TENSES EXERCICES

1. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Present Simple or Present Continuous only:
a. 'What you (1. do) this evening?' 'I (2. stay) at home.'
b. 'Our teacher seldom (3. sit) when he (4. teach). I (5. wonder) why he (6. do) so now.' 'Perhaps he (7. not
feel) well.'
c. 'John (8. come) to see me this evening.' 'You (9. know) why he (10. want) to see you?' 'I (11. think) he
(12. need) some advice.'
d. What you (13. think) about? You (14.look) rather worried.
e. The man who (15. talk) to John at the moment (16. speak) seven languages.
f. We (17. study) two of Shaw's plays at present.
g. When water (18. freeze), it (19. change) into ice.
h. They generally (20. go) abroad for their holidays, but this year they (21. stay) at home.
i. 'I (22. hear) you (23. leave) the country shortly.' 'Yes, I (24. go) to the United States. I (25. expect) to
be away about three months.'
j. 'What he (26. do) for a living?' 'He (27. buy) and (28. sell) antique furniture.'
k. 'Why you (29. keep) looking at that photograph?' 'It (30. remind) me of my father.'
l. She (31. fry) some fish at the moment. She (32. not like) fish but her husband (33. love) it.
2. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Past Simple or Past Continuous only:
a. When I (1. see) her, she (2. speak) to the waiter.
b. She (3. say) she (4. leave) the country the following day.
c. While I (5. cut) out the pictures, my wife (6. paste) them into an album.
d. When we (7. arrive) at the theatre, some other people (8. sit) in our seats.
e. I (9. meet) him while I (10. go) to the office.
f. The phone (11. ring) while I (12. have) lunch.
g. I (13. do) my homework before I (14. go) to bed.
h. When our former French teacher (15. speak) to us, she (16. speak) only French.
i.

When the bell (17. ring), we (18. do) a test. When it (19. stop), the teacher (20. tell) us to continue writing.

j. While I (21. listen) to the radio, my children (22. do) their homework.
k. The moment he (23. hear) the good news, he (24. telephone) me.
l. When I (25. live) in London, I often (26. go) to the theatre.

3. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Past Simple or Present Perfect:

a. I (1. not see) him since he (2. change) his job.

b. She (3. not write) to me since she (4. leave) England.
c. She (5. not have) any trouble since she (6. have) the operation.
d. He (7. have) five different jobs since he (8. leave) school.
e. Since he (9. win) 30,000 on the football pools, he (10. not do) a stroke of work.
f. Since I (11. buy) this car, I (12. become) very lazy.
g. I (13. see) very little of him since he (14. get) married.
h. I (15. see) him six months ago, but I (16. not see) him since.
i. I (17. visit) New York in 1966, but I (18. not be) there since.
j. Since he (19. begin) writing, his whole approach to life (20. change).
k. Since she (21. start) her new diet, she (22. lose) a lot of weight.
l. He (23. not stop) drinking since the party (24. begin).
4. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Present Perfect (Simple or Continuous)
only:
a. I (1. read) for the last two hours, but I (2. not finish) half the story yet.
b. I (3. write) ever since I got up and I only (4. write) three letters.
c. I (5. study) French for the last three years.
d. He (6. be promoted) three times since he (7. work) here.
e. The picture (8. hang) in the same place ever since I bought it.
f. He (9. write) a book for the last six months but (10. make) very little progress so far.
g. I (11. visit) many countries in the last five years.
h. I (12. shop) all the morning, but I (13. not buy) anything yet.
i. Someone (14. take) my book. I (15. look) for it for the last ten minutes but I cant see it anywhere.
j. The telephone (16. ring) four times since I (17. sit) here.

5. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct tense. Use Past Simple or Past Perfect only:
a. I (1. wait) until everybody (2. leave).
b. The teacher (3. be) very angry when he (4. see) what the boys (5. do).
c. I (6. not be) there five minutes when all the lights (7. go) out.
d. When I (8. show) him what I (9. write), he (10. say) it (11. be) very good.
e. By the time we (12. get) there, most of the guests (13. arrive).
f. He (14. thank) me for what I (15. do) and (16. say) I (17. be) a great help to him.
g. As soon as I (18. do) it, I (19. realize) that I (20. make) a mistake.
h. He (21. not tell) anybody what he (22. do).
i. I'm sorry. I (23. think) I (24. tell) you.
j. The students (25. be) in the classroom more than ten minutes when the teacher finally (26. arrive).
k. Although he (27. study) English before he (28. go) to England, he never (29. hear) the language
spoken so quickly. At first he (30. not understand) anything, but when he (31. be) there about six
months, he (32. be) able to carry on a conversation.
8. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Present Perfect or Past Simple only. Pay
attention to word order:
a. When I first (1. meet) him, he (2. speak) very little English; however, in the last few months he (3.
make) considerable progress.
b. I (4. know) him since he (5. be) a child.
c. How long ago he (6. leave)?
d. He just (7. go) out. He (8. say) he (9. have) an appointment.
e. 'Where you (10. buy) that book?' 'I (11. not buy) it; I (12. borrow) it from a friend.
f. Who (13. write) 'Robinson Crusoe'?
g. Business never (14. be) so good as it is today.
h. It (15. not stop) raining since I (16. come) here. Perhaps I am exaggerating, but it (17. rain) every day
this week.
i. I wonder why she (18. marry) him.
j. I often (19. see) him but I never (20. speak) to him.
k. 'How you (21. enjoy) the film?' 'It's one of the best films I ever (22. see).
l. I (23. write) to him some time ago, but I (24. not receive) a reply yet.

6. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Use Present Simple or Future Simple only:
a. I (1. clean) the house after the children (2. go) to school.
b. When you (3. return), you (4. see) the difference.
c. I (5. send) you a telegram as soon as I (6. hear) the good news.
d. Please wait until I (7. find) out where he is.
e. I must do the shopping before my husband (8. come) home.
f.

When I (9. grow) up, I (10. want) to be a doctor.

g. I (11. pay) you when I (12. get) my salary.

h. I (13. not let) the house until I (14. find) a suitable tenant.
i.

I am sure he (15. find) a job when he (16. come) to London.

j.

By the time we (17. arrive), the place (18. be) empty.

k. I never (19. forget) you as long as I (20. live).

l.

I (21. wash) the dishes while you (22. clean) up the room.

7. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. Use Future Perfect or Present Perfect only.
a. By twelve o'clock the children (1. return) from their walk.
b. When they (2. wash) themselves, I will give them something to eat.
c. I hope we (3. sell) all the tickets before the end of the week.
d. By the time they return, I (4. finish) all my housework.
e. When I (5. write) the letter, I'll show it to you.
f. By the end of this term, we (6. read) two novels and six short stories.
g. As soon as I (7. save) enough money, I'll get a new car.
h. When we (8. finish) reading this story, I'll give you a test.
i. By the time I leave England, I (9. see) more than fifteen different plays.
j. When I (10. be) in England as long as you have, shall I be able to speak English as well as you do?
k. You are not to go to work until you completely (11. recover).
l. When you (12. be) with the firm six months, your salary will be increased.

9. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct tense:

a. She said she (1. not finish) the book yet.
b. How long you (2. sit) here? I (3. not see) you come in.
c. He (4. leave) his job last month and (5. be) out of work ever since.
d. 'When are you getting married?' 'I (6. get) married as soon as I (7. find) a house.
e. Can I speak to John?' 'I am afraid he (8. have) a bath at the moment.'
f.

When I (9. see) him, he (10. clean) his car. He (11. do) this every Sunday.

g. When I (12. finish) the book, I'll lend it to you.

h. If he had asked me, I (13. tell) him.
i.

It (14. rain) ever since I (15. get) up this morning. If it (16. not stop) soon, I (17. have) to change my
programme.

j.

I just (18. buy) a new dress. Would you like to see it?

k. When we (19. arrive) at the theatre, the play already (20. begin). We (21. not be allowed) to take our seats
until the first act (22. end).
l.

Please (23. wait) until I (24. come) back.

10. Pu t the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense. Pay attention to word order:

a. When I (1. arrive) at the airport half an hour late, I (2. find) that the plane already (3. leave).
b. I (4. be told) that I (5. have) to wait an hour for the next one.
c. While I (6. wait) in the airport lounge I (7. see) a friend of mine.
d. It turned out that he, too, (8. go) to Amsterdam.
e. He said he (9. go) on business and (10. be) there about a week.
f.

