FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

SET 11

TENSES AND ASPECT

CCEG THE PAST:

5.26-51; SPASOV SECTION 14 (111-121)

I. COMBINE EACH SENTENCE WITH THE USAGE IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF:

a) general truth
b) personal characteristics (Spasov: characteristic features)
c) habitual activity over a long period
d) habitual activity over a limited period
e) parallel activities
f) activity at the moment of speaking
g) negative attitude
h) sequence of actions
i) demonstration
j) sports commentary
k) performative verbs (referring to the speech acts performed by uttering the sentence)
l) future/past activities in newspaper headlines
1. He works in a bank.
2. I take sugar in my coffee.
3. Cats drink milk.
4. I normally get up at about seven. I wash, have breakfast, dress and leave as early as possible.
5. I place a bell jar over the candle, and after a few seconds the water gradually rises.
6. Smith hits that one off the back foot and the ball goes straight in.
7. This park opens half an hour after sunrise and closes half an hour before sunset.
8. I beg your pardon.
9. Police chief quits over blunder.
10. I rush to the station and find Ive just missed the train.
11. I pronounce you man and wife.
12. Do be quiet! Im trying to hear what the mans saying.
13. Do you think I look any thinner? Im slimming.
14. Were eating in the kitchen during this cold spell.
15. They spend a lot of money on improving their house.
16. I am forever forgetting my keys.
17. Theyre spending a lot of money on improving their house.
18. Im placing a bell jar over the candle. There! Can you see whats happening? The waters gradually
rising.
19. She spends almost all her money on clothes.
20. Shes spending almost all her money on clothes.
21. I walk in and she breaks the eggs.
22. Im slowly walking in and she is breaking the eggs.
23. She always breaks the dishes.
24. She is always breaking the dishes.
II. NAME THE USAGE EACH VERB PHRASE IN BOLD IS AN EXAMPLE OF:
1. I asked them to be quiet. I was trying to hear what the man was saying.
2. I thought she looked thinner. Apparently, she was slimming.
3. We had moved the dinner table into the kitchen - we were eating there during the cold spell.
4. At 11 oclock, I was working in the garden.
5. When the storm broke, I was working in the garden.

FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

SET 11

Ive read the book.

I havent had my breakfast yet.
Ive been decorating the room upstairs.
There have been some changes lately.
I havent seen him since November.
This is the best wine I have ever drunk.
When I got there, everyone had gone home.
When I looked at the state my room was in, I could see it hadnt been cleaned.
We shall have finished the repairs to your car by tomorrow morning.
So Ive heard.
Your father told me yesterday.
Have you seen him today?
Go out and get some fresh air! Youve been sitting there reading all morning.
I thought he needed some fresh air. Hed been sitting there reading all morning.

III. CHOOSE BETWEEN FOR AND SINCE:

1. Weve been fishing two hours. 2. Ive been working in this office a month. 3. Nobody has seen
him last week. 4. Theyve been living in France 1970. 5. He has been in prison a year. 6. Ive
known that a long time. 7. Weve had terrible weather the last month. 8. That man has been
standing there six oclock. 9. The project has been fully operational last month. 10. Things have
changed I was a girl. 11. That trunk has been in the hall a year. 12. He has been ill the last
month. 13. He hasnt spoken to me the last committee meeting. 14. It is a tradition that has lasted
more than 300 years. 15. It has been foggy early morning.
IV. EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE IF ANY:
1(a) When our visitor arrived, my wife was making tea.
1(b) When our visitor arrived, my wife made tea.
2(a) This time tomorrow well be crossing the Atlantic.
2(b) This time tomorrow well cross the Atlantic.
3(a) Im giving a lesson at 2 oclock tomorrow.
3(b) Ill be giving a lesson at 2 oclock tomorrow.
4(a) He has been in the army for two years.
4(b) He was in the army for two years.
5(a) The floor is clean.
5(b) The floor has been cleaned.
6(a) Ive read that book.
6(b) Ive just read that book.
7(a) Shakespeare has also written many sonnets.
7(b) Shakespeare also wrote many sonnets.
8(a) Tom has rung up three times this morning.
8(b) Tom rang up three times this morning.
9(a) Has the postman come this morning?
9(b) Did the postman come this morning?
10(a) He has been crying recently.
10(b) He cried recently.

FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

SET 11

11(a) Whos been reading my paper?

11(b) Whos read my paper?
12(a) Whos been drinking my wine?
12(b) Who has drunk my wine?
13(a) It was obvious that someone had been reading my paper.
13(b) It was obvious that someone had read my paper.
14(a) By next Christmas, I shall have been living in London for two years.
14(b) By next Christmas, I shall have lived in London for two years.
15(a) She has been quite an authority on this subject.
15(b) She was quite an authority on this subject.
16(a) My cousin has worked for Bush for 5 long years.
16(b) My cousin worked for Bush for 5 long years.
17(a) I work for the government.
17(b) Im working for the government.
18(a) She always gives me her opinion on everything.
18(b) She is always giving me her opinion on everything.
19(a) Hes been drinking.
19(b) Hes been drunk.
20(a) Your daughter broke the window again.
20(b) Your daughter has broken the window again.
21(a) She had owned the house since her parents died.
21(b) She has owned the house since her parents died.
22(a) He knocked on the door.
22(b) He was knocking on the door.
23(a) Ive been cleaning the windows.
23(b) Ive cleaned the windows.
V. OPEN THE BRACKETS:
1. A: What you (do) for the last half hour? B: I (sit) here working at this problem.
2. A: Do you know the lady who just (leave) the shop?
B: Yes, that is Miss Thrift.
A: Is she a customer of yours?
B: Not exactly. She (be) in here several times but she never (buy) anything.
3. A: You (wear) your hair long at school?
B: Yes, my mother (insist) on that. But when I (leave)
school I (cut) my hair and (wear) it short ever since.
4. I (let) you know as soon as I (finish).
5. Mr Pound is the bank manager. He (be) here for five years.
6. Mr Count (work) here as a cashier for twenty-five years. Then he (retire) and (go) to live in the
country.
7. A: You (be) here before?
B: Yes, I (spend) my holidays here last year.
A: You (have) a good time?
B: No, it never (stop) raining.
8. A: I (lose) my black gloves. You (see) them anywhere?
B: No, Im afraid not. When you last (wear) them?

FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

SET 11

A: I (wear) them at the theatre last night.

B: Perhaps you (leave) them at the theatre.
9. A: I (buy) this in Bond Street.
B: How much you (pay) for it?
A: I (pay) $100.
10. You (lock) the door before you (leave) the house?
11. You look very upset. What (happen)?
12. He shouldnt drive this evening. He (drink).
13. Id better not drive. I already (drink) quite a lot.
14. Please (not smoke) until after the plane (take off).
15. Cervantes (write) Don Quixote.
16. You (not finish) that book yet? You (read) it for more than a week.
17. A: Where you (find) this knife?
B: I (find) it in the garden.
A: Why you (not leave) it there?
18. That is Mr Minus, who teaches me mathematics, but he (not have) time to teach me much. I only
(be) in his class for a week.
19. A: I (just (receive) a letter saying that we (not pay) this quarters electricity bill. I (not give) you the
money for that last week?
B: Yes, but Im afraid I (spend) it on something else.
20. A: Where you (be)?
B: I (be) on a yacht.
A: You (enjoy) it?
B: Yes, very much.
We (take) part in a race.
A: You (win)?
No, we (come) in last.
21. He (write) a history of England in six volumes. Two volumes already (publish passive).
22. The meat must be nearly ready. It (cook) for nearly an hour.
23. I wonder if John (forget) my number. I (expect) him to call for the past two hours.
24. A: How long (know) you the truth?
24. B: I only just (find out), but I (find out) a lot of other things recently.
VI. OPEN THE BRACKETS:
1. The garden looks so much better now that all that rubbish .................. (take away).
2. Let's meet after I come back from my holiday we'd better not say Monday 19th, because
I .................. (only just / get back). What about the following Thursday?
3. She was horrified to discover, on returning home, that her entire flat .................. (ransack).
4. I found my first few weeks at the office very tiring because I .................. (never / have) a full-time
job before.
5. I tell you I am completely innocent I ................... (not / do) anything. You've got the wrong man.
6. I blushed profusely; I .................. (never / find) myself in such an embarrassing position before.
VII. A: DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE IN MEANING BETWEEN THE SENTENCES IN THE FOLLOWING PAIRS:
1. I've been playing squash with Jim, that's why I'm so hot.
I've played squash with Jim, he's a terrible cheat.
2. Jess has been writing her thesis, she's over halfway through.
Jess has written her thesis, she's very relieved.
3. I've been phoning her, but I think she must be out.
Ive phoned her, but I think she must be out.
4. Jack has been living with us since he came to England.
Jack has lived with us since he came to England.
Which of the following two sentences doesnt fit the pattern?
a) He doesn't want to come with us because he's already been skiing twice this year.

FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

SET 11

b) Hes exhausted because hes been skiing all day.

Which sentence contains the present perfect simple of to go skiing? Which sentence contains the
present perfect progressive of to ski?
B: RIGHT OR WRONG?
1 Since his father owned Kilman and Co, he worked there.
2 My sister is a doctor since she left university.
3 When have you ever helped with the washing up?
4 Gee, I'm sorry, Jane's not here she just went out.
5 My parents have gone to America for their silver wedding anniversary.
6 Shakespeare has been a towering figure in English literature for centuries.
7 This will be the last time that I have helped her.
8 I'm sure that I have seen you somewhere before.
9 I've lived abroad for 11 years and in England for 16.
10 I've done my homework a few days ago.
VIII. TRANSLATE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO BULGARIAN:
(1) John stood at the door, watching the children play.
(2) John stood at the door and began to knock.
(3) Mary found a dollar on the table.
(4) Mary found a dollar on the table each morning.
(5) You are always doubting my words.
(6) Mary is being a good girl today.
(7) She is looking more and more like her mother.
(8) They are still looking for the men two hours after the bulletin.
(9) Forman is scoring, Johnson I falling to the ground
(10) I have been meaning to talk to you seriously.
IX. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. PUT THE VERBS INTO EITHER THE PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE OR PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE:
1. Look at you, you're covered in mud! What on earth __________ (you / do)?
2. This is my favourite coat, and I __________ (have) it since I left school.
3. Since the offices at the front of the building were damaged by the bomb, quite a few of us
_________ (work) in the corridor.
4. The car's nearly ready, madam; the mechanic __________ (change) the oil and _________
(check) the brakes, but he __________ (not / complete) all the paperwork yet.
5. I __________ (learn) Spanish at evening classes for the last month, but I'm not much good.
6. Well, of course I'm angry, what do you expect? I _________ (sit) here waiting for you for over an
hour.
7. I __________ (mean) to have a talk with you about a problem that I __________ (know) about
for some time.
8. Because of pressure of work at the office, Jack __________ (get) home late recently.
X. PUT THE VERB IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT TENSE:
1. She reached the station after she (walk) for three hours.
2. He (make) nothing but trouble for years.
3. Oh, I am not really hot. Its just that I (run).
4. By this time tomorrow you (receive) your brothers letter.

FIRST YEAR PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COURSE

SET 11

5. He (solve) a crossword puzzle for half an hour and he (say) he (be) about to finish it as he (think)
over the last word.
6. The actors (rehearse) since early morning; now they (go over) the first scene as they (not satisfy)
with their acting.
7. She (speak) over the phone long enough, it (be) time she (stop).
8. You (open) the door at last! I (ring) for an hour or so it (seem) to me.
9. For months we (say) that the world economy (be) in a mess and we still (not know) the full extent of
that mess.
10. They (discuss) the problem ever since I (be) here, but they (not come) to any definite solution yet.
XI. TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH:
1. . !
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. 1453 .
6. ?
7. .
8. ?
9. .
10. .
11. .
12. . ?
13. , .
14. .
15. , o .
16. , .
17. , .
18. , .
19. , .
20. .
21. , ,
.
22. , ,
. 50 .
23. . .
24. .
25. .
26. .