Practical Course-Grammar and Vocabulary

Problem Tenses: Present and Future

1. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

a) I haven’t decided yet about whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But I think about
it/I’m thinking about it.
b) All right, you try to fix the television! But I hope/I’m hoping you know what you’re doing.
c) Every year I visit/I’m visiting Britain to improve my English.
d) It’s time we turned on the central heating. It gets/It’s getting colder every day.
e) Of course, you’re Mary, aren’t you! I recognize/I am recognizing you now.
f) The film of ‘War and Peace’ is very long. It lasts/It is lasting over four hours.
g) I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do you do/are you
doing in the afternoons?
h) I’m going to buy a new swimming costume. My old one doesn’t fit/isn’t fitting any more.
i) That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is happening now?
j) What’s the matter? Why do you look/are you looking at me like that?

2. Read each pair of sentences below, A and B. The sentence which follows each pair is related
to one of the sentences in the pair. (For example, it could come after the sentence or
describe the sentence. Write the letter of the correct sentence in the box.
0 A. Stewie’s a difficult child.
B. Stewie’s being difficult.
He isn’t usually difficult. B

1 A. This salmon weighs more than six kilos.

B. We’re weighing the salmon to put a price on it.
This is a characteristic of the salmon.
2 A. I invite everyone present to the opening of the new superstore.
B. I’m inviting everyone to the opening of the new superstore.
I’m offering this invitation to you now.
3 A. The dance group appears to have arrived at the theatre.
B. The dance group is appearing at the theatre.
There are performances every night.

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4 A. Mmm. I taste cinnamon in this. Lovely.
B. I’m tasting it to see if there’s enough cinnamon in it.
I need to check the quantity of cinnamon.
5 A. I think house prices will rise again next year.
B. I’m thinking of selling my house next year.
This is my opinion.
6 A. My sister has a baby.
B. My sister’s having a baby.
My sister’s pregnant.
7 A. I smell lavender. Is there a bush in the garden?
B. I’m smelling the lavender. It’s a very strong variety.
The smell has just come to my attention.
8 A. He’s having a shower.
B. He has a fantastic power shower in the main bathroom.
Why don’t you wait in the living room?
9 A. We guarantee that your children will be supervised by experienced instructions.
B. My husband and I are guaranteeing the loan for Mrs. Knight.
The company takes full responsibility.
10 A. Is this an inadequate explanation or am I being stupid?
B. I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Am I really so stupid?
Is this a permanent characteristic of mine?

3. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

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

b. Emerson is currently/for long top of the driver’s league.
c. I am not making much money these days/so far this year.
d. The food tastes even worse now/presently. You’ve put too much salt in.
e. Normally/previously we get in touch with customers by post.
f. Pete was ill but he is getting over his illness soon/now.
g. I’m feeling rather run down lately/at present, doctor.
h. I always stay on duty since/until six o’clock.
i. I’m often/forever picking your hairs out of the bath!
j. Fortunately, the baby now/recently sleeps all night.

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 4. Put each verb in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.
a. I …………………………….. (hear) that you have been promoted. Congratulations!
b. British people…………………..(drink) more and more wine, apparently.
c. I hope Sarah will be here soon. I ……………………(depend) on her.
d. Please be quiet, David. You………………………………………..(forever/interrupt).
e. Hey, you! What …………………………..(you/think) you’re doing?
f. Could you come here please? I……………………..(want) to talk to you now.
g. Jane is away on holiday so Linda…………………………(handle) her work.
h. To be honest, I…………………(doubt) whether Jim will be here next week.
i. You’ve only just started the job, haven’t you? How…………………………..(you/get on)?
j. Pay no attention to Graham. He…………………………………(just/be) sarcastic.

5. Complete the expressions using the words from the box.

coming making trying asking taking shooting talking

listening

a) I’m …..trying………………… to concentrate.

b) Are you……………..off now, or can we talk?
c) Go on, I’m ………………………
d) I think we’re ……………………. at cross purposes.
e) You’re …………….for trouble.
f) It’s ………………….along nicely.
g) You don’t seem to be……………..much interest.
h) You’re…………………..a fuss about nothing.

6. Each of the words or phrases in bold is incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.

1. Tammy been able to swim since she was one year old. …………………………
2. How many articles has Greg wrote for Newsweek? …………………………….
3. Tina and Phil still not managed to sell their flat. …………………………………
4. I’m never been to China-what’s it like? …………………………………………..
5. Have you heard? Carol’s breaking her leg again. …………………………………
6. You’re lucky you caught me-I’ve just came through the front door. ………………….
7. Why you haven’t tell Sue yet that you’re thinking of dropping out of the course?
……………
8. Our family is living in this village for over two hundred years and we’re not leaving
now!..................................

7. Circle the correct word or phrase. If both are correct, circle both.

a) They’ve filled/been filling over six bags with rubbish from the beach already.
b) Have you followed/been following that story in the papers about the elephant that escaped
from the zoo? Apparently, they’ve just caught/been catching it.

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 c) We’ve seen/been seeing the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Oxford Street, and
we’ve only been in London for three hours!
d) It’s the first time I’ve heard/been hearing The Editors play live.
e) Jake and I have thought/been thinking about where to go on holiday for weeks but we just
can’t decide.
f) You can’t want to go to the toilet already-we’ve only driven/been driving for about ten
minutes so far!
g) I’ve stood/been standing up all day and my feet are killing me!
h) Has Jan worked/been working for the company since it started?