I (11. be) glad that I (12. miss) the plane; for if I (13. catch) it, I (14. not see) my friend.

g. By a strange coincidence we (15. find) that we (16. reserve) rooms in the same hotel.
h. I (17. like) Amsterdam very much and (18. be) there many times.
i.

If I had to live in another city for a year, I (19. think) I (20. choose) Amsterdam.

j.

I always (21. find) the people there kind and helpful.

11. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct tense.

a. I (1. not see) him for over two years.
b. He (2. work) for the same firm since 1960.
c. I (3. see) him now. He (4. talk) to John.
d. I generally (5. get) up early, but I (6. not do) so yesterday.
e. What time he usually (7. arrive)?
f.

I (8. do) this crossword puzzle for the last hour, but I (9. not finish) half of it yet.

g. He generally (10. speak) to me in English, but at home he (11. speak) French.

h. He (12. wait) for her since 6 o'clock, but she (13. not come) yet.
i.

When I (14. come) home last night, she (15. cook) dinner. In fact, she (16. work) in the kitchen for more than
an hour when I (17. arrive).

j.

I (meet) him while I (18. come) here this morning.

12. Put the verbs in parentheses into a suitable form. Pay attention to word order:
When I (1. come) home, I (2. find) that the family already (3. finish) dinner. I (4. sit) down (5. eat) mine,
which (6. be) still on the table. I only just (7. begin) when the door-bell (8. ring). It (9. be) a friend of mine.
I (10. tell) him (11. wait) until I (12. finish) (13. eat). My mother (14. ask) him whether he (15. like) a cup of
coffee. He (16. say) he rather (17. read) until I (18. be) ready.
13. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
One day while I (1. sit) in a cafe, a man (2. come) over to my table and (3. ask) me if he (4. may) (5. sit) down for
a few minutes. After (6. speak) for some time, we (7. find) that we once (8. meet) in Europe. He said, 'I (9.
arrive) here two weeks ago and I yet (10. not make) up my mind whether or not (11. stay) here.' 'If I (12. be)
you,' I said, 'I (13. learn) the language as quickly as I (14. can) and then (15. make) a tour of the country.
It (16. be) easier then (17. make) up your mind.'
14. Put the verbs in brackets into a correct form:
While I (1. stand) in the bank, I (2. meet) my old friend Sally, whom I (3. not see) for some time. I (4. ask) her
how she (5. be) and where she (6. go) after she (7. complete) her business at the bank. She (8. say) she (9.
have) nothing special (10. do) as she (11. not work) then. She (12. add) that she (13. look) for an
interesting job, and (14. leave) her previous one because she (15. find) the work (16. bore).
6

15. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:

a. It (1. rain) when we (2. leave); but by the time we (3. get) to the cinema, it (4. stop).
b. I (5. not have) a holiday since I (6. come) to London. I wish (7. take) one last August.
c. My friend (8. tell) me that he (9. go) to the cinema and (10. ask) me whether I (11. like) (12. go) with him.
When he (13. tell) me what film he (14. go) (15. see), I (16. say) that I already (17. see) it.
d. When he finally (18. arrive), we already (19. wait) more than an hour.
e. She (20. not write) to me since she (21. change) her address. When I (22. hear) from her, I (23. get) in
touch with you.
f. I (24. ask) him whether I (25. write) to them. He (26. tell) me (27. wait) until the following week.
16. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
My brother still (1. sleep) when I (2. get) up this morning. After I (3. shake) him three or four times, he finally
(4. open) his eyes and (5. ask) what the time (6. be). (7. See) that there (8. be) very little time left, he (9. get)
(dress) as quickly as he (10. can). If he (11. not do) so, he certainly (12. be) late for school. This only (13.
happen) once since the new school year (begin).
17. Put the verbs in brackets into a correct tense. Suggest two possibilities for each sentence:
a. I (1. teach) English since 1950.
b. I'll have a drink when I (2. finish) my work.
c. When I came home, the children (3. eat) dinner.
d. He (4. read) the Daily Telegraph now.
e. I told him what I (5. do).
f. I thought he (6. like) it.
g. By the time we (7. get) to the station, the train (8. leave).
h. Where he (9. live) now?
i. Where you (10. go) tomorrow?
j. He just (11. go) out when I arrived.
18. Put the verbs in brackets into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
a. I (1. not receive) a letter from Pauline since she left England. Rene (2. tell) me that she already (3. write)
to her and (4. wait) for a reply. She (5. say) she (6. let) me (7. know) as soon as she (8. hear) from her. I really
(9. like) (10. know) how she (11. get) on.
7

