Resumen Total

Be going to: exercise 1 - future plans
- - - - --
Exercise 1
What are Jim, Susan and Eve going to do after school? And what aren't they going to do?
Example:
Jim
+ watch a film
- eat lunch
Jim is going to watch a film.
He isn't going to eat lunch.
Jim Susan and Eve

+ see his friends + do some shopping
+ call Susan and Eve + wash their hair
- cook - play computer games
- do housework - visit Jim
Jim .................................................................... Susan and Eve ..........................................................
........................................................................... ..................................................................................
........................................................................... ..................................................................................
........................................................................... ..................................................................................
What are you going to do tonight? And what aren't you going to do? Write true answers.
read a book
have a party
go to bed early
talk to my family
.......................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Exercise 2
Use the following sentences to respond to situations in 1 - 8.
He is going to win.
You are going to fail.
I'm going to be ill.
It isn't going to rain.
I'm not going to be ill.
You aren't going to fail.
It's going to rain.
He isn't going to win.
1 Look at the clouds. .............................................................................................................................
2 Why don't you learn for the test? .......................................................................................................
3 I'm so tired. ........................................................................................................................................
4 The sun is shining. .............................................................................................................................
5 You are learning so hard. ...................................................................................................................
6 I'm OK. ...............................................................................................................................................
7 He is playing so well. .........................................................................................................................
8 He is the worst tennis player of all. ....................................................................................................

Exercise 3
Complete the email with following verbs and "going to".
tell change move not buy like find not travel kill not tidy work
Hi, Ben!
I'm writing to you to let you know that I ..................................................... to Devon. I can't wait
anymore! Everything ..................................................... in my life. We want to live in a house
near the sea. We ..................................................... a big house, because we ................................
.............................................. it all weekends. Do you know Devon? If not, you must come to
see us. I'm sure you ..................................................... it there.
My wife and I ..................................................... new jobs too, because Brighton is too far away
and we ..................................................... to work for hours every day. We ..................................
.......................................... somewhere near our home. My boss doesn't know about it, but
I ..................................................... him soon. He ..................................................... me!
I have to go now. Please, write back soon.
Bye for now,

Sam
Be going to: exercise 4 - questions
www.e-grammar.org/present-tense-be-going-to-future/
Exercise 4
Make questions with the verbs in brackets. Use "going to".
Example:
Why do you need your driving licence? (you | drive)
Are you going to drive?
What are your New Years' resolutions? (you | work more)
...........................................................................................................................?
Doctor, is it serious? (he | die)
...........................................................................................................................?
Why are you taking your gloves? (it | be cold)
...........................................................................................................................?
You stopped the project. (you | continue in future)
...........................................................................................................................?
Your parents are over sixty years old. (they | retire)
...........................................................................................................................?
Eve is a bit overweight. (she | start any diet)
...........................................................................................................................?
Look at the snow on the roof. (it | fall down)
...........................................................................................................................?
You've decided to be number one in our country. (how | you | reach that)
...........................................................................................................................?
The dog looks quite dangerous. (it | bite me)
...........................................................................................................................?
Why do you want to take a day off? (what | you | do)
...........................................................................................................................?
ESL worksheets on e-grammar.org

Exercise 5
Use these jumbled words to make negative questions.
Example:
you | drive | are | anymore | to | going | not
Are you not going to drive anymore?
not | he | telephone | to | police | going | is | the
...........................................................................................................................?
the | you | to | aren't | manager | bank | see | going
...........................................................................................................................?
plant | they | trees | to | going | not | are | the
...........................................................................................................................?
not | tennis | you | to | are | going | play | tomorrow
...........................................................................................................................?
Simon | for | job | look | to | a | going | isn't | new
...........................................................................................................................?
a | give | to | going | her | to | aren't | present | you
...........................................................................................................................?
Jones | smoking | not | going | to | stop | is | Mr.
...........................................................................................................................?
learn | to | German | brothers | going | aren't | your
...........................................................................................................................?

Be going to: exercise 6 - affirmative, negative, questions
www.e-grammar.org/present-tense-be-going-to-future/
Exercise 6
Use the words in brackets and "going to" to do the following:

1. Complete the question.
2. Correct the wrong information.
3. Write the correct answer.
Example:
(you | have) ...................................................................................... a new car?
(we | not buy) .................................................................................... a new car.
(we | look for | a used car) ................................................................ a used car.
Are you going to have a new car?

We aren't going to buy a new car.
We are going to look for a used car.
(you | cut) ........................................................................................ the grass?
(I | not work) .............................................................................. in the garden.
(I | clean) .................................................................................... the windows.
(the Scotts | build) ...................................................................... a new house?
(they | not have) .................................................................................. a house.
(they | rent) ............................................................................................. a flat.
(your dad | watch) ............................................................. the football match?
(he | not stay) ...................................................................................... at home.
(My parents | do) ..................................................................... some shopping.
(your sister | fly) ............................................................................... to India?
(she | not travel) ................................................................................. to India.
(my friends | visit) ................................................................................. India.

English grammar
Conditional tense
Present conditional tense
Form
Statement: I would practise

Negative: He would not practise
Question: Would you practise?
Neg. question: Would she not practise?
Short forms: I'd practise, He wouldn't practise, Wouldn't we practise?
Use
We use the present conditional tense in English to speculate about present or future situations that
could theoretically happen. This tense is used when the action is either impossible (unreal) or when
we do not think that the action will happen.
He would sign it. (But he can't. It is not possible.)

I would travel by plane. (If I wanted to go on holiday. But I do not want to go.)
In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not very
common in modern English.
I should/would be really glad. (If you could help me). We should/would send the fax. (But we do not
know how to do it).
Should, however, can also express a recommendation or advice. In this respect, it is similar to ought
to.
I should study tonight. I ought to study tonight. (Or I will fail the exam tomorrow.)
He should drive carefully. He ought to drive carefully. (Or he will crash one day.)
You should speak loudly. You ought to speak loudly. (I can't hear you.)
Could and might are conditional forms of can and may. They are used to speculate about the present
or future. Could indicates theoretical possibility, might indicates possibility + uncertainty.
She could come with us tomorrow. (It is possible. She will be free.)
She might come with us tomorrow. (We hope that it is possible, but we are not sure.)
Could is also the past form of can and expresses possibility, ability or permission in the past.
Possibility: She could travel in our car. (It was possible because we had a free seat for her.)
Ability: She could play again in the last match. (She was able to play because she was not ill
anymore.)
Permission: She could come with us last weekend. (Her father allowed her to go.)
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/conditional

Perfect conditional tense
Form
Statement: I would have practised

Negative: He would not have given
Question: Would you have practised?
Neg. question: Would she not have written?
Short forms: I'd have practised, He wouldn't have given, Wouldn't we have written?
We make the perfect conditional tense with would and the perfect infinitive (have + past participle).
In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not very
common in modern English.
Use
We use the perfect conditional tense in English to speculate about the past situations which were
theoretically possible, but did not happen in fact.
I would have learnt it. (But I didn't learn it). I would have told her. (But she didn't want to listen.) She
wouldn't have married me. (Because she didn't like me.)
Compare the present and perfect conditionals:
Present conditional
She would lend me some money now. (She is willing to lend me the money. I will ask her.)
Perfect conditional
She would have lent me some money last year. (She was willing to lend me the money, but I didn't ask
her.)
Similarly: I would do it. Will you help me? x I would have done it. But you didn't help me.
Should, could and might are used in the same way.
You should finish it soon. x You should have finished it. Why did you give up?
We might have dinner. I am hungry. x We might have had dinner. But we didn't eat anything.
They could fly tomorrow. x They could have flown last week. But they stayed at home.
Should + perfect infinitive (should have finished) is used to express regrets or recommendations
concerning the past.
He shouldn't have refused it. It was a good offer. (It is a pity that he refused it.)
Might + perfect infinitive (might have had) and could + perfect infinitive (could have flown) are used to
speculate about the past. We say that something was possible, but we know that it did not happen.
He might/could have died. But they rescued him.

He might/could have won. But he didn't buy a lottery ticket.
Compare
In English we can also speculate about the past with may + perfect infinitive (it is not the conditional
tense, however). In this case we do knot know if the action really happened or not.
He may have died. (It is possible that he died. But maybe he is still alive.)
He may have won. (It is possible that he won. But maybe he lost.)
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/conditional

English grammar
Direct - indirect object

The English verbs are followed by two different kinds of objects - the direct object and indirect object.
I sent Mary some flowers.

I sent some flowers to Mary.
These sentences contain both direct and indirect objects. Flowers are the direct object and it refers to
what I sent. Mary is the indirect object and it refers to whom I sent it.
Use
1. If the indirect object comes before the direct object, there is no preposition.
They gave Harold a new car.
2. If the indirect object comes after the direct object, a preposition must be used.
They gave a new car to Harold.
3. If the direct object is a pronoun (it, this ... ), it comes before the indirect object and a preposition
must be used.
I bought it for my sister.

Can you send it to him?
(Not: I bought my sister it. Can you send him it?)
Notes
1. If the verbs read and write are only followed by the indirect object, a preposition must be used.
Please, read to me. (Not: Please, read me).

But: Read me the letter. Read the letter to me. (There are two objects in these sentences.)
I'll write to you soon.

But: I'll write you a letter. I'll write a letter to you. (two objects)
2. We can use the verbs promise, show, and tell with the indirect object only, but without a preposition.
I can't promise you. (Or: I can't promise it to you. with two objects)
Show him. (Or: Show it to him.)
Can you tell me?
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/direct-indirect-object

English grammar
If clauses & conditional sentences

There are four basic types of conditional sentences in the English language. Each type has two parts -
the main clause and the if clause.
Zero conditional: I take my umbrella if it rains.

First conditional: I'll call you if I work late.
Second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.
Third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her.
Zero conditional
The zero conditional describes situations that are always true. If has the same meaning as when or
whenever.
If I go to school, I get up at seven. (Whenever I go to school I get up at the same time.)
If you park your car on double yellow lines, you pay a fine. (Whenever you park illegally, you pay a
fine.)
We use the present simple tense in both the main clause and the if clause.
First conditional
The first conditional refers to the present or future. First conditional sentences are used to speculate
about possible situations that can really happen.
If he studies hard, he'll pass the exams. If we catch the 10.15 train, we will arrive on time. If you don't
get the ticket, what will you do?
We use the present tense in the if clause and will + bare infinitive in the main clause.
Second conditional
The second conditional also refers to the present or future. In second conditional sentneces we
speculate about situations that will probably never happen.
If I had more time, I would help you. (But I am not free at the moment. I can't help you).
If I won a million dollars, I would start a business of my own. (But I know that it is not realistic.)
We use the past tense in the if clause and would + bare infinitive in the main clause.
Note: the verb to be can have a specific form in the if clause.

If I were rich, I wouldn't work. If he were younger, he would marry her.
(But was is also possible: If I was rich, I wouldn't work. If he was younger, he would marry her.)
But: If I were you, I wouldn't do it. (In this expression, were is much more usual than was.)
The first conditional versus the second conditional
The main difference between the first and second conditional is about probability: the first conditional
is realistic, the second conditional is unrealistic.
Sometimes we can use either the first or second conditional with the following difference in meaning.
If I see him, I will tell him. (I suppose I will see him, because we go to the same school.)
If I saw him, I would tell him. (I don't think I will see him, because he is ill.)
If I need your help, I'll call you. (It is probable that I will need your help.)
If I needed your help, I'd call you. (It is not very probable that I will need your help.)
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/if-clauses

Sometimes we must use either the first or the second conditional, because it is clear that the situation
is real or unreal.
If you get up late, you will miss your bus. (a real situation)
If I came from your country, I would understand your problems. (an unreal situation - I am not from
your country.)
Other forms
Apart from the basic forms (if + the present simple + will and if + the past simple + would), we can use
other verb forms in the first and second conditional sentences in the English language.
Type 1
If you have finished your dinner, you can ask for the bill.
If you are feeling tired, take a rest.
If he is a good skier, he might make it.
If you want to be slim, you should eat less.
If you meet her, could you let me know?
Type 2
If I knew his address, I might go and see him.
If we were on holiday, we would be lying on a beach now.
Why are we watching this film? If we were watching the news, it would be more interesting.
Third conditional
The third conditional sentences always refer to the past. We speculate about situations that happened
or did not happen in the past.
If I had won a million, I would have started a business of my own. (But I didn't win anything.)
If he had met her, he would have told her. (Unfortunately, he didn't meet her.)
If we hadn't practised, we wouldn't have won the match. (But we practised and won.)
We use the past perfect in the if clause and perfect infinitive (have + past participle) in the main
clause.
Other forms
Apart from the basic form of the third conditional sentences, we can use other verb forms in English.
We didn't save any money. If we had saved some money, we might have bought the house.
She wasn't there and I wasn't sitting next to her. But if she had been there, I would have been sitting
next to her.
I was looking at the trees when I fell off the bike. If I hadn't been looking at the trees, I wouldn' t have
fallen off the bike.
Mixed conditionals
In the mixed conditional sentences we can combine the second and third conditional.
If he had left immediately, he would be here now. (He didn't leave immediately and isn't here.)
If I had studied hard when I was young, I wouldn't be a porter now. (I didn't study and I am a porter.)
If we hadn't told him the way while he was preparing for his journey, he would get lost now. (We told
him and he isn't lost.)
Inverted conditionals
We can also make conditional sentences by changing the word order in the if clause.
Had he booked the hotel room, he wouln't have slept at the camp. (If he had booked ... )
Were I in your position, I would accept it. (If I were ... )
This form is less common, quite formal and is mostly used in writing.
Note
If is the most frequent expression in the if clauses, but other expressions are also possible.
even if, provided (that), unless, on condition (that), in case
You will leave tonight even if you don't want to.

