will be noticing.

GRAMMAR 2

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first

sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) I don't suppose you have heard the news.

won't

the news.

The Prime Minister expects an easy victory for his party in the election.

believes

The Prime Minister

the election easily.

I've been in this company for almost three years.

will

By the end of the month

in this company for

three years.

This book will take me two years to write.

have

In two years'

this book.

Scientists are on the point of making a vital breakthrough.

about

Scientists are

a vital breakthrough.

Maria is pregnant again.

have

Maria is

baby.

I'll be home late.

until

I

late.

No one knows what the result of the match is going to be.

who

No one knows

the match.

Don't worry; David won't be late.

here

Don't worry; David

time.

Mary and Alan's wedding is next weekend.

Mary and Alan

next weekend.

You

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

Look at the three options A, B and C for each question. Decide which two are

correct.

a) We've run out of fuel.

A What will we do now? B What do we do now?

C What are we going to do now?

b) You can't leave early,

A we're having a meeting.

B we're going to have a meeting.

C we will have a meeting.

c) Oh dear, I've broken the vase

A What will your mother say? B What is your mother going to say?

C What is your mother saying?

d) According to the weather forecast,

A it'll rain tomorrow.

B it's raining tomorrow.

C it's going to rain tomorrow.

e) I'd like to call round and see you

A What will you have done by the morning?

B What'll you be doing in

the morning?

C What are you doing in the morning?

f) I've got nothing to do tomorrow so

A I'll get up late.

B I am to get up late.

C I'm going to get up late.

g) It's my eighteenth birthday next month so

A I'm on the point of having a party.

B I'm having a party.

C I'll be having a party.

h) Why don't you come with us?

A It'll be a great trip. B It's going to be a great trip. C It's a great trip,

i) When you get to the airport

A someone is going to be waiting for you.

B someone is due to wait for you. C someone will be waiting for you.

j) Shut up, will you!

A I'm getting really angry.

B I'm going to get really angry in a minute.

C I'm getting really angry in a minute.

GRAMMAR 2

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a)

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

I'll be back after a few minutes/in a few minutes.

I'm sure that everything will be all right at the end/in the end.

Please call me the moment/exactly when you hear any news.

I should be back by the time/at the time the film begins.

I'm sure Fiona will be here before long/after a while.

I can't leave on Tuesday. I won't be ready until then/by then.

By twenty four hours/this time tomorrow I'll be in Bangkok,

Diana will be retiring soon/already.

There will be no official announcements forthwith/from now on.

Bye for now. I'll see you in two weeks' time/two weeks later.

Complete the common expressions using the words from the box.

a)

c)

d)

f)

h)

I'll

I'll

I'll

I'll

I'll just

I'll

I'll

I'll

i) I'll

j) I'll

Which expression means one of the following?

1) I will try and do this for you.

2) I'll share it with you.

3) I'll fix it/arrange it.

what I can do.

a look and get back to you.

it some thought.

you know by tomorrow.

and get it.

halves with you.

to it.

back in a minute.

about five minutes.

and show you.

Explanations

Past simple generally refers to:

Completed actions

/ got up, switched off the radio, and sat down again.

Habits

Every day I went to the park.

States

In those days, I didn't like reading.

Past continuous (progressive) generally refers to:

Actions in progress (often interrupted by events)

/ was drinking my coffee at the time.

While I was opening the letter, the phone rang.

Background description in narrative

/ entered the office and looked around. Most people were working at their

desks, but Jane was staring out of the window and pretending to write

something at the same time.

Changing states

The car was getting worse all the time. One of the headlights was gradually

falling off, and the engine was making more and more funny noises.

Repeated actions - criticism

With a frequency adverb, this use is similar to the use of present continuous

to express annoyance.

When Jane was at school, she was always losing things.

Past continuous is not used to describe general habitual actions, without the

sense of criticism mentioned above. Past simple is used for this meaning.

When I lived in London, I walked through the park every day.

We use the past perfect when we are already talking about the past, and we

want to go back to an earlier past time ('double past').

By the time I got to the station, the train had left.

Compare this with:

The train left five minutes before I got to the station.

When we talk about a sequence of past events in the order that they

happened, we more commonly use the past simple, especially with quick,

short actions.

Past perfect continuous (progressive)

The same contrasts between past simple and past continuous (see previous

section) can be made in past perfect verb forms for events further back in the

past.

GRAMMAR 3

I had been living in a bed-sitter up to then.

While I had been talking on the phone, Jimmy had escaped.