b. John just (12. go) out when I (13. call) at his house. His mother (14. say) she (15. be) sure he (16. not be)
long and (17. ask) me (18. waft) for him. (19. Not have) anything special (20. do), I (21. decide) (22.
wait) until eight o'clock and if he (23. not return) by then, I (24. leave). I (25. not be) there ten minutes when
John (26. arrive), (27. delight) (28. find) me (29. wait) for him.
19. Put the verbs in brackets into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
Henry only just (1. leave) when his mother (2. call) and (3. ask) whether she (4. can) (5. speak) to him. When I (6. tell)
her that he already (7. leave), she (8. ask) whether he (9. take) a taxi. When I (10. ask) her why she (11. be) so worried
about him, she (12. say) he (13. not feel) well lately, adding that the doctor (14. advise) him (15. not work) so hard. While
we (16. speak), she (17. ask) me if I (18. go) anywhere the following evening. When I (19. tell) her I (20. not be), she
(21. invite) me for dinner, (22. say) that I (23. can) (24. bring) a friend if I (25. want) to.
20. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form.
While I (1. sit) in the library one day, I (2. meet) an old friend whom I (3. not see) for quite a long time. When I
(4. ask) him how he (5. get) along, he (6. tell) me that he (7. work) in a garage, but seriously (8. think) of (9.
give) up the job because he (10. not like) the people (11. work) there. He (12. add) that he (13. consider) (14.
go) abroad for a while. I (15. tell) him that I (16. think) it (17. be) a good idea. On (18. leave), I (19. ask) him
for his telephone number, (20. say) I (21. call) him if I (22. hear) of anything that (23. may) be of interest to
him.
21. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
When I (1. tell) my teacher that I (2. have) a little difficulty with conditional sentences at the moment, he (3.
ask) me (4. come) and (5. see) him the following afternoon. After he (6. give) me a brief explanation, he (7.
ask) me several questions and then (8. give) me a short written test. I (9. be delighted) (10. find) that I
(11. not make) a single mistake. While we (12. speak), his wife (13. enter) and (14. ask) me whether I (15.
like) something (16. drink). It (17. be) possible that if I (18. not go) (19. see) my teacher yesterday, I (20.
may fail) in yesterday's test. Although our papers (21. not yet be returned) to us, I (22. have) nothing
(23. worry) about. My teacher (24. tell) me a few minutes ago that I (25. do) very well.
22. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
I (1. arrive) rather late and (2. find) that the party already (3. begin). Some couples (4. dance) while
others just (5. talk). One girl (6. look) into the mirror and (7. comb) her hair. Suddenly I (8. see) who it (9.
be). It (10. be) somebody I (11. meet) in Europe last summer. (12. Think) I (13. surprise) her, I (14. go) over
and (15. touch) her on the shoulder. When she (16. turn) round, I (17. realize) I never (18. meet) the girl
before. After (19. apologize), I (20. ask) her whether she (21. like) (22. dance). It (23. turn) out that she
(24. be) an excellent dancer, besides (25. be) a highly intelligent person. As a result, I (26. have) a very
8

enjoyable evening.

23. Put the verbs in brackets into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
It (1. rain) very heavily when I (2. get) up this morning. I (3. think) it never (4. stop), and I (5. begin)
(6. wonder) how I (7. go) (8. get) to work. Luckily, as I (9. eat) breakfast, it suddenly (10. stop) (11. rain)
and the sun (12. begin) (13. shine). If the rain (14. continue) I never (15. get) to work on time. I (16. work) for
the same firm for over two years and I don't remember ever (17. be) late. This may have something (18. do)
with the fact that I (19. be promoted) twice in the last two years.
24. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Use the Passive Voice only:
a. The room (1. not clean) since last week.
b. The room (2. still clean) when I arrived.
c. If he (3. find) guilty, he (4. send) to prison. (Three possibilities)
d. It should (5. do) a long time ago.
e. Why I (6. not tell) about this yesterday?
f. It must (7. take) while I was out.
g. When the house (8. paint), it will look different. (Two possibilities)
h. Nothing (9. do) since he (10. take) to hospital,
i. By the time we arrived, the children (11. put) to bed.
j. I expect you (12. interest) in everything that (13. do) here.