You can have your birthday party provided that you aren't noisy.
We'll sell you the ranch on condition you pay in cash.
You should take a dictionary with you in case you forgot some words.
Unless you do something, she won't come back. (If you don't do anything, ... )
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/if-clauses

English grammar
Imperative sentences
The second person imperative
We can express commands in English by the imperative made with the infinitive without to.
Be careful. Open your books. Come here.
For the negative commands we put do not or don't before the imperative.
Don't be late. Do not sit down. Don't have so many bags.
We can mention the person in the command, usually at the end of the sentence.
Have something to eat, Greg.
If we talk to more people, we use the pronoun you to make the distinction between them.
You take these bags and you park the car. You wait here and I'll call the police.
Emphatic imperative
In writing it is not usual to use an exclamation mark in the imperative. If we put it at the end of the
command, it becomes more urgent.
Wait! Don't do that!
We can make an emphatic imperative with do and imperative. It is common in polite requests.
Do sit down. Do be reasonable.
On the other hand, do before the imperative can express the irritation of the speaker.
Do be quiet. Do come on time.
You before the imperative also shows the speaker's anger or even rudeness.
You get out of here. Don't you follow me.
In a different context, however, it can show your positive emotions.
Don't you be so sad.
The first person imperative

The English language makes the first person imperative with let + me or let + us.
Let me do it for you. Let me see.
Let us go. Let's take our car.
For the negative we put not before the imperative.
Let us not be worried.
In spoken English it is possible to use don't at the beginning of the sentence.
Don't let's be worried.
The third person imperative

We make it with let + him/her/it/them and the infinitive without to.
Let him go. Let her explain it. Let it be. Let them try it. Let the customers pay immediately.
This form is not very common in modern English. It is more usual to say the same in a different way.
He must go. She should explain it. Leave it alone. They can try it. The customers must pay
immediately.
The negative imperative in the third person is archaic. We use more common forms instead.
They mustn't stay here. Mary is not to travel alone.
Polite requests
We can make a polite request in English if we put shall we or will you at the end of the imperative.
This is used in positive requests.
Let's get started, shall we? Be careful, will you?
If you want to be even more polite, you can use questions instead of commands.
Will you pass me the salt, please? Will you help me? Could you do it for me? Would you mind opening
the window?
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/imperative

English grammar
Indirect questions
If we want to make questions in the English language, we can do it by changing the word order (Is he
your brother? Was she there? Have you been to Ireland?) or by using the auxiliary do (Do you know
them? Does he live with you? Did you enjoy it?).
The indirect questions are not normal questions. They have the same word order as statements and
we do not use do to form a question. They usually come after introductory phrases combined with
interrogative pronouns and adjectives (who, whom, what, which, whose), adverbs (when, where, how,
why) or if, whether.
Compare the following direct and indirect questions:
Direct: What did she want? - Indirect: Do you know what she wanted?
Direct: Where was it? - Indirect: Do you remember where it was?
Direct: Will they come? - Indirect: I wonder if they will come.
We can use many other introductory phrases to start the indirect questions, e. g. I ask, I wonder, I
want/would like to know, I can't remember, I have no idea, I am sure etc. or they can be intruduced by
direct questions such as Can you tell me, Do you know, Do you remember, Have you any idea etc.
Look at more examples to understand how we change the direct questions into the indirect questions:
How much is it? - I'd like to know how much it is.

Is this seat free? - He is asking if this seat is free.
Where did she go? - Have you any idea where she went?
Does he want to buy it? - Do you know whether he wants to buy it?
The indirect questions are more common in English than in some other languages. They are more
polite and more formal than the direct questions. Compare the following examples.
Direct question indirect question:

Why did you do it? - Could you tell me why you did it?
Could I use your telephone? - Do you think I could use your telephone?
Are you married? - I wonder if you are married.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/indirect-question

English grammar
Infinitive and Gerund

Bare infinitive (without to)
We usually use infinitives with to in the English language.
I want to go. I told him to come.
The infinitive without to (bare infinitive) is used as follows.
1. After modal verbs - can, may, must, needn't, dare ...
I can bring it. He may take it. You must buy it. We needn't open it. He dared not tell me.
The verbs dare and need can also be followed by the infinitive with to. In such sentences we use do to
make questions and negatives.
I dared not call you. x I didn't dare to call you. These two sentences have the same meaning, only the
form is different.
You needn't listen to him. (You don't have to listen to him.) x You don't need to listen to him. (There is
no need to listen.) These two sentences are different in the form and meaning, too.
2. After the verbs of senses - feel, hear, see, watch.

We saw you swim. I heard her sing.
It is more common, however, to use -ing form in English after the verbs of senses.
We saw you swimming. I heard her singing.
But: In the passive voice the infinitive with to must be used after these verbs.
She was seen to cry.
3. After some more expressions - let, make, would rather, had better, help.
Don't let him go. She made me drive. I'd rather finish it. You'd better start. I helped them carry it.
The verb help can also be followed by the infinitiv with to.
I helped them to carry it.
But the passive voice is followed by the infinitive with to.
I was made to drive. He was let to go.
Infinitiv or gerund?
In English some verbs are followed by infinitive (They agreed to come), other verbs are followed by
gerund (Did you enjoy flying?) and there are also verbs followed by infinitive and gerund (She began
to work - She began working).
1. The verbs followed by infinitive only.
agree decide hope order promise
allow demand instruct permit refuse
appear encourage invite persuade remind
arrange fail learn plan seem
ask forbid manage prepare swear
choose force offer pretend warn
He decided to study at university. We hoped to find it. Did he seem to like it? They allowed me to
smoke.
I ordered my son to send it.
2. The expressions followed by infinitive.

be about make up one's mind turn out
do one's best set out
He was about to start. I did my best to learn it. I haven't made up my mind to start yet. It turned out to
be your car. We set out to cut the tree.
3. The verbs followed by gerund only.

admit enjoy forgive mind risk
consider escape imagine miss suggest
delay excuse insist practise understand
dislike finish keep prevent
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/infinitive-gerund

She admitted telling him. Did you escape writing the test? I don't want to risk coming late.
Excuse, forgive and prevent are used with three different forms.
Excuse my being late. Excuse me being late. Excuse me for being late.
4. The expressions followed by gerund.

be against can't help look forward to
be interested in care for it's no use/good
can't stand give up it's worth
I can't stand waiting for hours. I can't help laughing. Don't give up studying this chapter. It's no use
working so late. Is the film worth seeing?
5. The verbs followed by infinitives and gerunds.
A. With the same meaning.
begin can't bear allow recommend it requires
start intend permit it needs it wants
continue advise
Did you continue driving/to drive? He can't bear smoking/to smoke.
If the verbs advise, allow, permit, recommend are used with the indirect object, they are followed by
infinitive. If not, gerund must be used.
They didn't allow us to eat there. They didn't allow eating there.
She recommended John to read this book. She recommended reading this book.
After the expressions it needs/requires/wants gerund is more common than infinitive.
The car needs washing/to be washed. The flower wants watering/to be watered.
B. The verbs that have a different meaning with infinitive or gerund.
Remember
I remember watching the match. It was fantastic. We use gerund to talk about earlier actions.
I remembered to watch the match.And so I sat down and switched on the TV. The infinitive is used to
talk about following actions.
Try
I tried calling him because I needed to test my new mobile phone. I made an experiment with my
mobile.
I tried to call him because I needed to meet him. I made an attempt to get in touch with him.
Love/like/hate/prefer
In the conditional tense these verbs are used with the infinitive.
I'd like to drive. I'd love to drive. I'd hate to drive. I'd prefer to drive.
In other tenses they are used with infinitives or gerunds, but both forms have a slightly different
meaning.
I like driving. I love driving. I hate driving. I prefer driving.
I like to drive. I love to drive. I hate to drive. I prefer to drive.
Compare:
I like going to the cinema. (I enjoy it.)
I like to go to the dentist twice a year. (I don't enjoy it, but I go there, because it is good for my health.)
I hate ironing. (It is my least favourite activity. I never enjoy it.)
I hate to iron on Sundays. (I don't mind ironing, but not on Sundays.)
Go on
After dinner he went on showing us his photos.
The gerund is used when we want to say that a previous activity continues.
He gave us a lecture on the Greek history. And then he went on to show us his photos from Greece.
The infinitiv is used when we want to describe an activity that follows a previous action and is
somehow connected to it.
Stop
I stopped smoking. This means that I do not smoke anymore.
I stopped to smoke. I made a pause to have a cigarette.

Mean
I didn't mean to hurt you. I say that I didn't do it on purpose.
We can go to Spain. But it means spending more money.
In this sentence we describe the consequences.
Be afraid
She was afraid of getting married. Any marriage is something that frightens her.
She was afraid to marry Bill. She doesn't mind getting married, but the marriage with Bill frightens her.
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for telling you. I apologize for a previuous action.
I'm sorry to tell you that your flight will be delayed. I apologize for something that will happen.
The infinitive with this expression can also mean sorrow.
I'm sorry to hear that your wife is ill.
Note
There are a lot of verbs and expressions that are used with gerunds and infinitives. In this chapter we
only tried to mention the most frequently used verbs.

English grammar
Modal verbs can, may, must
We use the modal verbs can, may, must in the English language to express various meanings - ability,
possiblity, permission, attitudes, opinions, etc.
CAN
1. Can is used to describe the ability to do something.
I can swim very well.
Can he can speak English fluently? - No, he can't.
We cannot sing at all!
2. It expresses the possibility to do something.
We can go to the seaside at last. Our holidays start next week.
3. We use it to say that something is probable.
It can be John. He has blond hair and he is wearing glasses.
4. It expresses the permission to do something.
Why not? You can marry her. She is a nice girl.
MAY
1. May is used for permissions.

You may borrow my car. I won't need it.
May I smoke here? - No, you can't, I'm sorry.
2. It is used for expressing probability or prediction.
They may call tomorrow. I hope so.
The main difference between may and can is in style. May is more formal than can. Can is typical of
spoken English.
3. The opposite of may is must not or may not.
May I smoke here?
- You mustn't smoke here. (strong prohibition)
- You may not smoke here. (more polite, very formal)
- You can't smoke here. (informal spoken English)
MUST
1. Must is used for strong obligations. It is personal, because it shows the speaker's opinion or will.
I must clean my teeth. I want to be healthy.
You must go there. And do it right now!
2. It expresses strong recommendation.
You must see it. It's the best film I've ever seen.
3. We use it to express certainty of the speaker.
They must be at school by now. It's already 9 o'clock.
4. The opposite of must is need not.
Mum, must I wash up? - No, you needn't. I've already done it.
Must not has a different meaning. It is used to express prohibition that involves the speaker's will.
We mustn't come late today. Or the teacher will be very angry.
He mustn't enter this room. It is dangerous.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/modal-verbs-can-may-must/

English grammar
Passive voice
Form
Tense Passive
Present simple
Present continuous
Past simple
Past continuous
Present perfect
Past perfect
Future simple
Present conditional
Perfect conditional
The passive voice in English is formed with the verb to be and the past participle, which is different
for regular verbs (translated, mended) and irregular verbs (taken, thrown).
Statement:
Question:
Negative:
The passive continuous forms of the present and past tense are as follows. (Other tenses are not
normally used in the continuous.)
Present:
Past:
In all the examples above the agent is not mentioned and so we do not know it.
Similarly: (We do not know who did it).
If we want to say who planted the flowers we mention the agent at the end of the sentence and use the
preposition by.
But: (The stone is not the agent. We do not know who smashed
the window. We only know how he or she did it).
Passive voice with direct and indirect objects

If there are both the direct and indirect objects in the sentence, the indirect object becomes the subject.
Active:
Passive: (Not: A letter was sent to me by my friend. This sentence
does not sound natural in English.)
Similarly:
Passive with verbs followed by the infinitive without to

In the active some verbs are followed by the infinitive without to. In the passive we use most such
verbs with the infinitive with to.
Active:
Passive:
But:
Use
The passive voice is used:

1. If the action is more important then the agent.
The important thing is what happened, not who did it.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/passive-voice

2. If the agent is not known.
(someone offered him the job)
(some teachers suppose that)
The difference in meaning between the passive of simple and continuous tenses.
(The house is finished.)
(They are building it these days, it is not finished.)
(Her husband arrived in the middle of
the introduction.)
(Her husband arrived first and then she
introduced me.
Notes
The passive voice is typical of an impersonal and formal style, that is why you can often find it in
public notices, announcements, instructions or scientific articles.
In a less formal style the active is more usual.
In the English language the passive is more frequent than in many other languages. Moreover, you can
find some stuctures in English which are not possible in some languages.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/passive-voice

English grammar
Relative clauses
Defining relative clauses
They specify a noun or pronoun in the main clause and are necessary if we want to understand the
meaning of a sentence.
I saw the girl who was outside our house. They wanted the picture that cost two pounds.
These relative clauses specify the objects of the main clauses. If we omit them, it is not clear what girl
or picture we are talking about. The defining relative clauses follow after the relative pronouns who,
which, that, whose and whom. We do not write them with commas.
Use of the relative pronouns
Who for persons

The man who called you has just arrived.
Which for things

This is the book which I wanted.
That for persons and things

Are you the boy that lives next door?
Can you see the tree that has no leaves?
The relative pronoun that is less formal than who or which.
Whose is a possessive pronoun for persons and things

It is a story about a boy whose parents got divorced.
The river whose bridge is in front of us is called the Cam.
Whom is the object of a verb

The man whom I met yesterday ...
Whom is very formal. In spoken English who or that are much more common.
The man who I met ... The man that I met ...
We can also leave out the pronoun. It is the most usual form.
The man I met ...
If the subject in the main clause is different from the subject in the defining relative clause, we normally
leave out the relative pronoun.
The student you saw in Oxford is my neighbour. (the subjects are the student and you)
The bike she borrowed belongs to me. (the subjects are the bike and she)
Be careful
If the subject in the main clause and the relative clause is the same, we cannot omit the pronoun,
because it becomes the subject of the relative clause.
The driver who took you to school is from York. The pen that is on the desk is new.
There is only one subject in each sentence - the driver and the pen.
If we leave out the subject, it will not be clear what we mean.
The driver took you to school is from York. (This sentence does not make any sense.)
Relative pronouns with prepositions

We use the relative pronouns with prepositions as follows.
The man I got it from .....
The man who/that I got it from .....
The man from whom I got it .....
The last sentence is not very common in spoken English as it is quite formal.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/relative-clauses

Non-defining relative clauses
They only describe a preceding noun or pronoun (add some information about them), but do not
specify them. The non-defining relative clauses must be written with commas.
My father, who is 65 now, still works.
His car, which cost nearly 20,000 pounds, is broken.
If we leave out these relative clauses (My father still works. His car is broken.), the sentences remain
grammatically correct and we know what father or car we are talking about. The only effect is that
there is less information in the sentences.
More examples
I gave it to Peter, who is my close friend.
Ann, whom I admire, is not right in this case.
Their garden, which is near here, looks beautiful.
Pam, whose children go to school, is not so busy.
The non-defining relative clauses are quite formal and are typical of written English. In spoken English
we prefer less formal structures.
Written English: My father, who is 65 now, still works.
Spoken English: My father is 65 now and still works.
Written English: Their garden, which is near here, looks beautiful.
Spoken English: Their garden is near here. It looks beautiful.
In informal English we use who instead of whom.

Formal: Sam, whom I know quite well, would be a good husband.
Informal: Sam, who I know quite well, would be a good husband.
Connective relative clauses

Connective clauses do not define or describe the preceding nouns or pronouns, but only develop the
story.
I gave the letter to James, who sent it to London.
She passed me the salt, which fell on the floor.
The function of the connective clauses is different, but the rules are the same as with the non-defining
clauses. We make them with the pronouns who, whom, whose, which and write them with commas.
Remember
We cannot write the defining relative clauses with commas, because they change the meaning of a
sentence. Compare the following sentences.
The passengers who fastened their seatbelts survived. (Which passengers survived? Only the
pasengers wearing the seatbelts.)
The passengers, who fastened their seatbelts, survived. (Because all the passengers were wearing
their seatbelts, they survived.)
In spoken English we make pauses in sentences instead of commas.