The whole place was deserted, but it was obvious that someone had been

living there. They'd been cooking in the kitchen for a start, and they hadn't

bothered to clear up the mess.

• Past perfect is also common in reported speech. See Grammar 16.

• Past perfect is not used simply to describe an event in the distant past.

Used to

This often contrasts with the present. The contrast may be stated or

understood.

/ used to go swimming a lot (but I don't now).

The negative form is either:

/ didn't use to or / used not to (rare for some speakers).

The form / didn't used to may also be found. This is usually considered

incorrect, unless we consider used to as an unchanging semi-modal form.

There is no present time reference possible.

Would

This is used to describe repeated actions, not states. It describes a habitual

activity which was typical of a person.

Every week he'd buy his mother a bunch of flowers.

Used to would also be possible here. Compare:

I used to like cowboy films.

Would is not possible here.

Would is more common in written language and often occurs in

reminiscences.

• These describe events intended to take place, but which did not happen.

/ was going to phone you, but I forgot.

I was thinking of going to Italy this year, but I haven't decided.

I was about to do it, but I started doing something else.

Jack was to have taken part, but he fell ill.

• The contrasting past event is often understood, but not stated.

How are you? I was going to phone you ... (but I didn't).

These are common with wonder.

I was wondering if you wanted to come to the cinema.

See Grammar 11 and 12 for comment on this.

See Grammar 4 for contrasts between past simple and present perfect verb

forms. Past verb forms are also used to express unreal time. See Grammar 8

and 9.

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) When you passed the town hall clock, did you notice/were you noticing what

time it was?

b) Last night my neighbours were shouting/would shout for hours and I couldn't

get to sleep.

c) When you lived in London, did you use to travel/were you travelling by bus?

d) Everyone was having a good time, although not many people danced/were

dancing.

e) Jill was really hungry because she didn't eat/hadn't eaten all day.

f) Before we went to the theatre, we called in/had called in at George's cafe for a

pizza.

g) It took a while for me to notice, but then I did. Everyone stared/was staring at

me. What had I done wrong?

h) Nobody bothered to tell me that the school decided/had decided to have a

special holiday on Friday.

i) I was trying/tried to get in touch with you all day yesterday. Where were you?

j) A: Excuse me, but this seat is mine.

B: I'm sorry, I didn't realise/hadn't realised that you were sitting here.

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a)

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

Once/Afterwards I'd read the manual, I found I could use the computer easily.

It was more than a month before/until I realised what had happened.

I managed to talk to Carol just as/while she was leaving.

It wasn't until/up to 1983 that Nigel could afford to take holidays abroad.

George always let me know by the time/whenever he was going to be late.

I was having a bath at the time/that time, so I didn't hear the doorbell.

We bought our tickets and five minutes after/later the train arrived.

According to Grandpa, people used to dress formally those days/in his day.

Everyone was talking but stopped at that time/the moment Mr Smith arrived,

The letter still hadn't arrived by/until the end of the week.

GRAMMAR 3

Decide if the verb form underlined is correct or not. If it is correct, write a tick. If

not, correct it.

Text 1: The train (1) ground to a halt at a small station miles from London, and

it (2) became apparent that the engine (3) had broken down. Everyone (4) was

getting their cases down from the luggage racks, and we (5) were waiting on the

platform in the freezing wind for hours until the next train (6) was turning up.

1 ...\/.

3

5

2

4

6

Text 2: The mysterious disappearance of Professor Dawson (1) was on Inspector

Corse's mind. Six months before the Professor's disappearance, he (2) was

receiving a letter from Jean Dawson, the Professor's wife. In the letter, Jean

(3) accused her husband of plotting to murder her. Gorse (4) considered what

his next step should be when the phone rang. It was Sergeant Adams from the

Thames Valley police force. A fisherman (5) discovered a body in the River

Thames, and it (6) fitted the description of the Professor.

1

3

5

2

4

6

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

This time last year I (1)

^cycle) in the rain along a country

road in France with a friend of mine. We (2)

(decide) to go

on a cycling holiday in Normandy. Neither of us (3)

France before, but we (4)

(know) some French from our time

at school and we (5)

(manage) to brush up on the basics.