25. Put the verbs in parentheses into a suitable form. Pay attention to word order:
When this course (1. end), I (2. be) here for nine months. The last three months (3. pass) very quickly. If I
(4. do) well in the final examination, I (5. try) (6. get) a job here. I (7. like) (8. stay) for another year. I then (9.
have) an opportunity (10. improve) my spoken English. If I (11. do) that, I (12. have) no difficulty in (13.
get) a good job when I (14. return) to my own country.
26. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct tense. Suggest a sensible alternative wherever
possible:
a. By the time we (1. arrive), the film (2. start).
b. As soon as I (3. finish) what I (4. do), I'll go to bed.
c. I (5. wait) for more than an hour when he finally (6. arrive).
d. I just (7. speak) to Gerda. She (8. tell) me she (9. leave) for Vienna on Friday.
e. Nothing (10. change) since you (11. leave).
9

f. In another ten minutes we (12. sit) here for exactly two hours.
g. It's time I (13. be) able to do this work.
h. I (14. see) him last week, but I (15. not see) him since.
i. I (16. see) him now. He (17. talk) to John. I (18. wonder) what they (19. talk) about. It (20. be) more
than a year since they (21. see) each other.
j. You (22. not wish) you (23. have) a Rolls-Royce?
27. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
Suzanne (1. come) in a few minutes ago (2. look) as if she (3. see) a ghost. She (4. tell) me what (happen). 'I
(5. walk) along the street,' she said, 'when I (6. approach) by someone who (7. ask) me what the time (8. be).
On (9. hear) him (10. speak), I (11. have) the feeling that we (12. meet) before. After we (13. speak) for
some time, I (14. discover) that the person (15. be) none other than my younger brother, who I (16. think)
(17. die) during the war. If he (18. not speak) to me, it is probable that we (19. may never learn) of each
other's existence.
28. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
When I (1. come) home last night, my brother already (2. go) to bed, but my sister still (3. do) her
homework. 'I (4. work) for the last two hours,' she said. 'If I (5. not be) so tired, I (6. can) (7. work) much
faster. I wish I (8. begin) my homework earlier.' When I (9. look) at what she (10. do) so far, I (11. see) that
she (12. make) several mistakes. I (13. tell) her (14. read) it again very carefully and if she (15. not find)
the mistakes, I (16. point) them out to her. After I (17. have) something (18. eat), she (19. show) it to me
again. I (20. see) that she (21. find) all the mistakes but one.
29. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. I wish I (1. be) there now.
b. If I (2. know) last week, I (3. make) different arrangements.
c. It's time we (4. go) home. It (5. get) late.
d. Nobody (6. hear) from him since he (7. change) his job.
e. The telegram (8. come) just as I (9. leave) the house. If it (10. come) five minutes later, I (11. not
receive) it.
f. I hope you (12. finish) by the time we (13. get) back.
g. 'It (14. rain) now.' 'It (15. be) only a shower. I (16. be) sure that by the time we (17. be) ready to leave,
it (18. stop).'
h. That picture (19. hang) in the same place since I (20. buy) it.
i. 'I (21. like) (22. speak) to George.' 'I'm sorry but he just (23. go) out.' 'When he (24. return)? 'I (25.
have) no idea.' 'Well, when he (26. return), please (27. tell) him I (28. call).'
10

j. He is very angry. Seldom I (29. see) him in such a temper.

30. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
While I (1. drive) to London last week, I (2. stop) (3. give) a soldier a lift. While we (4. speak) he
suddenly (5. go) white and almost (6. faint). I (7. take) him to the nearest hospital, where the doctor on
duty. (8. Give) him a thorough examination but (9. cannot) (10. find) anything wrong with him. After
(11. give) him a caffeine injection, the doctor (12. tell) him (13. go) home and (14. lie) down for a few
hours. I (15. take) him home and he (16. thank) me very much. He said it must (17. be) something he
(18. eat). I (19. have) a letter from him the other day (20. tell) me he (21. feel) fine.
31. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
Last week I (1. invite) several friends to dinner. When the first couple (2. arrive), I still (3. work) in the
kitchen; for I quite (4. not finish) (5. prepare) the salad. I tell them (6. make) themselves at home, (7. add)
that I (8. join) them in a few minutes. If they (9. come) ten minutes later, I (10. be) ready for them. The
dinner (11. be) an excellent one and I (12. compliment) on my (13. cook). One of my friends (14. say) that he
(15. go) (16. send) his wife to me for cooking lessons. I enjoy (17. work) in the kitchen if somebody else
(18. do) the washing up.
32. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct form. Pay attention to word order:
I (1. sit) in my office the other day when I (2. tell) that someone (3. want) (4. see) me. It was Harold
Fortiss, an old friend of mine. When I (5. ask) him how he (6. be), he (7. tell) me a rather sad story. He
told me that he (8. have) to close down his business because of financial difficulties and that he (9. look)
for a job. He (10. add) that if he (11. not find) one quickly, he (12. be) in serious trouble. He (13. ask) me
whether I (14. can) (15. do) anything (16. help) him (17. find) something interesting. I (18. say) (19. do) my
best and (20. ask) him (21. give) me a ring the following day.

33. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Use the Passive Voice wherever possible. Pay
attention to word order:
a. If more money (1. need), it (2. find). (Three possibilities)
b. It should (3. do) before the foundations (4. lay). Now it's too late.
c. The house (5. change) hands three times since it first (6. build).
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d. The dinner still (7. cook) when we (8. arrive); but since the table already (9. lay), we (10. tell) (11.
seat).
e. Why I (12. not tell) earlier? I ought (13. inform) immediately.
f. If the letter (14. not find) by tomorrow, he may (15. dismiss).
g. Several people (16. interview) before one finally (17. select).
h. The animals (18. feed) at the same time every morning.
i. The paintings must (19. hang) by an expert. They are really well arranged.
j. It must (20. steal) while the house (21. paint).
34. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
One day, while I (1. wait) for a bus, someone (2. tap) me on the shoulder and (3. ask) me if my name (4.
be) Alfred. He (5. tell) me that we once (6. work) in the same office. Although I (7. remember) his name, I
never (8. recognize) him if he (9. not speak) to me. He (10. change) very much since I last (11. see) him.
He told me that he badly (12. injure) in a road accident and only recently (13. come) out of hospital. On parting, he (14. ask) whether we (15. can) (16. meet) again. I (17. take) his telephone number and (18. say) that I
(19. call) him within the next few days. He (20. say) he (21. look) forward to (22. hear) from me.
35. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
(1. Think) I (2. surprise) my friend, I (3. drop) in on him the other day. He (4. sort) out his collection of
postage stamps, something he always (5. enjoy) (6. do). I (7. tell) him that there (8. be) an interesting lecture at
the club and (9. ask) him if he (10. feel) like (11. go). When I (12. tell) him who the lecturer (13. be), he (14.
say) he very much (15. like) (16. go). He added that he (17. hear) him (18. speak) before and (19. be) very
favourably impressed. (20. See) that we (21. have) very little time, we (22. take) a taxi. If we (23. not do) so,
we (24. be) late. I (25. hate) (be) late for a lecture.