English grammar
Reported speech
Indirect (reported) speech in statements

If we want to report what other people said, thought or felt, we can use the direct or indirect (reported)
speech.
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped.
The indirect (reported) speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she
would pass the exam.
The indirect (reported) speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain,
explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.
If the reporting verb is in the past tense, we change the following:

a) verb tenses and verb forms,
b) pronouns,
c) the adverbs of time and place.
A) The changes of verb tenses in the indirect (reported) speech
1. Present - past
The present simple tense becomes the past simple tense and the present continuous becomes the
past continuous.
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me.
"We are exercising," he explained. - He explained that they were exercising.
2. Present perfect - past perfect

The present perfect simple changes into the past perfect simple and the present perfect continuous
changes into the past perfect continuous.
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been waiting
since the morning.
3. Past - past perfect

The past simple tense becomes the past perfect simple and the past continuous becomes the past
perfect continuous.
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a new car.
4. Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional.
"I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.
Notes
I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it.
The first person conditional I should, we should usually changes into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad.
May becomes might.

"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/reported-speech/

The verb forms remain the same in the direct and indirect speech in the following cases.
1.If the reporting verb is in the present tense.
Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
2. When we report something that is still true.

Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
3. When the speech is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
4. With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
5. After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.

Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
6. In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her room, her dad
would be happy.
7. In time-clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying in
Madrid he met his best friend.
8. We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the action
happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday.
We must change the tense, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear whether
we are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
9. We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't. But must can become had to or would
have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it.
"We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.
B) The pronouns in the indirect (reported) speech
We have to change the pronouns in the indirect (reported) speech to keep the same meaning of a
sentence.
"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.
Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the reported speech is confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them.

If we change the direct speech into the indirect speech mechanically (Kevin said he had killed them), it
can have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.
This and these are usually substituted in the reported speech.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.
C) Time and place
Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came yesterday." It
means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday, we have to do the
following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he came on
Saturday.
The time expressions change as follows.

today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two days' time,
yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next week/month - the
following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year ago - a year before/the
previous year
Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.
Note
If the speech is made and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had painted
the hall last weekend.
On the other hand, if the speech is reported later than it is made, the time expressions are different in
the indirect speech. Last week Jim said:
"I'm playing next week."
If we report his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.
Here usually becomes there in the indirect speech. But sometimes we make different adjustments.
At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.
Reported questions
Questions become statements in the reported speech. The reporting verb say changes into ask, want
to know, wonder ... .
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in the reported questions. If is more common and whether
is more formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he married Sue.
Reported commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object + infinitive.
The reporting verbs are advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.
Unlike the direct speech the person addressed must be mentioned in the indirect speech.

"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are reported by verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke.
Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or advice. The form is different, however.
Reported statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.
Reported commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up.
Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands, requests or advice in different forms.
Reported questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee.
Reported commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.

English grammar
Time clauses
The time clauses in the English language are introduced by conjunctions such as after, as soon as,
before, till, until, when, whenever, while or expressions such as the minute, the moment etc.
We do not use the future tense (will) in a time clause to describe future activities.
Compare:
I'll come back home and I'll do it. x I'll do it when I come back home. (when I come is the time clause)
You will push this button and the door will open. x As soon as you push this button the door will open.
Don't stand up. First I'll tell you. x Don't stand up till (until) I tell you.
You'll need my car. Take it. x Whenever you need my car you can take it.
You'll tidy up the house and I'll do the shopping. x You'll tidy up the house while I do the shopping.
You will drop the bomb and it will explode. x The moment you drop the bomb it will explode.
Similarly, other future forms also change to the present simple tense in time clauses.
He is going to leave. The room will be empty. x As soon as he leaves the room will be empty.
We are moving next week. Then we'll call you. x When we move next week we'll call you.
If we describe an action that is happening at the same time as another future action (the two activities
are simultaneous), we use the present continuous tense in the time clauses.
We are going to cut the grass. You'll pick the apples. x While we are cutting the grass you'll pick the
apples.
The future perfect tense and future perfect continuous become the present perfect and present perfect
continuous in time clauses.
I'll have finished my homework in ten minutes. Then I'll go out. x After I have finished my homework I'll
go out.
They will have repaired our car by the weekend. And we will go for a trip. x As soon as they have
repaired our car we will go for a trip.
Be careful!
If when introduces a noun clause which is the object of a verb, it is followed by a future tense.
I don't know when she will arrive. I can't remember when the race will start. You must decide when
you will meet them.
In all these sentences the question is: What? (I don't know what, I can't remember what, You must
decide what.). That is why it is not a time clause.
English grammar rules and exercises online + pdf at www.e-grammar.org/time-clauses

English tenses
Future perfect tense

Future perfect simple
Form
Positive statement: I will have painted, I will have written, He will have painted, He will have
written (I'll have painted, He'll have painted)
Negative statement: I will not have painted (I won't have painted), He will not have painted
(He won't have painted)
Question: Will you have painted?
Negative question: Will you not have painted? (Won't you have painted?)
Use
We use the future perfect simple for events that will be completed before or at a certain time. It is often
used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, by that time, by midnight, by the end of the
year.
The time can also be given by other time expressions (on Sunday, before 31 June) or other activities
expressed in different future tenses.
I will have sent the project by Friday.

On 11 August this year we will have been married for five years.
When the mountaineers get back to the base, they'll have been in the snowstorm for two days.
We'll have reached the top before noon.
How long will she have worked here by the end of this year?
In all these examples, at a given time the future perfect actions will be in the past.
Future perfect continuous

Form
Positive statement: I will have been meeting (I'll have been meeting)
Negative statement: I will not have been meeting (I won't have been meeting)
Question: Will you have been meeting?
Negative question: Will you not have been meeting? (Won't you have been meeting?)
Use
We use the future perfect continuous tense for activities that will continue until a point of time in the
future and will not be completed. Like the simple tense it is normally used with by or other time
expressions and future actions.
I'll go home on 20 June. By then I'll have been staying at this hotel for a fortnight.
At six o'clock we'll have been waiting here for three hours.
When you arrive, we'll have been sitting in the classroom all day.
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/future-perfect-simple-continuous/

Future perfect simple vs continuous
The continuous form is used for incomplete, uninterrupted activities. If we refer to a number of
individual actions or actions that were repeated, we must use the simple form.
When I am sixty, I'll have been building houses for thirty years. (one incomplete activity)
When I am sixty, I'll have built more than fifty houses. (fifty individual actions)
By 5 o'clock I'll have been washing this car for an hour and a half. (one uninterrupted activity)
By 5 o'clock I'll have washed this car and replaced the tyres. (two completed activities that will be
done one after another)
In this respect the simple and continuous aspects are similar to the other tenses (the past tense, present
perfect, past perfect), which you can study on this website to get more details and more examples.
English tenses
Future simple and future continuous
Future simple - will
Form
Positive statement: I will learn (I'll learn), He will learn (He'll learn)
Negative statement: I will not learn (I won't learn), He will not learn (He won't learn)
Question: Will you learn?
Negative question: Will you not learn? (Won't you learn?)
We can also use shall in the first person singular and plural (I, we). But this form is quite
formal in modern English and is not very common.
I shall do it for you.
We shall come soon.
Use
1. Will is used as a modal auxiliary verb to show a general intention.
He will change his job.
We'll travel abroad. (short form of will)
I will not need it.
They won't change the telephone number. (short form of will not)
Will you take the exam?
2. Will is used for predictions or opinions.
It will snow in winter.
The horse will not win.
We can use following verbs or adverbs to express that we assume something, but we are not sure:
think, be sure, hope, believe, suppose, perhaps, possibly, probably, surely.
They'll probably study art.
I don't think she'll accept it.
3. Will is used to express a decision or offer made at the moment of speaking.
Can I walk you home? - No, thank you. I'll take a taxi.
Please, tell Peter about it. - O.K. I'll call him.
But: I am going to call Peter. Do you want me to say hello to him?
(Going to expresses our decision made before the moment of speaking.)
Future continuous
Form
Positive statement: I will be sitting (I'll be sitting)
Negative statement: I will not be sitting (I won't be sitting)
Question: Will you be sitting?
Negative question: Will you not be sitting? (Won't you be sitting?)
Use
1. This tense is used for an action that will be in progress at a point of time in the future. It will start
before that point of time and will continue after it. The point in time can be given by a time expression
or by another action in the future simple (will). This usage is very similar to the past continuous in this
aspect.
At 8 o'clock I will be travelling to Dorset.
This time tomorrow we'll be lying on the beach.
(In these two sentences the point of time that we refer to is given by a time expression.)
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/future-simple-continuous/

The shop will be closed. Will you be working?
I'll be sleeping when you come back.
(In these two sentences the point of time that we refer to is given by another activity.)
2. The future continuous describes the idea that something will happen in the normal course of events.
It refers to a routine activity, not an intention, decision or plan.
I'll be writing to you again. (I always write to you, so I'll do it again, as usual.)
They'll be leaving on Friday. You can join them. (They normally leave on Fridays.)
Everybody will be working on a computer sooner or later. (If nothing special happens.)
Future continuous vs present continuous

We are going to the cinema next weekend.
(The present tense means that we have already arranged it. We know the time and place and probably
have the tickets.)
We'll be going to the cinema next weekend.
(The future continuous only tells us how we will spend the weekend. But we have not arranged
anything and, probably, we do not even know which film we want to see.)
I am seeing Susan tomorrow.
(I have some reason. Susan and I have arranged the time and place.)
I'll be seeing Susan tomorrow.
(Susan is my classmate and because I will go to school tomorrow, I will see her as usual.)
Future simple vs continuous
Bill won't play football tomorrow.
(The fact is that Bill cannot play or does not want to play for some reason.)
Bill won't be playing football tomorrow.
(Bill will not play, because it will be Friday and he never plays on Fridays.)
I'll call Mimi tonight. I'll ask her.
(I will do it because I need to talk to her.)
I'll be calling Mimi tonight. I can ask her.
(I call her every night, that is why I will call her tonight too.)
In these examples the future simple shows intentions, while in the continuous there is no intention, it
expresses routine actions.
Notes
In some cases we can use several forms for future events. But every form will have a slightly different
meaning.
I'll be meeting Jim next week.
(I meet Jim every week and it will be the same next week.)
I'll meet Jim next week.
(I intend to meet Jim next week or I suppose that I will meet him.)
I'm going to meet Jim next week.
(I decided to meet Jim some time ago and now I am expressing my intention.)
I'm meeting Jim next week.
(We have arranged the time and place because we have some reason to meet.)
It will rain, I'm afraid.
(I assume it will rain, it is my opinion. But who knows!)
It's going to rain.
(I am sure it will rain because I can see the dark clouds in the sky. My opinion is based on clear
evidence.)
The present tense (I am meeting) is more definite than be going to (I am going to meet) and will is the
least definite (I will meet).
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/future-simple-continuous/

English tenses
Past perfect tense

There are two past perfect tenses in the English language.
Past perfect simple

Form
It is formed with the auxiliary verb "had" + past participle (-ed ending for regular verbs, e.g. worked,
travelled, tried, different forms for irregular verbs, e.g. written, made, sung):
I had done, I had not done (I hadn't done), Had I done? Had I not done? (Hadn't I done?)
Use
1. We use the past perfect to make it clear that an action was completed before another action in the
past.
The door bell rang at last. I had been in the room since breakfast.
(The bell rang at noon. I came in the morning - before that.)
When I arrived there Sarah had already left.
(I arrived after lunch. Sara went before lunch.)
I was so hungry! I had not eaten anything since the morning.
(It was late at night.)
2. It is used to refer to an activity that was completed before a point of time in the past.
In 2005 I had lived in the same place for ten years.
Had you ever travelled by plane before your holiday in Spain?
Past perfect vs present perfect simple

1. The past perfect is often used with expressions indicating that the activity took some time, such as:
for 10 years, since 1995, all week, all the time, always, ...
When the plane landed Tim had travelled all day.
My parents moved away from Leeds. They had lived there since they got married.
In 2005 Derek started to work in Berlin. He had always planned it.
These expressions are also used with the present perfect. The difference is, however, that the present
perfect refers to events that started in the past and still continue, the past perfect expresses events that
began before a point of time (or another action) in the past and continued to that point of time in the
past.
I have been in Paris for a week. (the present perfect - I came a week ago and I am still in Paris.)
When I met Annie I had been in Paris for a week. (the past perfect - I came to Paris a week before I
met Annie and I am not there anymore.)
2. If we use the past perfect simple it does not always mean that an activity continued up to a point of
time in the past. The event can end a long time before the point of time in the past that we refer to.
In 2001 Angie worked in Glasgow. In 1980's she had worked in Wales.
(Angie left her job in Glasgow in 1989. In 2001 she worked in Glasgow. But we do not know what she
did in the meantime.)
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/past-perfect-simple-continuous/

Past perfect vs past simple
1. The past simple is used for actions that happened some time ago. The past perfect is used for actions
that happened before a point of time in the past.
Jim returned at 4 o'clock. He had called Jane on the way back home and now she appeared at the
door.
In this story the sentences are in a reversed order, because in reality, first Jim called Jane and then he
returned. If we want to keep this sentence order, we must use the past perfect to make it clear that Jim
called Jane first.
2. If the sentence order is the same as the order of the events, we can use the past tense.
Jim called Jane on the way back home. He returned at 4 o'clock and now she appeared at the door.
This difference is important. In some situations these two tenses have a completely different meaning.
I arrived at the garage. They told me to pay in cash. But I only had my credit card. I couldn't pay.
I arrived at the garage. They had told me to pay in cash. I paid and left immediately.
In the first case I did not know that I had to pay in cash. They told me after my arrival.
In the second case I was informed before my arrival and had no problems.
Past perfect in time clauses

In time clauses after when we can use either the past tense or the past perfect tense.
We use the past tense if we want to express that the first action led to the second and that the second
followed the first very closely.
When the film ended he switched off the television.
The past perfect is used when we want to make it clear that the first action was completed before the
second started and that there is no relation between them.
When she had washed the dishes she had a cup of tea.
But:
When she washed the dishes she put the plates in the cupboard.
If we use after in a time clause the past perfect is much more usual.
After Zidane had scored the goal the fans went wild.
We use the past perfect similarly with: as soon as, until, before, by the time.
He got up as soon as he had heard the alarm clock.
We did not stop until we had reached the coast.
Maria had finished her meal by the time I arrived.
Before she cut her hair she had consulted it.
Past perfect continuous
Form
It is formed with the auxiliaries had been + present participle (-ing ending, e.g. working,
trying, writing, singing):
I had been doing, I had not been doing, Had I been doing? Had I not been doing?
Use
The past perfect continuous is used for activities that began before a point of time in the past and were
still continuing at that point of time.
Last summer Josh had been renovating his house for two years.
(He started three years ago and last summer he was still renovating his house.)