Now we (6)

(wonder) if we (7)

(make)

the right decision. We (8)

(plan) our route carefully in

advance, but we (9)

(forget) one important thing, the

weather. It (10)

(rain) solidly since our arrival and that night

we (11)

(end up) sleeping in the waiting room at a railway

station. Then the next morning as we (12)

(ride) down a

steep hill my bike (13)

(skid) on the wet road and I

(14)

(fall off). I (15)

(realise)

immediately that I (16)

(break) my arm, and after a visit to

the local hospital I (17)

(catch) the next train to Calais for

the ferry home. Unfortunately my parents (18)

(not/expect)

me home for a fortnight, and (19)

(go) away on holiday. So I

(20)

(spend) a miserable couple of weeks alone, reading

'Teach Yourself French'.

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first

sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) I intended to call you yesterday, but I forgot.

I.

call you yesterday, but I forgot.

b) Sylvia asked if I wanted more pudding, but I said I couldn't eat any more.

had

When Sylvia offered

enough.

c) Owing to illness, Sally was unable to sing the solo, as arranged.

have

Sally was

but she fell ill.

d) Diana wasn't always as rude as that.

Diana

rude.

e) We've changed our minds about going to Rome, as originally intended.

intending

We

we've changed our minds.

f) When I lived in London cycling to work was part of my daily routine.

used

When I lived in London I

day.

g) I might possibly go to the theatre tonight.

wondering

I

going to the theatre tonight.

h) I had to go past your house so I decided to drop in.

passing

I

so I decided to drop in.

i) About 100 people were waiting for the late bus.

arrived

By

about 100 people waiting.

j) What were you doing at the moment of the explosion?

occurred

When

what were you doing?

GRAMMAR 3

In each sentence decide whether one, or both, of the alternative verb forms

given are appropriate. Write O for one or B for both.

In those days, I always used to get up/got up early in the morning. ..B.

When I got to the cinema Jack had been waiting/was waiting for me

We would always have/were always having breakfast in bed on Sundays

Mary was always falling/always fell ill before important examinations

My sister used to own/would own a motorcycle and sidecar

Pay no attention to Dave's remarks. He wasn't meaning/didn't mean it

I felt awful after lunch. I ate/had eaten too much

Brenda left/had left before I had time to talk to her

The explanation was simple. In 1781 HMS Sovereign, on her way back from

India, had sighted/sighted an empty boat drifting off the African coast

j) Pauline has changed a lot. She didn't always use to look/wasn't always looking

like that

a)

c)

d)

f)

h)

Complete the text by writing one word in each space.

When I was a young man I spent a year in France, studying French at the

University of Grenoble. Every Friday I (1)

eat at the Alps

cafe. I didn't (2)

to spend much money, as I

(3)

not afford it, but it was a little tradition of mine to eat

there. Anyway, I'm going to tell you a true story which happened on one

occasion when I (4)

eating there. I remember I was having a

pasta dish at (5)

time. A beautiful girl came up to me and

said, 'I was (6)

if you wanted to walk with me in the park?' I

had never seen her (7)

, so I was rather taken aback. I was

(8)

to go with her when I noticed a tough-looking man was

watching our every movement. (9)

my discomfort, the girl

whispered to me, in English, 'Park - five minutes!', and then disappeared. Well,

my bill (10)

ages to arrive, and by the time I

(11)

to the park, there was no sign of the girl. I asked an old

lady (12)

was sitting there if she (13)

seen a young girl waiting around. I described the girl to her. The old lady said

that the girl (14)

had to rush to the railway station, and that

I (15)

to follow her there urgently. She had also left me a

note. It said, 'I will explain everything. Meet me on platform 6.'

Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

a) I realised that someone

(steal) my wallet when

(feel) their hand in my jacket pocket.

When 1

(phone) Helen last night she

(wash) her hair.

Peter

(offer) me another drink but I decided I

(had) enough.

Nobody

(watch), so the little boy

(take) the packet of sweets from the shelf and

(put) it in his pocket.

I

(not/realise) that I

(leave) my umbrella on the bus until it

(start) to rain.

At school I

(dislike) the maths teacher because

he

(always/pick) on me.

Wherever Marion

(find) a job, there was

someone who

(know) that she

(go) to prison.

Several years later I

(find out) that during all

the time I

(write) to my pen friend, my mother

(open) and reading the replies!

I

(not/understand) what

(go on). Several people

(shout) at me, and one passer-by

(wave) a newspaper in front of my face.

I

(know) I

(do) well in my

exams even before I

(receive) the official results.

c)

d)

f)

h)

j)

Explanations

Present perfect simple refers to:

Recent events, without a definite time given. The recentness may be

indicated by just.

We've missed the turning. I've just seen a ghost!

Indefinite events, which happened at an unknown time in the past. No

definite time is given.