12

36. Put the words in parentheses into a correct form:

I (1. be) interested in public speaking for a number of years and (2. consider) by my friends (3. be) quite a
good speaker. A few days ago, I (4. ask) (5. take) part in a public debate. Several of my friends (6. go) (7.
be) there, and I (8. look) forward to an interesting evening. Unfortunately, while I (9. drive) to the club,
my car (10. break) down and I (11. must) (12. take) a taxi. I (13. arrive) just as the chairman (14. open)
the meeting. I (15. make) my way to the platform and (16. apologize) to the chairman for (17. arrive) late.
At the end of the evening I (18. tell) him what (19. happen).
37. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. I (1. not see) John Berry for several months. When I last (2. hear) from him, he (3. work) on a ship. He
(4. say) then that he (5. get) in touch with me as soon as he (6. return) to London. I (7. like) (8. see) him
again. I always (9. enjoy) (10. talk) to him.
b. It's time we (11. go). If we (12. not leave) soon, the family (13. wonder) what (14. happen) to us.
c. 'It's a pity you (15. not understand) French. If you (16. do), you (17. be) able (18. get) a much better
job than the one you (19. have) now.' 'If I (20. think) it (21. help), I (22. start) (23. learn) tomorrow.'
38. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. When I (1. arrive), he still (2. work). He said that he (3. work) for the last two hours but that he (4. go)
(5. stop) in a few minutes. He (6. add) that if I (7. arrive) ten minutes later, I (8. may not find) him at
home. When I (9. mention) that the apartment (10. look) rather untidy, he (11. say) that the woman
who usually (12. clean) it (13. be) sick for some time and nothing (14. do) for over a week. When I
(15. ask) him why he (16. not do) it himself, he (17. say) that he (18. intend) (19. do) so if Mrs. Jones
(20. not come) the following day.
39. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
While I (1. wait) for a bus the other day, it suddenly (2. begin) (3. rain) I (4. not take) my umbrella; nor I
(5. wear) a coat. While I (6. wonder) whether or not (7. take) shelter, the bus (8. arrive) and I (9. get)
on. I wonder why it always (10. rain) when I (11. leave) my umbrella at home -at least, that's how it (12.
seem) to me. Fortunately, by the time I (13. reach) my destination, the rain (14. stop). There are occasions
when I (15. enjoy) (16. walk) in the rain, but I (17. like) (18. be) properly (19. dress) for the occasion.
40. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. I (1. work) at the crossword puzzle for over an hour, but I (2. make) very little progress so far.
13

b. 'As soon as I (3. finish) (4. write) this letter, I (5. take) a walk. I (6. not be) out of the house today. You
(7. like) (8. join) me?' 'I (9. love) to. Give me a call as soon as you (10. be) ready (11. leave).''
c.

'What he (12. do) when you (13. see) him?' 'He (14. sit) in a corner (15. talk) to John.'

d. 'What he (16. do) when he (17. see) you?' 'He (18. smile) and (19. raise) his hat.'
e. The teacher (20. arrive) yet?' 'No, at least I (21. not see) him.' That's strange; he (22. never be)
late before.' 'Well, if he (23. not come) today, it (24. be) the first lesson he (25. miss) since the course
(26. begin).
f. 'I (27. do) it tomorrow?' 'I'd rather you (28. do) it today.'
41. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
I (1. go) to see my friend yesterday. Only by (2. take) a taxi I (3. get) there on time. If I (4. walk), I (5. be) late. If I
(6. be) late, my friend (7. be) angry. My watch always (8. seem) (9. stop) at the wrong time. It's time I (10.
have) a good watch. If I (11. do), I never (12. be) late. My watch (13. not be) the same since something
(14. go) wrong with it last year. If my father (15. ask) me what I want for a birthday present, I (16.
know) exactly what (17. say).
42. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
I (1. go) (2. see) my friend yesterday as we previously (3. arrange); for we (4. have) several important things
(5. discuss). However, he (6. not be) there when I (7. arrive); nor (8. be) there any message for me. But
(9. know) him as I do, I (10. be) sure there (11. be) a good reason for his absence. When he finally (12.
turn) up, I (13. wait) more than an hour. He (14. say) that he (15. have) a puncture on the way and (16.
telephone) the garage (17. ask) them (18. send) someone (19. change) the wheel. When I (20. ask) him
why he (21. not do) it himself, he (22. say) he never (23. do) such a thing before and that he (24. have) no
intention of (25. start) now.
43. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
George (1. return) from England last week and tomorrow evening we (2. have) a party (3. celebrate) his
return. When you (4. see) him tomorrow, you (5. be) amazed (6. see) how much he (7. change) since we
last (8. see) him. When I (9. ask) him what he (10. intend) (11. do) he (12. say) he (13. not make) up his mind
yet, but if he (14. offer) a good job he probably (15. take) it and (16. start) (17. work) immediately. He (18.
add) that he (19. may) even open a business of his own. However, (20. know) George as I do, I (21. think)
he (22. be) far happier (23. work) for somebody else.
44. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. I (1. not go) (2. wait) for Frank. By the time he (3. be) ready, it (4. be) too late (5. go) anywhere.
14