Past perfect continuous vs present perfect continuous
The past perfect and present perfect continuous are basically very similar. The difference is, however,
that in the past perfect we refer to the point of time in the past, while in the present perfect we refer to
the present times.
I have been practising since the morning. (present perfect - I am still practising.)
At 11 o'clock I had been practising for two hours. (past perfect - I began at 9 o'clock and at 11 o'clock I
was still practising.)
Past perfect simple vs continuous

For an action that can continue for a long time we can use both the simple and continuous forms
(work, run, study, travel, sleep ...). There is practically no difference in meaning, but the continuous
form is more usual in English.
Stephen was pretty tired. He had worked all day.
Stephen was pretty tired. He had been working all day.
In other cases these two forms have a completely different meaning.
Before midnight Paul had translated the article. (He finished his work.)
Before midnight Paul had been translating the article. (He did not finish it. He was still translating at
that moment.)
If we refer to a number of individual actions or actions that were repeated, we must use the past
perfect simple.
Before the lesson ended they had written three tests. (three individual completed activities)
But:
It was exhausting. They had been writing tests since the lessons started. (one uninterrupted incomplete
activity)
See also the past tense and present perfect rules to study the continuous aspect of the tenses.

English tenses
Past simple and past continuous tense

Past simple
Form - regular verbs
Positive statement: I watched, He watched

Negative statement: I did not watch (I didn't watch), He did not watch (He didn't watch)
Question: Did you watch?
Negative question: Did you not watch? (Didn't you watch?)
It is formed by -ed ending. It is the same for all persons, singular and plural.
Spelling
We add -d (not -ed) to the verbs that end with -e: like - liked
If the verb ends with a consonant and -y, we change -y into -i: carry - carried, try - tried.
But: play - played, because this verb ends with a vowel and -y.
If the verb has only one syllable and ends with a vowel and a consonant, we double the
consonant to keep the same pronunciation: stop - stopped. The same rule applies to the verbs
that end with -l: travel - travelled.
Form - irregular verbs
All the irregular verbs have different forms: go - went, buy - bought, cut - cut etc.
The question and negative are made in the same way: I went - Did you go? No, I did not go.
Notes
We do not use the auxiliary verb did with the verb to be and modal verbs.
Were you a student? Was he in London? I was not at home. He was not happy.
Could you sing? Could he come? I could not swim. He could not stay.
The auxiliary verb did is not used in questions beginning with wh- pronouns (who, which) in
case that the pronoun is the subject of the question.
Who met you? (who is the subject)
Which train arrived on time? (which train is the subject)
But: Who did you meet? Which train did you miss? (who and which train are the objects)
The negative question normally shows a surprise.
Didn't you know it?
Use
1. We use the past simple for activities or situations that were completed in the past at a definite time.
a) The time can be given in the sentence:

I came home at 6 o'clock.
When he was a child, he didn't live in a house.
b) The time is asked about:

When did they get married?
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/past-simple-continuous/

c) The time is not given in the sentence, but it is clear from a context that the action or situation
finished in the past.
He is 20 years old. He was born in Canada.
I've been to Iceland. (present perfect) - Did you enjoy it? (past simple)
2. We use it for repeated actions in the past.

We walked to school every day. - And did you ever go by bus?
3. It is used in stories to describe events that follow each other.

Charles entered the hall and looked around. He took off his coat and put it on a chair. He was at
home.
Past continuous
Form
Positive statement: I was watching, You were watching

Negative statement: I was not watching (I wasn't watching), You were not watching (You
weren't watching)
Question: Were you watching? Was he watching?
Negative question: Were you not watching? (Weren't you watching?) Was he not watching?
(Wasn't he watching?)
The past continuous tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be and the present
participle (-ing form).
Use
We use the continuous tense for actions or situations in the past that were not completed.
From 10 to 12 I was washing my car. I was in the garage.
(I did not finish my work. It was in progress. I started before 10 and finished after 12.)
The sun was setting. The beach was changing its colours.
(The sun was still in the sky when I was watching it.)
Compare this sentence with the past simple, which is used for completed activities:
From 10 to 12 I washed my car.
(I finished my work. I started at 10 and finished at 12.)
Finally, the sun set. It was dark and we did not see the beach anymore.
(The sun completely disappeared.)
We use it for continuous, uninterrupted activities. If the action is interrupted (something is done in
more intervals or we did more things one after another), we must use the past simple.
Tom was watching TV on Sunday.
Tom watched TV in the morning and in the evening.
Yesterday I was working in the garden.
Yesterday I worked in the garden and on my house.
The past continuous tense is typically used:

1. Combined with the past simple tense to describe the idea that the action in the past continuous
started before the action in the past simple and continued after it.
When she saw me, I was looking at the trees.
(These two activities happened at the same time. I was looking at the trees for some time and she saw
me in the middle of it.)
Compare with the past simple:

When she saw me, I looked at the trees.
(These two activities happened one after another. First she saw me and then I looked at the trees.)

2. With a point in time to express an action that started before that time and continued after it.
At 8 o'clock Jane was having a bath.
(At 8 o'clock she was in the middle of the activity. She did not finish it.)
Compare with the simple tense:

At 8 o'clock Jane had a bath.
(She started the activity at 8 o'clock and finished it.)
3. To describe a situation, while the past simple is used to tell a story.

The sun was shining. Jack and Jill were lying on the beach. Jack was reading a book and Jill was
sleeping. All of a sudden, Jack raised his head. Jill woke up. Something happened.
4. For incomplete activities in contrast with the past simple, which is used for completed activities.
I was reading a book yesterday. And today I am going to continue.
I read the book yesterday. I can lend it to you now.
5. The past continuous can be used instead of the simple to show a more casual action:
I was talking to my neighbour yesterday. We had a nice chat.
(I did not do it on purpose. We just met in the street.)
I talked to my neighbour yesterday. And he promised to help me.
(I did it on purpose. I needed to ask him for help.)

English tenses
Present perfect tense

There are two present perfect tenses in the English language.
Present perfect simple
Form
Positive statement: I have cooked, I have written , He has cooked, He has written (I've
cooked, He's cooked)
Negative statement: I have not worked (I haven't worked), He has not worked (He hasn't
worked)
Question: Have you worked?
Negative question: Have you not worked? (Haven't you worked?)
Use
The present perfect combines the past and present.
1. We use the present perfect simple for actions or states that started in the past and still continue.
We have lived here since 2001.
She has known me for more than two years.
I haven't seen her since Christmas.
How long have they been here?
It is often used with expressions indicating that the activity began in the past and comes up to now,
such as: for 10 years, since 1995, all week, all the time, always, lately, recently ...
We have always worked in York. (We still work in York.)
It has been quite cold lately. (It is still cold.)
If the activity started in the past and ended in the past we cannot use the present perfect.
I have smoked for 5 years. (present perfect - I still smoke.)
I smoked for 5 years. (past simple - I smoked from 2000 to 2005, then I stopped.)
2. We use it to describe an experience that happened in the past (the time is not given), but the effects
are important now.
She has been to London. (And so she knows London.)
Compare:
I have already been to Greece. (experience - And I want to go somewhere else now.)
I have been in Greece for two weeks. (state - I am stlill in Greece.)
When we use this tense to express some experience, we can use following adverbs - ever, never,
already, often, occassionaly, yet, before ......
Have you ever tried it?
She has never read this book.
We haven't seen it yet.
Have you fallen off a bike yet?
I haven't met her before.
3. The present perfect simple is used for past activities that have a present result.
The bus hasn't arrived. (It did not arrived on time and we are still waiting now.)
I have bought a new house. (I did it last month and it means that now I have a new address.)
English tenses exercises + grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/present-perfect-simple-continuous/

For such activities we often use these adverbs - yet, already, just.
They haven't finished their homework yet. (They can't go out now.)
Has she signed it yet? (Can I take the document?)
I've already sent the letter. (There is no need to go to the post-office.)
We have just heard the news. (We know about it.)
Present perfect vs past simple

With the present perfect we do not specify when the action happened. If we give the time or it is clear
from the context that we mention a certain time in the past, we must use the past simple.
Have you had breakfast?
But: Did you have breakfast at the hotel?
I've read your letter.
But: I read your letter last night.
They have told me.
But: They told me when we met.
Have you had the operation?
But: When did you have the operation?
In the present perfect we express that something happened in the past which is important now. The
time is not relevant.
In the past tense the time of the action is relevant.
Present perfect vs present simple

The present perfect is used for actions that began in the past and continue at present. It expresses how
long the action has been.
The present simple is used for actions that are repeated at present. It expresses how often the action
happens.
She has worked here for a long time.
But: She works here every day.
How long have you worked here?
But: How often do you work here?
Present perfect continuous

Form
Positive statement: I have been cooking, He has been cooking
Negative statement: I have not been cooking (I haven't been cooking), He has not been
cooking
Question: Have you been cooking?
Negative question: Have you not been cooking? (Haven't you been cooking?)
Use
1. We use the present perfect continuous for events that began in the past, are continuing now and will
probably continue in the future.
I have been playing tennis since I was 6 years old.
She has been working here for 15 years.
2. We use it for actions that began in the past and have only just finished.
I've been skiing all day. I'm so tired.
Hello! We've been waiting for you since 5 o'clock.
Present perfect simple vs present perfect continuous

1. In some situations we can use both tenses and there is practically no difference in meaning. The
continuous is more usual in the English language.

It has rained for a long time.
It has been raining for a long time.
Verbs which can be used in this way include - learn, live, sleep, rain, sit, work, wait , stay ...
2. Sometimes the simple form can describe a permanent state, while the continuous form a temporary
activity.
I have lived here for ten years. It is my permanent address.
I have been living here for ten years. And now I am going to move.
Some verbs cannot express this difference, because they are not normally used in the continuous
tenses
(verbs of senses - feel, hear, see; verbs expressing emotions - like, love, admire, wish; verbs of mental
state - know, remember, mean, recognize; verbs of possession - belong, own, owe; auxiliaries - can,
must and be, have in some cases; others - appear, concern, seem, sound ...). They must be used in the
simple form.
We have always had a dog.
I've known him since 1997.
3. Verbs that express a single action (find, start, stop, lose, break ...) are not used in the continuous
form.
They've started the fight.
I've lost my purse.
4. There is a difference between a single action in the present perfect simple and continuous.
I have painted the hall. (I have completed my work.)
I have been painting the hall. (That is how I have spent the day, but it does not mean that I have
finished my job.)
5. A single action in the present perfect continuous comes up to the time of speaking. But it is different
with the simple tense.
She's been cooking dinner. (She is still in the kitchen. She has just finished or she will continue
cooking.)
She has cooked dinner. (We do not know when. Yesterday or very recently? The result is important.)
6. We can only use the present perfect continuous for uninterrupted actions.
I've been visiting New York for a couple of years.
She has been writing letters since she got up.
In these sentences we describe one uninterrupted incomplete activity.
If the action is repeated or interrupted (we describe a number of completed individual actions), we
must use the simple form. (see also the past tense rules).
I have visited New York three times.
She has written four letters since she got up.

English tenses
Present simple and present continuous

Present simple tense
Form
Positive statement: I play, He plays

Negative statement: I do not play (I don't play), He does not play (He doesn't play)
Question form: Do you play? Does he play?
Negative question: Do you not play? (Don't you play?) Does he not play? (Doesn't he play?)
The passive voice: The game is played. The letters are written. (See more at Active and passive
voice.)
Spelling
We only use -s ending (plays) in the third person singular.

We add -es to the verbs that end in ss, sh, ch, x and o: misses, finishes, watches, mixes, goes.
If the verb ends in a consonant and -y, we change -y into -i and use the -es ending: carry - carries, try -
tries.
But: play - plays, because this verb ends with a vowel and -y.
The auxiliary verb do is not used to make questions and negative statements with modal verbs and the
verb to be.
Are you a student? Is he in London? I am not at home. He is not happy. Can you sing? Must I come?
I cannot swim. He mustn't stay.
If the wh- pronoun introducing the question (who, which) is the subject of the question, we do not use
the auxiliary verb do. Compare the following sentences.
Who knows you? (who is the subject)

Which cars belong to you? (which cars is the subject)
But: Who do you know? (who is the object)
The negative question normally expresses a surprise: Doesn't he work?
Use
1. We use the present simple tense for activities that happen again and again (everyday, sometimes,
ever, never).
I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak Greek. Do they get up early?
He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?
2. We use it for facts that are always true.
Our planet moves round the sun.

Lions eat meat.
3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) the present simple is used for planned future
actions (timetables).
The train leaves at 8.15.

They return tonight.
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/present-simple-continuous/

Present continuous tense
Form
Positive statement: I am playing, You are playing, He is playing

Negative statement: I am not playing (I'm not playing), You are not playing (You aren't playing), He is
not playing (He isn't playing)
Question: Are you playing? Is he playing?
Negative question: Are you not playing? (Aren't you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn't he playing?)
The present continuous tense is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing ending).
The negative question normally expresses a surprise: Isn't he working?
Use
The present continuous tense is used:
1. If we want to say that something is happening at the time of speaking. We often use it with time
expressions such as now or at the moment.
I am doing housework at the moment.

You aren't listening to me now!
Look at him! What is he doing?
2. For temporary activities that are true now, but maybe not happening at the time of speaking. Time
expressions such as today, this week or these days are typical of this use.
I am in London. I am learning English here.

She can't go out today. She is preparing for an exam.
You can't meet him this week. He is working in Bath.
3. For planned future arrangements. The time of the action must be given in the sentence (soon,
tomorrow, on Monday, next week), otherwise it is not clear that we talk about future.
I am coming soon.
We are leaving on Monday.
She is starting next week.
4. With always to express the idea that something happens too often and it annoys the speaker.
I am always forgetting my keys.

He is always smoking in the living room!
We do not normally use in the continuous the following groups of verbs (so called state verbs):
1. Of senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste. On the other hand, look, watch or listen are action verbs and
can be used in the continuous:
I can hear you. - I am listening to you.

Can you see the bird? - Are you looking at the bird?
2. Of liking and disliking: like, love, hate, fear, detest, want, wish...
I like animals.
I hate snakes.
3. Of mental states: agree, believe, forget, know, remember, suppose, think...
I agree with you.

I suppose you are right.

4. Of permanent states: be, have, belong, contain, owe, own, possess...
This pen belongs to me.

I have a new pet.
5. Of appearance: seem, appear, look, sound...
It seems that it will rain.

Your new haircut looks really good.
If some of these verbs are used in the present continuous, they have a different meaning. In such a
case they become action verbs.
I think he is my best friend. (mental state) - I'm thinking of giving him a present. (mental activitiy)
He has a new bathroom. (possess) - He is having a bath. (take a bath)
I see what you mean. (know) - I am seeing a doctor. I am ill. (visit)
The flower smells beautiful. (scent) - The dog is smelling the sausage. (sniff)
This wine tastes sour. (It has a sour taste.) - She is tasting the soup if it is warm enough.

English tenses
Present tenses and going to for future
There are several grammatical structures in the English language to describe future activities.
Three of them are the present simple tense, present continuous tense and be going to + verb.
Present tenses for future

With the future time expressions (next Friday, tomorrow) both the present simple and present
continuous are used for definite plans and arrangements in the near future. The future time must be
mentioned, otherwise the sentence would have a present meaning.
I am watching TV. (a present activity: I am doing it just now.)
I am watching TV tonight. (a future activity - I will do it tonight, it is my plan.)
The present continuous for future is more personal and informal.