8. Complete the second sentence so that is has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given.
1. This has been my home for thirty years.
lived
I …………………………………………………… for thirty years.
2. Eating Chinese food is new to me.
never
I ……………………………………………………………… before.
3. Tony hasn’t been to Paris before.
first
It’s ……………………………………………………………………………to Paris.
4. We haven’t been swimming for ages.
since
It’s ………………………………………………………………………..swimming.
5. Mary started learning French five years ago.
has
Mary……………………………………………………………………….five years.

9. Write a verb from the box in the correct form, present simple or present continuous, in each pair
of sentences.

appeal be consider depend feel have look see smell think

a) A. I…………..for a book on fly fishing. Do you have any in stock?

B. Stan ……………… like he’s in a bad mood this morning.
b) A. How ………………you………..about inviting Jackie to come with us on Saturday?
B. Britney………………………very well, so I’ve told her she can go home.
c) A. Jan and I………………………………buying a new flat.
B. Why…………..you …………..Ray Davis to be a better songwriter than Paul McCartney?
d) A. We………………………..a barbecue right now, so can I call you back this evening?

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 B. ………………………..the Deacons………………….a swimming pool?
e) A. The idea of going to a Greek Island really………………….to me.
B. Police………………………..for witnesses to the attack.
f) A. This chicken ………………..very fresh. I think I’ll throw it away just to be on the safe side.
B. Why……………..you……………………that chicken, Mum?
g) A. I………………………..on you, James. Don’t let me down!
B. Whether we get there by six……………………..on the traffic.
h) A. Julian ………………………..a bit busy at the moment, actually.
B. Guys, you………………………….too noisy! Can’t you keep it down, please?
i) A. ……………………you…………………Bob would like a CD for his birthday?
B. Oliver said he……………………………about moving out of the city.
j) A. I hear that Doug………………………quite a lot of Katy these days. Is that true?
B. I………………………….Manchester United lost again.

10. Complete the dialogues according to the cartoons and using the verbs in brackets. Use will/won’t,
will/won’t be+ verb -ing, will/won’t have + past participle or be going to.

a.
‘Can you come to a meeting at three this afternoon?’
‘Sorry. I ……………………………….(finish) all this work by three.’

b.
‘What can you tell me about my future?’
‘You………………..(meet) a handsome young man!’

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c.
‘What’s happening up there?’
‘He……………………(jump) off the building!”

d.
‘Is it next week that you’re on holiday?’
‘Yes. This time next week I ………………………..(sail) on the Mediterranean.”

e.
‘Is that the phone again?’
‘It’s all right Mum. I…………………………..(answer) it!’

f.
‘What is it?’
‘He’s got a gun. He says he………………………….(shoot) someone!’

g.
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 ‘Where’s Mum with the shopping? I’m starving!’
‘She’ll be back by eight. Wait and have dinner with us.’
‘Eight! No way! I……………………………….(die) of starvation by then!’

11. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence.

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

b. I’m sure that everything will be all right at the end/in the end.
c. Please call me the moment/exactly when you hear any news.
d. I should be back by the time/at the time the film begins.
e. I’m sure Fiona will be here before long/after a while.
f. I can’t leave on Tuesday. I won’t be ready until then/by then.
g. By twenty four hours/this time tomorrow I’ll be in Bangkok.
h. Diana will be retiring soon/already.
i. There will be no official announcements forthwith/from now on.
j. Bye for now. I’ll see you in two weeks’ time/two weeks later.

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

a. In twenty-four hours’ time ………………………..(I/relax) on my yacht.
b. ‘There’s someone at the door.’ ‘That…………………(be) the postman.’
c. By the time you get back Harry…………………………..(leave).
d. It’s only a short trip. I……………………..(be) back in an hour.
e. What……………………………..(you/do) this Saturday evening? Would you like to go out?
f. By the end of the week we……………………………….(decide) what to do.
g. It………………………………..(not/be) long before Doctor Smith is here.
h. We’ll go to the park when you………………………..(finish) your tea.
i. It’s very hot in here. I think I……………………………………..(faint).
j. What………………………………….(you/give) Ann for her birthday? Have you decided
yet?

13. Choose the most appropriate continuation for each sentence.

a. According to the latest forecast, the tunnel………………….

A will be finished next year. B will have been finished next year. C is finishing
next year.
b. Paula’s flight is bound to be late although………….
A it arrives at 6.00. B it’s due at 6.00. C it’s arriving at six.

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c. It’s no use phoning Bob at the office, he……………
A will be leaving. B is leaving. C will have left.
d. Everyone says that this year City…………………..
A are going to win the Cup. B are winning the Cup. C win the Cup.
e. I don’t feel like visiting my relatives this year so……………….
A I won’t go. B. I’m not going. C. I don’t go.
f. You can borrow this calculator, I …………………….
A am not going to need it. B won’t have been needing it. C am not needing it.
g. I’m sorry dinner isn’t ready yet, but it………………….
A is going to be ready in a minute. B will have been ready in a minute. C will be
ready in a minute.
h. Can you send me the results as soon as you………………….
A hear anything? B are hearing anything? C will have heard anything?
i. You can try asking Martin for help but ……………….
A it won’t do you any good. B it’s not doing you any good. C it won’t be doing you
any good.
j. Don’t worry about the mistake you made, nobody……………….
A is noticing. B will notice. C will be noticing.