b. We (6. stand) at the bus-stop for about ten minutes when a passer-by (7. tell) us that the last bus
already (8. go). It seems strange that in a city like London buses (9. stop) (10. run) so early.
c. John (11. come) to work late recently. The manager already (12. speak) to him. If he (13. not be)
careful, he (14. may) (15. find) himself out of a job.
d. As he (16. run) (17. catch) the bus, he (18. fall) and (19. break) his leg. He (20. be) in hospital for over
a week, but (21. expect) (22. be) out tomorrow.
e. 'This is the third time you (23. fall) asleep while (24. work). (25. Be) anything the matter?' 'We (26.
have) some trouble with the baby recently I think he's teething. I hardly (27. close) my eyes last
night.'
f. (28. Guess) who I (29. find) (30. wait) for me when I (31. get) home.
45. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. When I (1. finish) (2. read) this story, it (3. be) the sixth time I (4. read) it.
b. When I (5. see) him, he (6. read) the letter the committee (7. send) him. Seldom I (8. see) him so
happy.
c. When I (9. arrive) at the airport, several other members of the family (10. wait) there. Some of them
(11. be) there for quite a time. They all (12. come) (13. greet) our grandfather, who (14. not visit)
England for over twenty years.
d. If only I (15. know) earlier that you (16. go) (17. buy) a washing machine, I (18. can save) you quite a bit
of money. You really should (19. mention) it sooner.
46. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:
a. If we (1. not leave) soon, we (2. arrive) after the show (3. begin). (4. See) that we are guests, our host
(5. be) very angry if we (6. do) such a thing.
b. By the time we (7. arrive), most of the people (8. leave). It (9. be) better if we (10. not go) at all.
c. 'You ought (11. tell) me earlier.' 'I'm sorry I (12. not do) so, but it (13. not occur) to me that you (14.
be) interested in (15. listen) to chamber music.'
d. She (16. not do) a stroke of work since she (17. leave) school.
e. (18. See) that there (19. be) nobody at home, I put a note in his letter-box (20. tell) him where I (21.
intend) (22. spend) the evening.
f. He (23. speak) for over an hour. If he (24. not stop) soon, he (25. talk) to an empty hall. Several people
already (26. leave), and the others (27. get) fidgety.
15

47. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form:

I (1. run) all the way to the station only (2. find) that the train already (3. leave). I (4. tell) that there (5. be)
another one in twenty minutes. (6. See) that I (7. have) some time (8. spare), I (9. go) to the news-stand
(10. buy) a newspaper. While I (11. glance) through it, I (12. hear) someone (13. call) my name. It (14.
be) my friend Alfred, who I (15. think) (16. catch) the earlier train. He, too, (17. miss) it. He (18. say)
that he (19. catch) it if his watch (20. not be) slow.
48. Put the verbs in parentheses into a correct form. Pay attention to word order:
a. 'What time John generally (1. arrive)? He generally (2. arrive) at about nine o'clock, but he (3.
telephone) a few minutes ago (4. say) that he (5. not be) at the office before 11 o'clock this morning.'
'You (6. mind) (7. ask) him (8. get) in touch with me as soon as he (9. arrive)?'
b. I wish I (10. be) there when she told him what she (11. think) of him. I would like (12. see) his face.
c. We (13. need not take) our raincoats. It didn't rain after all.
d. 'You (14. like) (15. go) somewhere this evening?' 'I just as soon (16. stay) at home.'
e. She (17. work) for me ever since she (18. leave) school.
f.

At the end of this week I (19. work) here exactly four years.

g. If you (20. not behave) yourself, we (21. not take) you with us to the circus tomorrow.
h. She never (22. go) to the party if she (23. know) that John (24. go) (25. be) there. She (26. not see) him
or (27. speak) to him since their engagement (28. break) off. Fortunately, he left very early and so an
embarrassing situation (29. avoid).
i.

My neighbours (30. not stop) (31. complain) ever since my daughter (32. start) (33. take) piano lessons.

j.

Why you (34. not tell) me you (35. not finish) the book? I (36. not take) it back to the library.

16