I am leaving on Sunday. (I have decided to leave on Sunday, it is my plan.)
I leave on Sunday. (Someone else has decided it, it is someone's plan for me.)
The present simple for future is typically used in official statements and timetables.
The new shopping centre opens on 1 March.
The bus arrives at 6.55.
The present continuous is the most usual way of expressing one's personal plans in the near future.
We are going on holiday to Italy in summer.
Be going to
1. Be going to + verb is used to show intentions. We use this structure for decisions that we made
before the moment of speaking.
I am going to clean the car and you can pack the suitcase.
We are going to reconstruct our house.
2. Be going to is also used to express your opinion that something is certain to happen. There is
evidence for your prediction.
Our team is going to win. (It is 4:0 and two minutes left. I am sure we will win the match.)
The planes are going to land. (They are coming closer and closer to the airport.)
Sometimes we can use either the present continuous or be going to with a little difference in meaning.
I am travelling to France in May. (my personal plan)
I am going to travel to France in May. (my personal intention)
English tenses exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/present-tense-be-going-to-future

Exercise 1
It's Sunday, 10 o'clock in the morning and the Scott family are enjoying their free time.
Use the verbs in brackets to write what they will be doing this time on Monday.
Example:
Peter is playing games on his new laptop.
This time on Monday he will be writing an English test.
Mr. Scott is cleaning his car in the garage.
This time on Monday he ............................................ to the airport. (drive)
Mrs. Scott is reading a fashion magazine.
This time on Monday she .......................................... meals at the restaurant. (cook)
Marion, their daughter, is playing with a ball in the garden. And her grandma is watching her.
This time on Monday Marion ......................................... a geography lesson. (have)
And her grandma ........................................ a doctor. (see)
Ben, the oldest son, is still sleeping. And his grandpa is trying to wake him up.
This time on Monday Ben ......................................... football in his club. (practise)
And his grandpa ........................................ for grandma at the doctor's. (wait)
Samuel, the youngest son, is chasing their dog Spot around the house.
This time on Monday Samuel .................................... in a physical education lesson. (exercise)
But we have no idea what Spot ............................... tomorrow. (do)

Exercise 2
Complete the sentences with the future continuous (will be doing) and the verbs in the box.
lie see use sleep watch take work wait decorate listen
When you come back home I ................................................ in my bed.
In a few days' time we ........................................... on the beach.
I'll call Jim at six. - No, don't. He ............................................ in his office then.
I'll tell him. I ........................................... him on the train as usual.
We can't meet you on Saturday. We ........................................... our house at the weekend.
In a ten years' time most people ........................................... electric cars.
I'll come at one o'clock. - OK. I ........................................... for you.
It won't be easy to get in. The warden ........................................... the gate closely.
Will you help me tonight? - Sorry, I ........................................... to the concert on the radio.
This time tomorrow my sister ........................................... her entrance exam.

Exercise 3
Jumbled sentences - make future continuous questions.
Example:
you | TV | tonight | watch
Will you be watching TV tonight?
Jack | work | time | what | it | on
.......................................................................................... ?
at | have | you | lunch break | your | still | one o'clok
.......................................................................................... ?
Leeds | in | live | time | in a few years' | I
.......................................................................................... ?
in | tide | come | at nine | the | tonight
.......................................................................................... ?
where | the match | sit | you | during
.......................................................................................... ?
weeks | again | in a few | he | of | walk
.......................................................................................... ?
at the party | you | wear | what
.......................................................................................... ?
interview | tomorrow morning | you | who
.......................................................................................... ?

Future continuous: exercise 4 - questions
www.e-grammar.org/future-continuous/
Exercise 4
Make questions in the future continuous tense (will be going). Use the words in brackets.
I can take you to the airport.
It would be nice. .....................................................................................?

(you/go/that way)
Shall I say hello to her?
Why not? ................................................................................................?

(you/write/to her)
Marion and Jimmy can stay up late tonight.
Really? ...................................................................................................?
(they/wait//for me)
He won't be there at ten o'clock.
It|'s a shame. ...........................................................................................?

(he/sign/the new contract)
I'll be in the forest.
In the forest? ..........................................................................................?

(what/you/do)
There won't be enough oil in a couple of decades.
Do you think so? ....................................................................................?

(what/we/use/instead)
This time next week I'll be in Madrid.
Lucky you! .............................................................................................?

(you/stay/at a hotel)
Don't ring Sue up at 6 o'clock.
Thanks for telling me. ............................................................................?

(she/bathe/her baby)

Exercise 5
Choose the correct form.
On my holiday I will be getting up | I won't be getting up at 6 o'clock as usual. I want to relax a lot.
You are so late! Everybody will be working | won't be working when you arrive at the office.
You think that Derek will be playing | won't be playing tennis at seven? Why not?
Computers will be translating | won't be translating all texts in a couple of years. It's impossible.
Mary will be waiting | won't be waiting in the arrivals hall this time. She is ill.
Can I take your camera? You will be using | won't be using it this morning, will you?
The cinema will be showing | won't be showing any films next week.
They will be delivering | won't be delivering parcels even on 24 December.
He can find her easily in her red coat. - But she will be wearing | won't be wearing the red
coat.
I won't be here this time tomorrow. I will be travelling | I won't be travelling to Rome.

Exercise 6
Rewrite these sentences in the future continuous. Use negative forms.
Example:
Tomorrow morning I won't be on my way to Florida. (not travel)
Tomorrow morning I won't be travelling to Florida.
I have no plans for the weekend. (not do)
I ........................................................... anything at the weekend.
The test starts at 9 o'clock and you have to finish at 9.30. (not write)
We ........................................................... the test at 9.30.
I have no work to do in the evening. (not work)
I ........................................................... in the evening.
Dad can take you to the 7.30 train tomorrow morning. He has a day off. (not go)
Dad can take you to the 7.30 train tomorrow morning. He ........................................................ to work.
I have new contact lenses. No glasses next time! (not wear)
I ........................................................... glasses when you see me next time.
You can come at one o'clock. We want to prepare the meal before that. (not cook)
You can come at one o'clock.. We ........................................................... the meal anymore.
By the middle of this century there won't be any newspapers. (not read)
By the middle of this century people ........................................................... any newspapers.
Please, don't come back home at midnight. I don't want to wait for you so long. (not wait)
If you come back home at midnight, I ........................................................... for you.

Exercise 1
Rewrite the underlined forms with the future simple or continuous.
Don't call me at 10 o'clock. I am going to fly to Spain.
....................................................................................................................................................................
I suppose we're going to stay at a hotel next summer.
....................................................................................................................................................................
Come to see me in the afternoon. I work in the garden.
....................................................................................................................................................................
Do you think it is snowing at the weekend?
....................................................................................................................................................................
Is the coat OK.? - Yes, I am taking it.
....................................................................................................................................................................
This time on Sunday we are going to ski in France.
....................................................................................................................................................................
I don't know if I will stay here. Perhaps I move to a big city one day.
....................................................................................................................................................................
Every student is using a computer in the near future.
....................................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 2
Match part 1 and 2 with part a and b to make sentences.

Example:
1 In ten years' time
2 If I can
a I will work for an IT company.
b more people will be working for IT companies. 1b, 2a
1 I can take you to the airport

2 If you think it is shorter
a I'll be going that way.
b I'll go that way.
1 Shall I say hello to her?
2 She should know about it.
a I'll write to her.
b I'll be writing to her.
1 Will you go to sleep
2 Will you be sleeping
a when I return?
b when you return?
1 He won't be here tomorrow.
2 He has no objections.
a He'll be signing the new contract.
b He'll sign the new contract.
1 You can rely on him.
2 You can't wait for him.
a He will be delivering the letters.
b He will deliver the letters.
1 I'll be in the forest.
2 I must go to the forest.
a I'll cut the tree.
b I'll be jogging.
1 He is late?
2 I'll talk to him.
a I'll drive him to school.
b I'll be driving him to school.
1 They'll be doing some research
2 They'll do some research
a during their stay in London.
b if they find a sponsor.

Future simple and continuous: exercise 3 - affirmative
www.e-grammar.org/future-simple-continuous-worksheets/
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences with the best form.
Shall I say hello to Sharon? I ....... to her today.

a) write
b) be writing
c) will be writing
Can I help you? I ........ you that blouse.

a) will be showing
b) will show
c) won't show
Good Lord! The engine has stopped. - No problem. Bill ........ a look at it.
a) is having
b) will have
c) will be having
Why don't you have dinner with us? I ........ anyway.

a) will be cooking
b) am cooking
c) cook
This time next week we ........ round the Aegean Sea.

a) sail
b) will be sailing
c) will sail
If you take three cassettes, you ........ one cassette free.

a) are going to get
b) are getting
c) will get
I ........ my work before they arrive.

a) will be finishing
b) finish
c) will finish
By the end of this century everyone ........ English.

a) will be speaking
b) is going to speak
c) speaks

Future simple and continuous: exercise 3 - affirmative
www.e-grammar.org/future-simple-continuous-worksheets/
Key with answers
Exercise 3
Shall I say hello to Sharon? I ....... to her today.

a) write
b) be writing
c) will be writing
Can I help you? I ........ you that blouse.

a) will be showing
b) will show
c) won't show
Good Lord! The engine has stopped. - No problem. Bill ........ a look at it.
a) is having
b) will have
c) will be having
Why don't you have dinner with us? I ........ anyway.

a) will be cooking
b) am cooking
c) cook
This time next week we ........ round the Aegean Sea.

a) sail
b) will be sailing
c) will sail
If you take three cassettes, you ........ one cassette free.

a) are going to get
b) are getting
c) will get
I ........ my work before they arrive.

a) will be finishing
b) finish
c) will finish
By the end of this century everyone ........ English.

a) will be speaking
b) is going to speak
c) speaks

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the future simple (will). Keep the same meaning.
Example:
I think Jim's birthday party is on Saturday. (have)
I think Jim will have his birthday party on Saturday.
You can't take my car. I use it at weekends. (need)
You can't take my car. I ................................... it next weekend.
Waiter, we would like two glasses of orange juice. (have)
Waiter, we .............................. two glasses of orange juice.
Do you think our English teacher is preparing a test for tomorrow? (write)
Do you think we .......................................... a test tomorrow?
I don't mind going to the cinema if you help me with the housework. (go)
I ........................ to the cinema if you help me with the housework.
I have a lot of work to do in the evening. (work)
I ................................ a lot in the evening.
Dad can't take you to the station because there is a football match on TV. (want)
Dad can't take you to the station because he ..................................to see a football match.
This film is worth the money! (watch)
I .................................... this film!
There is a museum on our programme for tomorrow. (visit)
We .................................. a museum tomorrow.

Exercise 2
Complete the sentences with the future simple (will) and the verbs in the box.
be help meet play fly relax make end cry buy
Lionel Messi ............................. for Real Madrid this season.
Next year I ............................. fifteen years old.
If you are a good boy, your mum ............................. you a big ice cream.
We don't want to go by car. We ............................. instead.
I can't watch this film or I ............................. again.
OK. At 5 o'clock we ............................. you outside the shopping centre.
Wait a minute, please. The concert ............................. soon.
Are you hungry? I ............................. you a hamburger.
Sam doesn't want to work in the garden. He ............................. .
You can't take all this luggage on your own. I ............................. you.

Exercise 3
Jumbled sentences - make future simple questions.
Example:
you | tidy | room | your
Will you tidy your room?
Bill | arrive | when
.......................................................................................... ?
not | work | mum | late | your | tonight
.......................................................................................... ?
at | be | Marion | tomorrow | school
.......................................................................................... ?
you | what | leave | time
.......................................................................................... ?
classmates | in | be | classroom | their | your
.......................................................................................... ?
hairstyle | think | what | Matt | my | of | new
.......................................................................................... ?
concert | enjoy | the | Mr. and Mrs. Gregson
.......................................................................................... ?
you | till | stay | there | not | Sunday
.......................................................................................... ?
you | address | your | tell | me | email
.......................................................................................... ?
the | how | Joe | find | hotel
.......................................................................................... ?

Future simple: exercise 4 - questions
www.e-grammar.org/future-simple/
Exercise 4
Make questions in the future simple tense.
I am not sure if I can offer this room.

.........................................................................?
(our guest/like/it)
Can I borrow your laptop tonight?

.........................................................................?
(you/use/it)
We arrive in Aberdeen at 1 o'clock.

.........................................................................?
(we/have/time/for lunch)
The show starts at 8.

Please, .............................................................?
(you/drive me/there)
Your journey will be so long.

How ................................................................?
(you/spend/your time)
I've just missed the train.

How ................................................................?
(I/get/to school)
I'd like to see your project.

.........................................................................?
(you/work/on it)
Your teacher asked you to help her.

.........................................................................?
(you/do/it/for her)

Exercise 5
Don't leave your keys on the table. You will | won't forget it.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we will | won't take our umbrellas.
Susan will | won't like it if you come late.
Anna will | won't be on holiday next week. But she promissed to write to us.
I'm told you are ill. I hope you will | won't feel better again.
I have no idea how to do it. I will | won't make it.
Turn on your laptop tonight. We will | won't chat a little bit.
I will | won't be a doctor, because I didn't finish my studies.
You needn't wear your cap. It will | won't be cold today.
I am really tired. I will | won't have a rest.

Exercise 6
Combine these words and finish the text about your plans for tomorrow in the future simple.
I will not get up lunch at a school canteen.

meet any tests.
listen for school tonight.
write at home late in the afternoon.
have early in the morning.
be my friends from school.
learn to the teacher all the time.
I will not go to school tomorrow.
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................

Exercise 1
Choose the correct tense.
As the stranger came | was coming to the station, a car stopped | was stopping behind him.
My grandma never watched | was never watching TV. But she read | was reading books.
I started | was starting work at 6 o'clock.
He got up | was getting up and switched off | was switching off the light.
When I finished | was finishing my homework, I cooked | was cooking dinner.
While we listened | were listening to the news, the telephone rang | was ringing. Kate stood up | was
standing up and answered | was answering it.
As I drove | was driving to work last Friday, a car crashed | was crashing in front of me.
I stepped | was stepping on the brakes.
Yesterday Carrol wrote | was writing emails from 10 to 11 and then from 5 to 7 again.
We arrived in Cannes at 2.30. The sun shone | was shining, people sunbathed | were sunbathing on the beach
and big yachts sailed | were sailing near the harbour. We parked our car and went | were going to the beach.
Exercise 2
Find mistakes and correct them.
I was doing my homework first and then I had a rest.
..................................................................................
My mum was often driving when she was younger.
..................................................................................
While daddy didn't look, Susan put his key in her pocket.
..................................................................................
I needed to talk to her. And at 10 I was calling her.
..................................................................................
I saw you with Jill at the cafe. You talked.
..................................................................................
Your English is very good. Where were you studying?
..................................................................................
As they walked along the river, they saw something in the water.
..................................................................................
I was taking her to Dover. We had a great time.
..................................................................................
The weather was perfect when the sun was shining. But it was changing soon.
..................................................................................
When he met her, she wore a hat.
..................................................................................
Exercise 4
Make these sentences negative.
She lost her purse.
.......................................................................
He rode slowly.
.......................................................................
He was making much noise at midnight.
.......................................................................
They came early.
.......................................................................
We were sitting at the table.
.......................................................................
She ran away.
.......................................................................
The sun set at 7.45.
.......................................................................
It was getting dark at 7.
.......................................................................
He was talking to Tim the other day.
.......................................................................
They were listening to the radio from 5 to 6.
.......................................................................
Revision test
A) Complete the story. The dog bit James.