Jim has had three car accidents, (up to the present)

Indefinite events which may have an obvious result in the present.

I've twisted my ankle, (that's why I'm limping)

With state verbs, a state which lasts up to the present.

I've lived here for the past ten years.

A habitual action in a period of time up to the present.

I've been jogging every morning for the last month.

Contrast with past simple

Past simple is used with time expressions which refer to definite times. The

time may be stated or understood. Compare:

I've bought a new car. (indefinite)

/ bought the car after all. (implied definite: the car we talked about)

Choice between past simple and present perfect for recent events may

depend on the attitude of the speaker. This in turn may depend on whether

the speaker feels distant in time or place from the event.

I've left my wallet in the car. I'm going back to get it.

Here the speaker may be about to return, and feels that the event is

connected with the present.

/ left my wallet in the car. I'm going back to get it.

The speaker may feel separated in time from the event, or be further away.

Present perfect continuous (progressive) can refer to a range of meanings,

depending on the time expression used and the context.

A state which lasts up to the present moment

I've been waiting for you for three hours!

An incomplete activity

I've been cleaning the house but I still haven't finished.

To emphasise duration

I've been writing letters all morning.

A recently finished activity

I've been running. That's why I look hot.

A repeated activity

I've been taking French lessons this year.

•

Contrasts with present perfect simple

There may be little contrast when some state verbs are used.

How long have you lived here?

How long have you been living here?

Some verbs (especially sit, lie, wait and stay) prefer the continuous form.

There may be a contrast between completion and incompletion, especially if

the number of items completed is mentioned.

Completed: emphasis on achievement

I've ironed five shirts this morning.

Incomplete, or recently completed: emphasis on duration

I've been ironing my shirts this morning.

Meaning with present perfect verb forms is associated with certain time

expressions.

Contrast with past simple may depend on the choice of time expression.

Past simple: referring to a specific finished time.

yesterday, last week, on Sunday

Present perfect: with 'indefinite' time expressions meaning 'up to now'.

since 1968, already

Many time expressions are not associated with a specific verb form, since they

refer both to finished time or time up to the present, depending on the

speaker's perspective.

/ haven't seen Helen recently.

I saw Jim recently.

Others include:

for, never, before, all my life, for a long time, today, all day, every day

These may be used with either past simple or present perfect.

GRAMMAR 4

PRESENT PERFECT

Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) I can't believe it, Inspector. You mean that Smith stole/has stolen/has been

stealing money from the till all this time!

b) You three boys look very guilty! What did you do/have you done/have you been

doing since I left/have left the room?

c) Why on earth didn't you tell/haven't you told me about that loose floorboard? I

tripped/have tripped over it just now and hurt myself.

d) It's a long time since I saw/have seen/have been seeing~your brother Paul. What

did he do/has he done/has he been doing lately?

e) I can't believe that you ate/have eaten/have been eating three pizzas already! I

only brought/have only brought them in fifteen minutes ago!

f) Don't forget that you didn't see/haven't seen Mrs Dawson. She has waited/has

been waiting outside since 10.30.

g) What did you think/have you thought of Brighton? Did you stay/Have you stayed

there long?

h) I feel really tired. I weeded/have weeded/have been weeding the garden for the

last three hours and I didn't rest/haven't rested for a single moment.

i) I'm having problems with David. He has called/has been calling me up in the

middle of the night and told/telling me his troubles.

j) How long did you have/have you had/have you been having driving lessons? And

did you take/have you taken/have you been taking your test yet?

Decide how many different endings (1-10) you can find for sentences (a-j).

The sentences you make must be appropriate and meaningful.

I haven't been feeling very well ... .5,8...

I went to the dentist's

I've lived here

Don't worry. I haven't been waiting

I've written two pages

I waited outside your house

I've warned you about this

I haven't made a decision

The repair worked

I've decided to believe you

1 time and time again.

2 all my life.

3 so far.

4 for the time being.

5 for the past hour or two.

6 yet.

7 till half past eight.

8 for a while.

9 the other day.

10 long.

Put each verb in brackets into the most appropriate perfect or past verb form.

a) So far we

b) I'm sorry I

c) I

fortnight.

d) I wonder if Mary

(reach) home yet? She

(leave) too late to catch the bus.

Here is the news. The Home Office

(announce)

that the two prisoners who

(escape) from

Dartmoor prison earlier this morning

(give

themselves up) to local police.

(you/make up) your minds? What

(you/decide) to do?