Every day James Lullaby travels to London. ............................................................................
Yesterday he ............................. (drive) his car, The girls were sitting on the grass.
when he .................... (see) a dog in the middle ............................................................................
of the road. The dog ............................. (watch)
C) Make the policeman's questions.
the car. James ................................... (stop) and
Policeman:
.................................. (get) out of his car. As he
......................................................................... ?
....................... (get) out, the dog ....................... (what/do/yesterday at 8 o'clock)
(run) away. James ......................... (go) back to James: I was driving to work.
his car. While he ............................... (get) in it, Policeman:
the dog ................................ (appear) again and ......................................................................... ?
............................... (sit) down in the middle of (what time/meet/the dog)
the road. James ..................... (start) the engine, James: I saw him at about 8.30.
but the dog ......................... (not move). James Policeman:
................................... (jump) out of the car and .....................................................when you saw

the dog? (drive/fast)
............................... (shout) at the dog. The dog
James: No, I wasn't.
............................ (bark) at him and ..................
Policeman:
(start) to run. James ............................. (follow)
......................................................................... ?
the dog. Suddenly, he ........................ (see) two (what/the dog/do)
girls lying on the grass. They ............................ James: He ran away.
(bleed).
Policeman:
B) Make these sentences negative. ......................................................................... ?
Example: (how/find/the two girls)
James heard a dog on the road. James: I followed the dog, when he came back.
No, he didn't hear a dog on the road.
Policeman:
James was riding a motorbike.
......................................................................... ?
............................................................................ (see/anyone else)
James ran over the dog. James: No, I didn't.
............................................................................ Policeman:
James threw a stone at the dog. ......................................................................... ?
............................................................................ (call/an ambulance)
The dog was barking at James all the time. James: No, I didn't. I drove the girls to the
hospital.
............................................................................
Past continuous exercises - affirmative
www.e-grammar.org/past-continuous/
Exercise 1
Look at Jane's diary. What was she doing at these times?
My diary
Monday 4.30 - 5.30 p.m have an appointment at the dentist's
Tuesday 7 - 8 p.m play tennis with Mimi
Wednesday 8 - 10 p.m. watch the Black Widows
Thursday 8.30 - 9.30 p.m. revise for an English test
Friday 5 - 7 p.m. do the shopping with Carrol
Saturday 11.30 - 12.30 a.m. cook lunch
Sunday 9 - 10 a.m. tidy the house with mum
On Monday at 5 p.m. she ...................................... an appointment at the dentist's.
On Tuesday between 7 - 8 p.m. Jane and Mimi ...................................... tennis.
On Wednesday at 9 o'clock she ...................................... the Black Widows.
On Thursday from 8.30 to 9.30 she ...................................... for an English test.
On Friday at 6 o'clock Jane and Carrol ...................................... the shopping.
On Saturday between 11.30 and 12.30 she ...................................... lunch.
On Sunday at 9.30 Jane and her mum ...................................... the house.
But I don't know what she ...................................... at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Was she sleeping?

Exercise 2
The Thompson family. What were they doing on Sunday at 7 o'clock?
Mr. Thompson ........................................... (cook) dinner in the kitchen.
Mrs. Thompson ........................................... (clean) their car in front of their house.
Jack and Eve ........................................... (sit) in the hall near the fireplace.
Jack, their 11 years old son, ........................................... (read) Shakespeare's sonnets.
Eve, at the age of 16, ........................................... (play) with Barbies.
Their grandma and grandpa ........................................... (have) a good time.
Their grandma ........................................... (exercise) in the gym.
Their grandpa ........................................... (iron) shirts and socks in the living room.
They also had two pets. And do you know what they ........................................... (do)?
Spot, the puppy, ........................................... (catch) mice in the garden.
And Kitty, the little cute kitten, ........................................... (fight) with neighbour's dog.

Past continuous exercises - questions
Exercise 3
Julie saw Tim and Matt at the swimming pool. Make past continuous questions to complete the
dialogue.
Sue: ................................................................. when you saw them? (what | Tim and Matt | do)
Julie: Tim was swimming in the pool, but I didn't see Matt first.
Sue: ................................................... in the pool, too? (you | swim)
Julie: No, I wasn't. I was just looking. But then I saw Matt, too.
Sue: .......................................... ? (what | he | do)
Julie: He was diving in the pool.
Sue: Diving, you say. ........................................... to dive? (he | not | just | try) He can't dive.
Julie: You're right. He was just trying to do it. And all his friends were watching it.
Sue: ............................................ ? (they | laugh)
Julie: Of course, they were. Matt was pretty funny. He splashed the water all over the place.
Sue: ....................................... faces when he came up to the surface of the pool? (Matt | make)
Julie: Yes, he was. He was grinning and making faces at me.
Sue: At you? Vow! And what about Tim? ............................................. Matt, too? (he | watch)
Julie: Not really. He was looking at me instead.
Sue: Oh, no! You're kidding. ......................................... your new swimsuit? (you | wear)
Julie: Yes, I was. Why?
Sue: Now I know why Tim and Matt were watching you, Julie.

Past continuous exercises - questions
Exercise 4
Simon and his girlfriend Sharon were at a restaurant during their lunch break. Make questions in
the past continuous to ask about them.
Where .................................................................?
At a table by the window.
What .................................................................. ?
Coffee with milk and a glass of apple juice.
What .................. Simon ................................... ?

The apple juice.
............................................................ anything?
No, nothing. They were not hungry.
What ................... Sharon ..................................?

A white pullover and black jeans.
How ................ she ........................ in her outfit?

She was really pretty.
................ they ........................ anything special?

Not really. They were just talking.
What ........................................................ about?

About their friends from school.
How .......... Simon .................. at the restaurant?

He was quite happy and relaxed.

Exercise 5
Complete the dialogues with negative forms of the past continuous tense.
A: Were you talking to Bob during dinner?
B: I ............................................ to anybody. I was alone.
A: Were you watching a football match when I phoned you?
B: I ............................................ TV. I was listening to music.
A: Was I wearing the blue tie at the party?
B: You ............................................ any tie, as far as I can remember.
A: Guess what I was doing between 5 and 6 o'clock.
B: You ............................................ anything, your sister told me.
A: When I met them, Sam was buying some meat and Jill was buying drinks.
B: I don't understand why they ............................................ things together.
A: I wasn't waiting for them when they arrived.
B: Why ............................................ for them? What happened?
A: Eve was looking at me when we got out of the car.
B: It's not true! She ............................................ at you.
A: You weren't looking very happy at the beginning of the English lesson.
B: And why ............................................ happy? I didn't want to write the test!

Past continuous exercises - negative
Exercise 6
Make negative sentences - statements and questions.
.................................................. a shower at 6 o'clock. (I | not have)
.................................................. computer games when I came back home? (you | not play)
.................................................. on the beach all day. (I | not lie)
.................................................. when you saw us. (we | not argue)
.................................................. between one and two o'clock? (Jane and Katy | not work)
.................................................. on your seat when you wanted to sit down. (Dick | not sit)
.................................................. anything at that moment. (they | not do)
.................................................. to the airport at 11 o'clock? (Mr. Jones | not drive)

Present continuous exercises
Test 2 - negative forms
Exercise 1: Make negative answers. Exercise 2: Make these sentences negative.
Example: Example:
Are your friends cooking now? Miriam is crying.
No, they are not cooking now. Miriam is not crying.
Is your best friend eating a chocolate? Simon is looking at you.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
Are you drinking milk right now? I am doing homework just now.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
Is your brother playing the piano? We are jogging in the park.
............................................................................ ....................................................................
Am I writing this test with you? My friend is selling pizzas.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
Are your parents singing a song at the Why are you smiling at us?
moment?
............................................................................
............................................................................
Is the cat eating the food?
Are you wearing your grandma's shoes today?
............................................................................
............................................................................
Why are you reading with us?
Are you and your neighbours riding bikes just
now? ............................................................................
............................................................................ Are you working on your computer?
Are all your uncles and aunts sitting near you? ............................................................................
............................................................................
Test 1 - positive statements

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form. Please, stop! You ............................. so loudly!
(sing)
I ...... an e-mail now.
a) am writing
It's 9 o'clock and I ................................. a book.
b) am writting
(read)
Susan ...... in the bed at the moment.
Where is Sam? - He .............................. his car.
a) lying
(mend)
b) is lying
I ..... in London this month. Exercise 3: Make sentences in the present

a) am staying continuous tense.
b) stay
Example:
(wait/here/I)
Peter ..... this week.
I am waiting here.
a) working
b) is working
(I/in Hastings/learn English/this summer)
My mum and dad ...... now.
............................................................................
a) is cooking
b) are cooking
(in the street/Sarah and Sue/play/at the
moment)
Oh, no! Look!
a) What is he wearing?
............................................................................
b) What does he wearing?
(decorate/she/in York/these days/her flat)
Don't turn off the TV.
a) I am watching it. ...................................................................................
b) I'm not watching it.
(just/look/we)
I can hear Jane.
a) She is coming. ............................................................................
b) She isn't coming.
(a shower/Luke/take/now)
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences.
............................................................................
Example:
Bill .................. today. (work) (the sun/shine/and/sunbathe/we)
Bill is working today.
............................................................................
Look. She ..................................................... us.
(watch)
We ....................................... in Paris this week.

(stay)
My sister is not here. She ..................................

the shopping. (do)
Test 3 - questions
Exercise 1: Make questions. They are flying to Mumbai.
Example: Why ................................................................ ?

Where are you parking? (fly to Calcutta)
I am parking near here.
My mum and dad aren't doing anything.
What ........................................ at the moment?
I am writing a test. Why ................................................................ ?
(watch a film)
Which ............................................................. ?
I am doing exercise 1. I'm tired, so I'm drinking tea.
......................................................................... ? Why ................................................................ ?

No, nobody is helping me. (drink coffee)
Which ............................................................. ? He is washing his T-shirts by hand.

Well, I am making question 3.
Why .............. his wife ................................... ?
............ your friends ....................................... ? (wash them)
No, they are not making question 3.
And what ................................................. now?

I'm sorry, I don't know what they are doing.
Exercise 2: Make negative questions. Use the

words in brackets.
Example:
Our English teacher is speaking too fast.
(speak slowly)
Why isn't she speaking slowly?
My brother is sleeping.
Why ................................................................ ?
(get up)
I am working at a hotel now.
Why ................................................................ ?
(learn for exams)
Our daughter is waiting over there.
Why ................................................................ ?
(wait with you)
Present simple and continuous: exercise 1 - affirmative
Exercise 1
I ...... a letter now.

a) write b) am writing c) am writting
Susan ...... the garden at the moment.

a) is diging b) digs c) is digging
Jane ...... to bed at 10 o'clock on weekdays.

a) goes b) is going c) go
I am in London this summer. I ..... English.

a) learn b) am learning c) learning
We ...... our friends very often.

a) are seeing b) seeing c) see
My brothers ...... letters every week.

a) writes b) are writing c) write
The bus sometimes ...... in the morning.

a) is arriving b) arrive c) arrives
James is a student. But he ...... this week.

a) works b) work c) is working
Lions ..... in Africa.

a) are living b) live c) is living
Our train ...... the platform.

a) just leaves b) just leave c) is just leaving
Sue ...... with Greg.

a) is going out b) goes out c) gos out
My parents ...... TV now.

a) are watching b) watch c) watching

Exercise 2
Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.

Example:
Mary ........................... in Germany. (work)
Mary works in Germany.
Look. He .......................................... to us. (listen)
We .............................. at a hotel this week. (stay)
I ............................. to bed early on Sundays. (go)
My mum is at the shop. She ..................................

a new dress. (buy)
Jill ...................................... a lot of money. (have)
They usually ............................ on Sunday. (leave)
Please, stop! You ........................... so fast! (drive)
We .............................. in Berlin each year. (meet)
We ................................. to discos on Fridays. (go)
He normally ................................. on time. (come)
I can't hear you! I .................................... a shower.

(have)
Sam .......................... his homework at night. (do)

Exercise 3
Jumbled sentences - make sentences with words in brackets.

Example:
(live/here/I)
I live here.
(make/a phone call/Peter/now)
.....................................................................................................
(my car/I/on Saturdays/wash)
.....................................................................................................
(daily/practise/Joe and Bill)
.....................................................................................................
(I/at Oxford/study/this summer)
.....................................................................................................
(long hours/work/my brother)
.....................................................................................................
(just/dinner/have/Jill)
.....................................................................................................
(move/very often/we)
.....................................................................................................
(at the moment/Jim and Susan/watch TV)
.....................................................................................................
(teach/she/in New York/these days)
.....................................................................................................

Present simple and continuous: exercise 4 - questions
Exercise 4
Make questions.
Example:
Where do you work?
I work in Leeds.
What time ...................................................... every day?

I start work at 7 every day.
.................................................................... at weekends?
No, I don't work at weekends.
What ....................................................... at the moment?

Well, I am not doing anything at the moment.
................. your wife ..................................................... ?

No, she does not go to work.
And what ................................................................ now?

She is doing some shopping, I think.
Where ............................................................................ ?
She usually does the shopping at a shopping centre.
Who ................................................ with shopping bags?

Our son helps her.
................................................................ together today?

No, they aren't shopping together today.

Present simple and continuous: exercise 5 - questions
Exercise 5
Make questions.
Example:
(where/work/you)
Where do you work?
(make/lunch/Joyce/at the moment)
......................................................................................................... ?
(travel/London/every week/they)
......................................................................................................... ?
(you/what/do/right now)
......................................................................................................... ?
(where/your brother/work)
......................................................................................................... ?
(want/you/some cake)
......................................................................................................... ?
(help/teacher/your/need)
......................................................................................................... ?
(Simon/why/now/cry)
......................................................................................................... ?
(just/my parents/come)
......................................................................................................... ?
(go out/your friends/at weekends)
......................................................................................................... ?
(do/at the moment/you/anything)
......................................................................................................... ?

Present simple and continuous: exercise 6 - negative
Exercise 6
Make these sentences negative.

Example:
I like chocolate.
I don't like chocolate.
Susan looks very good.
.................................................................................. very good.
Why do you read such magazines?
Why ................................................................ such magazines?
I'm doing housework at the moment.
......................................................... housework at the moment.
We go swimming on Tuesdays.
.............................................................................. on Tuesdays.
My Spanish penfriend sends me postcards.
............................................................................. me postcards.
Why are you listening to us?
Why................................................................................. to us?
What does Jack do?
What ....................................................................................... ?
She's sitting over there.
................................................................................. over there.
They have a house in the mountains.
....................................................................... in the mountains.
We're having fun.
............................................................................................ fun.

Present simple and continuous: exercise 7 - negative
Exercise 7
Make negative answers.