Harry

(leave) home rather suddenly and we

(not/hear) from him since.

Recent research

(show) that Columbus

(not/discover) America, but that Vikings

(land) there five hundred years before him.

I think that people

(become) tired of the poor

quality of television programmes, though they

(improve) lately,

(something/happen) to the phone lines? I

(try) to get through to Glasgow for the past

hour.

Bill

(get) that new job, but he

(complain) about it ever since.

..haven't

noticed.

(not/notice) anything unusual, but we

(not/pay) very close attention.

(not/come) to class lately.

(work) late in the evenings for the past

f)

h)

j)

k)

GRAMMAR 4

PRESENT PERFECT

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first

sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) This has been my home for thirty years.

lived

I

..have

lived

here

b) Eating Chinese food is new to me.

never

I

c) Tony hasn't been to Paris before.

first

It's

d) We haven't been swimming for ages.

since

It's

e) Mary started learning French five years ago.

has

Mary

f) I am on the tenth page of this letter I am writing.

So far I

g) It's over twenty years since they got married.

for

They have

h) The last time I saw Dick was in 1995.

I haven't

i) There is a definite improvement in your work.

has

Lately

j) This is my second visit to Hungary.

visited

This is the

than twenty years.

Underline the correct phrase in each sentence.

a) The price of petrol has risen/has been rising by 15% over the past year.

b) No wonder you are overweight! You have eaten/You have been eating chocolates

all day long!

c) I've read/I've been reading a really good book this morning.

d) Doesn't this room look better? I've put/I've been putting some posters up on

the walls.

e) Don't disappoint me! I've counted/I've been counting on you.

f) Don't forget your pills today. Have you taken them/Have you been taking them?

g) Who has worn/has been wearing my scarf?

h) I think there's something wrong with your motorbike. It's made/It's been

making some very funny noises.

i) Jack has asked/has been asking for a pay-rise three times this year.

j) I've been phoning/I've phoned Ann all evening, but there's no reply.

6 Put each verb in brackets into either the past simple, present perfect simple or

present perfect continuous.

I (1) ...moved. ................ (move) to London three weeks ago to take up a new

post at my company's London office. Ever since then, I (2) ...............................

(wonder) if I (3) ....................... (make) the right decision.

I (4) ............................... (see) a lot of negative things about living in the capital,

and I can't say London (5) ............................... (make) a very favourable

impression on me. It's so polluted and expensive, and the people are so distant.

You see, I (6) ............................... (grow up) in a fairly small town called Devizes

and I (7) ............................... (spend) all of my life there.

I (8) ............................... (always/want) to live in a big city and so when my

company (9) ............................... (offer) me a job in London,

I (10) ............................... (jump) at the chance.

I think I'm not alone in my aversion to the big city. According to a programme

I (11) ............................... (just/hear) on the radio, more and more people

(12) ............................... (stop) working in London recently, and a lot of large

companies (13) ............................... (choose) to move away from the centre. Oh

well, it's too late to change my mind now, because the job is up and running,

and I (14) ............................... (already/sell) my house in Devizes. But I must

admit, over the past few days, I (15) ............................... (secretly/hope) that the

company would relocate me back to my old town.

GRAMMAR 4

P R E S E N T PERFECT

7 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

It's a long time since/when I last saw you.

I've seen Bill quite often lately/from time to time.

Have you spoken to the director beforehand/already?

I've lived in the same house for years/for ever.

I've read the paper now/still.

Diana has bought a computer two years ago/since then.

Nothing much has been happening by now/so far.

I've finished reading her new book at last/this evening.

Sue bought a CD player last week and she's been listening to music ever

since/for a while.

j) Sorry, but I haven't got that work finished already/yet.

Match the expressions (a-j) with the explanations of when they might be said

(1-10).

a) Have you heard the one

about ... ? ..4

b) I haven't seen you for

ages!

c) I've had enough of this!

d) Sorry, you've lost me!

e) I've had a brainwave!

f) It's been one of those days!

g) I've had enough, thanks

h) I haven't had a chance yet

i) I've been having second

thoughts

j) Oh, haven't you heard?

1 Saying you don't follow what

someone is saying.

2 Having doubts about a big decision.

3 Having a brilliant idea.

4 Introducing a joke.

5 Declining more food.

6 Spreading gossip.

. 7 Seeing an old face from the past.

8 Having a frustrating time, when

everything is going wrong.

9 Wanting to stop doing something

because it's annoying you.

10 Apologising for not doing something

you said you'd do.