Example:
Do you work at night?
I don't work at night.
Is your best friend sitting next to you?
.............................................................................................. next to me.
Does your father get up at 9 every day?
........................................................................................ at 9 every day.
Are you drinking milk right now?
....................................................................................... milk right now.
Are your parents still sleeping?
................................................................................................ anymore.
Does your neighbour love you?
......................................................................................................... me.
Do your friends play cricket on Fridays?
................................................................................. cricket on Fridays.
Does your mother come from Brixham?
....................................................................................... from Brixham.
Is your partner watching you at the moment?
................................................................................. me at the moment.
Am I writing this test with you?
................................................................................... this test with me.
Do all people in your country speak English?
................................................................................................. English.

Present simple and continuous: exercise 8 - mixed forms
Exercise 8
Choose the correct form in each pair.
1. a) Oh, no! Look! What is he doing?

a) Oh, no! Look! What does he do?
2. a) She wears a new jumper this week.
b) She is wearing a new jumper this week.
3. a) Does your father and mother speak Japanese?
b) Do your father and mother speak Japanese?
4. a) Don't give him this book. I am reading it.
b) Don't give him this book. I read it.
5. a) Who does want this ticket?
b) Who wants this ticket?
6. a) Is your girlfriend having a good time at this party?
b) Has your girlfriend a good time at this party?
7. a) We spend a month at the seaside each year.
b) We are spending a month at the seaside each year.
8. a) Excuse me. What times do the early
morning trains leave on Fridays?
b) What times are the early morning trains
leaving on Fridays?
9. a) I can see Jane over there. She talks to Bill.
b) I can see Jane over there. She is talking to Bill.
10. a) Steve and I doesn't go out together.
b) Steve and I don't go out together.
11. a) I moved to Canada last year. I live in an apartment.
b) I moved to Canada last year. I am living in an apartment.
12. a) Is not your grandpa coming tonight?
b) Isn't your grandpa coming tonight?

Past simple: exercise 1 - was, were
Exercise 1
Complete the answers.
A: Were you hungry?
B: Yes, I ........................ a little bit hungry.
A: Was your sister at school?
B: No, she ........................ at school.
A: Were your parents at work?
B: Yes, my mum ........................ at work. But my dad ........................ at work. He was ill.
A: Was Peter your friend? And Bill?
B: Peter and Bill ...................... my best friends.
A: I think the first story was quite interesting and the second story was great.
B: Really? No, the stories ....................... very interesting.
A: Was I often ill when I was a child?
B: Not really. You .................... much healthier than your brother.
A: Were Susan and Marion good at sport?
B: Well, Susan ............. quite good at athletics, but Marion ......................... good at any sport.

Past simple: exercise 2 - was, were
Exercise 2
Complete the interview.
A: When .................... you eighteen years old?
B: I .................. eighteen years old in 2016.
A: And when ......................... you born?
B: I ...................... born on 30 June.
A: .................. your birthday party on the same day?
B: No, it ...................... . It ..................... a week later.
A: Why ..................... your birthday party on the same day?
B: I have a twin brother and he .................... at home. He ............... in France.
A: ............... you and your brother born at the same time?
B: No, we ....................... . I ...................... born one hour after him.
A: ................... your parents happy to have twins?
B: Yes, they ......................... . But our grandma ........................ She ................. shocked.

Past simple: exercise 3 - questions
Exercise 3
Jumbled sentences - make past simple questions.
Example:
you | clean | room | the
Did you clean the room?
Bill | arrive | on time
.......................................................................................... ?
not | know | you |it
.......................................................................................... ?
at | be | Marion | the | party
.......................................................................................... ?
you | why | leave | early | so
.......................................................................................... ?
they | in | be | office | their
.......................................................................................... ?
think | what | he | our | of | house
.......................................................................................... ?
trip | like | the | Mr. and Mrs. Gregson
.......................................................................................... ?
you | how | do | that
.......................................................................................... ?
they | not | address | their |tell |you
.......................................................................................... ?
there | how | Joe | get
.......................................................................................... ?

Past simple: exercise 4 - questions
Exercise 4
Choose the correct question.

Did your students their homework?
Did your students do their homework?
Yes, they did. They always do.
Who went with you?

Who did go with you?
Nobody. I went there alone.
Did you worked all day yesterday?

Did you work all day yesterday?
Of course, I did. I was so tired!
Which jeans liked you best?

Which jeans did you like best?
I don't know. They were awful.
Why was Tim and Greg so unhappy?

Why were Tim and Greg so unhappy?
Because they had an argument.
Why didn't you answer the phone?

Why did not you answer the phone?
The phone? I did not hear it.
Were they not at the hospital on Sunday?

Didn't they be at the hospital on Sunday?
Not on Sunday. They went there on Saturday.
Had you a shower this morning?

Did you have a shower this morning?
Sorry? I have a shower every morning.

Past simple: exercise 5 - negative
Exercise 5
Correct the following information.
Example:
Columbus discovered America in 1592.
Columbus didn't discover America in 1592.
He landed on an island in the Caribbean in 1492.
Princess Victoria became Qeen of the United Kingdom in 1901.
Victoria ................................................ queen in 1901. She ................ (rule) Britain from 1837
to 1901.
Shakespeare was the author of the tragedy called "As You Like It".
"As You like It" .................................. a tragedy. Shakespeare ............................. (write) it as

a comedy.
Julius Caesar died in a war in 44 BC.
Caesar ............................ in a war. The Roman senators ..................... (kill) him in the Senate.
Sandro Botticelli created the portrait known as Mona Lisa.
Botticelli ........................................ Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci ............................ (paint) it.
Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor in India, built Taj Mahal for his oldest daughter.
Shah Jahan .................................. Taj Mahal for his daughter. It ................ (be) the tomb of his
third wife.

Past simple: exercise 6 - negative
Exercise 6
Complete the story with negative forms.
Blue Monday
I .................................. (not have) a good day yesterday. I ......................... (cannot) stay in bed
late, because it was Monday and I had to go to school. Unfortunately, I ....................................
(not get) up on time and I ................................ (not catch) the bus. I wanted to take a taxi, but
I ........................ (not be) lucky. There ........................... (not be) any taxis in our street.
I ....................................... (not want) to ask my dad to take me by car, because I thought
it ........................... (not be) a very good idea.
I went to school on foot and as I ....................... (not be) used to long walks, I was pretty tired.
I.......................................... (not listen) to our English teacher and when we wrote a revision
test I ..................................... (not pass) it.
Believe me, my parents ......................... (not be) very happy about it.
Past simple: exercise 7 - regular and irregular verbs
Exercise 7
Complete the the e-mail with the verbs in brackets.
Dear Jane,
How are you doing? I feel miserable, I must admit. And I'm going to tell you why.
Yesterday I ..................... (do) my homework, ..................... (tidy) my bedroom and .....................
(decide) to go out. The weather ..................... (be) perfect and so I ..................... (go) to the park. And
do you know who I ..................... (see) there? Jason, my boyfriend. I ..................... (want) to say hello
to him, but then I ..................... (stop), because I ..................... (can) see a girl coming to him. Guess
what ..................... (happen). They ..................... (meet) in the middle of the road and he .....................
(kiss) her. My Jason! Jason and I ..................... (be) in the park three times and he never .....................
(try) to kiss me!
I didn't know what to do. I just ..................... (run) away. When I ..................... (come) back home, I
..................... (cry). Just a little bit, you know. Then I ..................... (say) to myself: Forget about
Jason. There are plenty more fish in the sea!
What do you think of him? Is he worth it? Please, write back soon.
Love,
Bea
Present simple tense exercises: do | does (yes and no questions)
Exercise 1: Complete this dialogue with do or does to make present simple questions.
Example:
Sue: My brother Mark goes to primary school.
Ann: (he - get up early?) Does he get up early?
Sue: My brother Mark goes to primary school.
Ann: (he - get up early?) ...........................................................................................................................
Sue: Yes, very early. His friends Jim and Kevin travel with him every day.
Ann: (they - travel by bus?) .......................................................................................................................
Sue: Sometimes. On Mondays and Fridays Jim's father takes them by car. He is a teacher.
Ann: (he - teach at the same school?) ........................................................................................................
Sue: Yes. he does. He teaches English and history.
Ann: (your brother - like English?) ............................................................................................................
Sue: English is his favourite subject.
Ann: (you - help him with his homework?) ...............................................................................................
Sue: Never. My brother is the best student in his class.
Ann: (Jim and Kevin - go to the same class?) ...........................................................................................
Sue: No, they don't. They are two years older. But they meet for lunch.
Ann: (Mark - eat at a school canteen?) ......................................................................................................
Sue: Yes, because our mum and dad don't have the time to prepare his lunch.
Ann: (your parents - go to work?) .............................................................................................................
Sue: Yes, they do. My mum is a nurse and my dad is a doctor.
Ann: (they - work at a hospital?) ...............................................................................................................
Sue: Only my mum.
Ann: (your brother - want to be a doctor?) ................................................................................................
Sue: I don't know. But I want to be a nurse.

Present simple tense exercises: do and does (yes | no questions)
Underline mistakes and write correct present simple forms in the brackets. Be careful, in
some questions there are one or two mistakes, but some questions are correct!
Example:
Do your sister plays tennis? (Does, play)
1. Does your parents live in a house? ( .......... )
2. Do your brother and sister eat meat? ( ......... )
3. Does Sam works on a computer? ( .......... )
4. Do you think she is your best friend? ( .......... )
5. Do she thinks you are her best friend? ( ......... )
6. Do Jill's cat catch mice at night? ( .......... )
7. Does Claire and Brad help in the garden? ( .......... )
8. Do Tim's dogs eat bones? ( .......... )
9. Does her classmates do their homework? ( .......... )
10. Does your uncle and aunt watch football on TV? ( .......... )
11. Do Mike's friend speaks English? ( .......... )
12. Do lions live in India? ( .......... )

Present simple tense exercises: don't | doesn't
Use the words in brackets to correct the wrong information. Use don't | doesn't in the present
simple.
Example: Mel Gibson comes from Britain. (Australia)

Mel Gibson doesn't come from Britain. He comes from Australia.
The Earth moves around the Sun 150 thousand kilometres away from it. (million)
.......................................................................................................................................................
Tourists go to Africa to see the Niagara Falls. (America)
.......................................................................................................................................................
People in Switzerland speak the Swiss language. (the German, French and Italian languages)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The Amazon River ends in the Pacific Ocean. (the Atlantic Ocean)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The Ayers Rock lies in the east of Australia. (in the middle)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The oldest skyscraper in the world stands in New York. (Chicago)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The tallest trees in the world grow in France. (California)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The cheetahs run up to 60 kilometres per hour. (120)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The ostrich lives in Australia. (Africa)
.......................................................................................................................................................
The Japanese people make Nokia mobile phones. (the Finnish people)
.......................................................................................................................................................
Simple present exercises: don't | doesn't
Write and to complete the simple present negative sentences.
What a good student doesn't do
!
www.e-grammar.org/present-simple/
Present simple tense: do | does in yes and no questions

Keys with answers
Exercise 1
Does he get up early?

Do they travel by bus?
Does he teach at the same school?
Does your brother like English?
Do you help him with his homework?
Do Jim and Kevin go to the same class?
Does Mark eat at a school canteen?
Do your parents go to work?
Do they work at a hospital?
Does your brother want to be a doctor?
Exercise 2
1. Does your parents live in a house? (Do)

2. Do your brother and sister eat meat? (correct)
3. Does Sam works on a computer? (work)
4. Do you think she is your best friend? (correct)
5. Do she thinks you are her best friend? (Does, think)
6. Do Jill's cat catch mice at night? (Does)
7. Does Claire and Brad help in the garden? (Do)
8. Do Tim's dogs eat bones? (correct)
9. Does her classmates do their homework? (Do)
10. Does your uncle and aunt watch football on TV? (Do)
11. Do Mike's friend speaks English? (Does, speak)
12. Do lions live in India? (correct)
Present simple tense in wh questions

Keys with answers
Exercise 3
What do your friends call you?

Where do you live?
What do you do in your free time?
What is your favourite sport?
How often do you play basketball?
Why don't you play it more often?
And who do you play basketball with?
Who is your best friend?
What does Marjorie do?
Where does she work?
Exercise 4
Who do you stay with?

Which car starts first?
Why doesn't Derek eat fruit?
What does he think about it?
Where do Joe and his wife live?
How does your grandpa do it?
Who works with you?
Which colour do you prefer?
Why doesn't Mary help with housework?
What annoys you?
Where does he put his bag?
How do Mimi and her friend speak?
Present simple: don't, doesn't in negative sentences
Keys with answers
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Simple present exercises: wh- questions
Liz is taking her English exam. Read the answers and complete the examiner's wh- questions.
Use and simple present forms.
Present simple tense exercises: wh- questions

Complete the following wh- questions in the present simple tense.
Example: Who ............................................................................................. ? (take-you-school)

Who takes you to school?
Who ................................................................................................. ? (you-call-most)
Who do you call most?
Who ................................................................................................................. ? (you-stay-with)
Which ................................................................................................................ ? (car-start-first)
Why ......................................................................................................... ? (Derek-not-eat-fruit)
What ............................................................................................................ ? (he-think-about it)
Where ................................................................................................... ? (Joe and his wife-live)
How ......................................................................................................... ? (your grandpa-do-it)
Who .............................................................................................................. ? (work-with you)
Which ....................................................................................................... ? (colour-you-prefer)
Why ..................................................................................... ? (Mary-not-help-with housework)
What ..................................................................................................................... ? (annoy-you)
Where .............................................................................................................. ? (he-put-his bag)
How ............................................................................................. ? (Mimi and her friend-speak)

www.e-grammar.org/irregular-verbs/
Irregular verbs: past simple - key to test 1
Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Fill in the missing forms of irregular Write past simple forms and infinitives of
verbs. regular and irregular verbs.
be was, were a) grewentaughtoldranknewoneededid

begin began
grew - grow
break broke went -go
taught -teach
buy bought
told - tell
can could drank -drink
knew - know
come came
won -win
cut cut needed -need
did -do
eat ate
fall fell b) woreadrewokeptsangthoughtriedrove
get got
wore -wear
give gave read -read
drew - draw
have had
woke -wake
hear heard kept -keep
sang -sing
hurt hurt
thought - think
leave left tried - try
drove - drive
make made
meet met
put put
ride rode
run ran
send sent
sit sat
sleep slept
stand stood
take took
wake woke
write wrote
e-grammar.org
Irregular verbs exercises: pre-intermediate - key to test 2
Fill in the past simple and past participle Underline mistakes and write the irregular
forms of the verbs in brackets. verbs correctly.
The arctic wind blew from the north bear - bored - born bore
yesterday morning.
beat - beat - beat beaten
Look at my hand! The dog has bitten
me. built - built - built build
cost - cost - costen cost

I'm ill. I have caught a cold, I'm afraid.
feel - fell - felt felt
Which shoes have you chosen?
forget - forgot - forgot forgotten
I fed the cat a moment ago.
freeze - froaz - frozen froze
My dad found a Swiss watch on
a beach. hid - hid - hidden hide
Have you ever flown by plane?
held - held - held hold
He hit me and I started to cry.
lead - lead - led led
I let him go because he wanted to see the lend - lended -lent lent
match so much.
mean - ment - meant meant
Imagine! She lay in bed till noon!
pay - payed - paid paid
Where is my key? I have lost it!
ring - rung - rung rang
We have sold everything. We have no
more Latin music. rise - rose - rose risen
sit - set- set set

Have I shown you my new mobile phone
yet? shut - shat - shut shut
I spoke English a lot when we were on sing - sang - sang sung
holiday.
smel - smelt - smelt smell
Someone stole my bike in front of the
shop. spent - spent - spent spend
Greg has never swum in the sea. stand - stood - stoden stood
stick - stack - stuck stuck

We threw the old clock away. We didn't
need it anymore.
e-grammar.org
Irregular verbs: intermediate - key to test 3
Exercise 1
be was, were been
beat beat beaten
bite bit bitten
broadcast broadcast broadcast
bring brought brought
burn burnt burnt
can could
choose chose chosen
cost cost cost
do did done
dream dreamt dreamt
drive drove driven
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
fight fought fought
fly flew flown
freeze froze frozen
give gave given
grow grew grown
have had had
hide hid hidden
hold held held
keep kept kept
lead led led
leave left left
let let let
lose lost lost
mean meant meant
pay paid paid
read read read
Exercise 2
He shut the window and went to bed.
I have taught for three years.
The fish swam away from the bridge.
Who has drawn this picture?
The bell rang very loudly.
We spoke with them last week.
Someone has shot the bird.
How much time have you spent on it?
The dog ran to his master.
She won the race.
Has Joy woken up?
They have stolen it from the shop.
I sent the letter on Monday.
I haven't seen you for ages.
e-grammar.org
Irregular verbs: past simple - test 1

Fill in the missing forms. Write past simple forms and infinitives of
regular and irregular verbs.
be .....................
Example:
begin .....................
grew - grow
..................... broke
a) grewentaughtoldranknewoneededid
buy .....................
b) woreadrewokeptsangthoughtriedrove
..................... could
come .....................
.....................................................................
..................... cut
.....................................................................
eat .....................
fall ..................... .....................................................................
..................... got
.....................................................................
give .....................
.....................................................................
..................... had
hear ..................... .....................................................................
hurt .....................
.....................................................................
..................... left
.....................................................................
make .....................
..................... met .....................................................................
put .....................
.....................................................................
ride .....................
.....................................................................
..................... ran
..................... send .....................................................................
sit .....................
.....................................................................
..................... slept
.....................................................................
stand .....................
take ..................... .....................................................................
wake .....................
.....................................................................
write .....................
.....................................................................
e-grammar.org
Irregular verbs exercises: pre-intermediate - test 2
Fill in the past simple and past participle Underline mistakes and write the irregular
forms of the verbs in brackets. verbs correctly.
The arctic wind ................... from the north bear - bored - born ....................
yesterday morning. (blow)
beat - beat - beat ....................
Look at my hand! The dog has ...................
me. (bite) built - built - built ....................
I'm ill. I have .................. a cold, I'm afraid. cost - cost - costen ....................
(catch)
feel - fell - felt ....................
Which shoes have you ............................. ?
(choose) forget - forgot - forgot ....................
I .................... the cat a moment ago. (feed) freeze - froaz - frozen ....................
My dad ........................... a Swiss watch on hid - hid - hidden ....................
a beach. (find)
held - held - held ....................
Have you ever .................... by plane? (fly)
lead - lead - led ....................
He .................. me and I started to cry. (hit)
lend - lended -lent ....................
I .................... him go because he wanted to
see the match so much. (let) mean - ment - meant ....................
Imagine! She ............ in bed till noon! (lie) pay - payed - paid ....................
Where is my key? I have .............. it! (lose) ring - rung - rung ....................
We have .................... everything. We have rise - rose - rose ....................
no more Latin music. (sell)
sit - set- set ....................
Have I ......................... you my new mobile
phone yet? (show) shut - shat - shut ....................
I .................... English a lot when we were sing - sang - sang ....................
on holiday. (speak)
smel - smelt - smelt ....................
Someone .................... my bike in front of
the shop. (steal) spent - spent - spent ....................
Greg has never ............... in the sea. (swim) stand - stood - stoden ....................
We .............. the old clock away. We didn't stick - stack - stuck ....................
need it anymore. (throw)
e-grammar.org
Irregular verbs exercises: intermediate - test 3
Fill in the missing forms. Complete the sentences. Keep the same
meaning. Choose from these verbs.
be was, were ..................... ring run see send
beat ..................... beaten shoot shut spend draw
win steal swim teach
..................... bit bitten speak wake up
broadcast ..................... broadcast He closed the window and went to bed.
..................... brought brought He ................ the window and went to bed.
burn burnt ..................... I have worked as a teacher for three years.
can ..................... I .................................. for three years.
choose ..................... chosen The fish moved away from the bridge.
..................... cost cost The fish ................. away from the bridge.
do did ..................... Who has made this picture?
dream ..................... dreamt Who .................................. this picture?
drive drove ..................... The bell made a lof noise.
..................... fell fallen The bell ............... very loudly.
..................... fed fed We talked to them last week.
fight fought ..................... We ................. with them last week.
..................... flew flown Someone has killed the bird with a gun.
freeze ..................... frozen Someone .................................. the bird.
give gave .....................
How long have you worked on it?
grow ..................... grown
How much time ............ you ............ on it?
have ..................... had
The dog came quickly to his master.
..................... hid hidden
The dog ................. to his master.
hold held .....................
She was the first in the race.
..................... kept kept
She ................. the race.
..................... led led
Has Joy opened her eyes?
leave left .....................
Has Joy .................................. ?
let ..................... let
They have taken it from the shop illegaly.
..................... lost lost
They ................................. it from the shop.
mean ..................... meant
I posted the letter on Monday.
..................... paid paid
I ................. the letter on Monday.
read read .....................
I haven't met you for ages.
I ............................................. you for ages.
e-grammar.org
Past simple | Regular verbs exercises - Key
Key to Exercise 1
- d only: liked, agreed, cared, used

- ed only: waited, stayed, failed, enjoyed, explained
- ied: cried, married, buried
double consonant + - ed: stopped, labelled, hopped, jogged, clapped, preferred
Key to Exercise 2
A young man aged 13 robbed the Simpson Bank in Motown yesterday night. He used his toy
gun and travelled by his father's red BMW. He carried the money in his sister's school bag.
The young man hurried to his grandma's garden to hide the money there. When he entered
the garden, he could see a policeman. The policeman started to chase him. The young man
dropped the bag with the money. - Suddenly, he could hear his telephone.
"Bob, are you still asleep?"
"Oh, mum. I had a terrible dream!"
List of Irregular Verbs
Base form - past simple - past participle
abide abode abode draw drew drawn

arise arose arisen dream dreamt dreamt
awake awoke awoken drink drank drunk
be was/were been drive drove driven
bear bore born dwell dwelt dwelt
beat beat beaten eat ate eaten
beget begot begotten fall fell fallen
begin began begun feed fed fed
bend bent bent feel felt felt
bereave bereft bereft fight fought fought
beseech besought besought find found found
bespeak bespoke bespoken flee fled fled
bestride bestrode bestrided fly flew flown
bet bet bet forbid forbad(e) forbidden
bid bade/bid bidden/bid forecast forecast forecast
bind bound bound forget forgot forgotten
bite bit bitten forsake forsook forsaken
bleed bled bled freeze froze frozen
blow blew blown get got got
break broke broken give gave given
breed bred bred go went gone
bring brought brought grind ground ground
broadcast broadcast broadcast grow grew grown
build built built hang hung hung
burn burnt burnt have had had
burst burst burst hear heard heard
buy bought bought hide hid hidden
can could hit hit hit
cast cast cast hold held held
catch caught caught hurt hurt hurt
choose chose chosen keep kept kept
cling clung clung kneel knelt knelt
come came come know knew known
cost cost cost lay laid laid
creep crept crept lead led led
cut cut cut lean leant leant
deal dealt dealt leap leapt leapt
dig dug dug learn learnt learnt
do did done leave left left
English exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/irregular-verbs/

List of Irregular Verbs
Base form - past simple - past participle
lend lent lent smell smelt smelt

let let let smite smote smitten
lie lay lain speak spoke spoken
lose lost lost speed sped sped
make made made spend spent spent
mean meant meant spin spun spun
meet met met spit spat spat
pay paid paid split split split
put put put spoil spoilt spoit
read read read spread spread spread
rend rent rent spring sprang sprung
rid rid rid stand stood stood
ride rode ridden steal stole stolen
ring rang rung stick stuck stuck
rise rose risen sting stung stung
run ran run stink stank stunk
say said said strike struck struck
see saw seen string strung strung
seek sought sought strive strove striven
sell sold sold swear swore sworn
send sent sent sweep swept swept
set set set swim swam swum
shake shook shaken swing swung swung
shed shed shed take took taken
shine shone shone teach taught taught
shoot shot shot tear tore torn
show showed shown tell told told
shrink shrank shrunk think thought thought
shrive shrove shriven throw threw thrown
shut shut shut thrust thrust thrust
sing sang sung tread trod trodden
sink sank sunk wake woke woken
sit sat sat wear wore worn
slay slew slain weave wove woven
sleep slept slept weep wept wept
slide slid slid win won won
sling slung slung wind wound wound
slink slunk slunk wring wrung wrung
slit slit slit write wrote written
English exercises and grammar rules at www.e-grammar.org/irregular-verbs/

Past simple | Regular verbs exercises

Exercise 1
Put the regular verbs in the correct category:
cry like stop wait stay fail

enjoy label agree marry explain hop
care bury use jog clap prefer
- d only - ed only - ied double consonant + - ed

lived cleaned studied shopped
Exercise 2
Complete the story with the correct forms the verbs in brackets.
A young man aged 13 .............................. the Simpson Bank in Motown yesterday night. (rob)
He ........................... his toy gun and ............................. by his father's red BMW. (use | travel)
He ........................... the money in his sister's school bag. (carry) The young man .....................
to his grandma's garden to hide the money there. (hurry) When he .......................... the garden,
he could see a policeman. (enter) The policeman ..................... to chase him. (start) The young
man ....................... the bag with the money. (drop) - Suddenly, he could hear his telephone.
"Bob, are you still asleep?"
"Oh, mum. I had a terrible dream!"

Regular verbs list: different spelling

In English we normally add -ed ending to a verb to make the past simple and the past
participle of regular verbs.
Examples of the past simple: I worked, you worked, he worked.
Examples of the past participle: I have worked, you have worked, he has worked.
Below you can find English verbs that form the past simple and the past participle in a
different way.
1. Regular verbs that end in -e (like, love)

We only add -d (not -ed) to the verb: like - liked, love - loved.
Some of the most common verbs in this category:
analyse, apologise, admire, agree, approve, behave, change, care, bake, argue, appreciate,
bore, breathe, cause, charge, chase, close, compare, complete, like, decide, escape, force,
guide, hate, hope, invite, live, move, manage, notice, owe, phone, recognise, remove, settle,
shave, smile, snore, stare, taste, use
2. Regular verbs that end in a consonant and -y (carry, try)

We change -y into -i: carry - carried, try - tried.
More examples:
accompany, apply, bully, bury, carry, clarify, copy, cry, deny, dry, empty, fancy, fry, horrify,
hurry, identify, imply, marry, multiply, rely, reply, satisfy, supply, study, terrify, tidy, try
Note
We do not change -y into -i if the verb ends in a vowel and -y: play - played.
More examples:
annoy, delay, destroy, enjoy, employ, spray, stay
3. Regular verbs that end in a single vowel and a consonant (stop, admit, travel)
a) We double the consonant in verbs that only have one syllable and end in a single vowel and
a consonant to keep the same pronunciation: stop - stopped, hop - hopped.
More examples:
ban, beg, chat, chop, clap, clip, drop, drag, fit, flip, grab, grin, grip, hug, jog, knit, mug, nod,
pat, plan, rob, shop, skid, scrub, ship, skip, slip, snap, spot, star, stir, thin, top, trip, wrap
b) We double the consonant in verbs with more syllables if the stress falls on the last
syllable: ad'mit - admitted.
More examples:
comit, confer, deter, kidnap, permit, prefer, refer, regret, transfer, transmit
Note
If the stress is not on the last syllable, we do not double the consonant.
Example: 'enter - entered
c) In verbs ending in -l the consonant is always doubled after a single vowel.

Example: travel - travelled.
More examples:
cancel, control, label, marvel, patrol, pedal, quarrel

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Be going to: exercise 1 - future plans

Jim Susan and Eve

Jim .................................................................... Susan and Eve ..........................................................

Use the following sentences to respond to situations in 1 - 8.

1 Look at the clouds. .............................................................................................................................

2 Why don't you learn for the test? .......................................................................................................

3 I'm so tired. ........................................................................................................................................

4 The sun is shining. .............................................................................................................................

5 You are learning so hard. ...................................................................................................................

6 I'm OK. ...............................................................................................................................................

7 He is playing so well. .........................................................................................................................

8 He is the worst tennis player of all. ....................................................................................................

Complete the email with following verbs and "going to".

anymore! Everything ..................................................... in my life. We want to live in a house

near the sea. We ..................................................... a big house, because we ................................

see us. I'm sure you ..................................................... it there.

and we ..................................................... to work for hours every day. We ..................................

I ..................................................... him soon. He ..................................................... me!

I have to go now. Please, write back soon.

Bye for now,

Make questions with the verbs in brackets. Use "going to".

What are your New Years' resolutions? (you | work more)

Doctor, is it serious? (he | die)

Why are you taking your gloves? (it | be cold)

You stopped the project. (you | continue in future)

Your parents are over sixty years old. (they | retire)

Eve is a bit overweight. (she | start any diet)

Look at the snow on the roof. (it | fall down)

The dog looks quite dangerous. (it | bite me)

Why do you want to take a day off? (what | you | do)

ESL worksheets on e-grammar.org

Use these jumbled words to make negative questions.

not | he | telephone | to | police | going | is | the

the | you | to | aren't | manager | bank | see | going

plant | they | trees | to | going | not | are | the

not | tennis | you | to | are | going | play | tomorrow

Simon | for | job | look | to | a | going | isn't | new

a | give | to | going | her | to | aren't | present | you

Jones | smoking | not | going | to | stop | is | Mr.

learn | to | German | brothers | going | aren't | your

ESL worksheets on e-grammar.org

Use the words in brackets and "going to" to do the following:

Are you going to have a new car?

(you | cut) ........................................................................................ the grass?

(I | not work) .............................................................................. in the garden.

(I | clean) .................................................................................... the windows.

(the Scotts | build) ...................................................................... a new house?

(they | not have) .................................................................................. a house.

(they | rent) ............................................................................................. a flat.

(your dad | watch) ............................................................. the football match?

(he | not stay) ...................................................................................... at home.

(My parents | do) ..................................................................... some shopping.

(your sister | fly) ............................................................................... to India?

(she | not travel) ................................................................................. to India.

(my friends | visit) ................................................................................. India.

ESL worksheets on e-grammar.org

Present conditional tense

Statement: I would practise

He would sign it. (But he can't. It is not possible.)