PRESENT SIMPLE

Subject + Verb (remember to add –S to the 3er person) + objects

Subject + don‟t / doesn‟t + Verb + objects.
Do / Does + subject + verb + objects?

* Utilizamos el Simple Present para:

1. Hablar de cosas en general. No estamos únicamente pensando en el NOW sino que decimos que algo sucede
todo el tiempo o repetidamente.
Nurses look alter patients.
I usually go away at weekends.
Where do you come from?
What does this word mean?
He’s so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help me.

2. Hablar de “verdades universales / comprobadas”:

The Earth goes round the sun.
Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.
An atheist doesn’t believe in God.
The River Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.

3. Decir HOW OFTEN hacemos algo (ver punto 1):

How often do you go to the dentist?
I never get up before 8 o’clock.
Ann doesn’t drink tea very often.
How often does Tom play tennis?
He plays tennis once or twice a week.

4. Lógicamente necesitamos ADVERBIOS DE FRECUENCIA. El frequency adverb. Se coloca:

1. subject + Adverb. + affirmative verb + objects

Tom always goes to work by car.

2. Subject + don‟t / doesn‟t + adverb + verb + objects.

Tom doesn’t usually smoke at home.

3. Do / Does + subject + adverb + verb + objects?

Do you usually smoke at home?

4. Con el verbo To Be se coloca:

1. They are always tired.
2. You are never on time.
3. The traffic isn’t usually as bad as today.

5. Para cuando utilizamos expresiones como: I promise / I apologise / I suggest

/ I advise / I insist / I agree / I refuse:
It’s a nice day, I suggest we go out for a walk.
I insist you must let me pay for the meal.

6. Situaciones permanents ( = punto 1)

My parents live in London.
John works very hard most of the time.

7. Se utiliza el Present Simple con idea de futuro para cualquier cosa que siga
un horario o un orden lógico:
My flight leaves at 8.00 next Monday.
Tomorrow is Thursday.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Subject + am / is / are + Verb –ing + objects

Subject + am not / isn‟t / aren‟t + Verb íng + objects.
Am / Is / Are + subject + Verb –ing + objects?

Utilizamos El Present Continuous para:

1. Una acción que está sucediendo en el momento mismo de hablar (en el NOW):
Where’s Margaret? – She’s having a bath.
Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more.
I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.
Please don’t make so much noise, I’m studying.

2. Indicar que estamos realizando algo aunque no sea exactamente en el mismo momento de hablar.
Situación: Dos amigos sentados en un café. Uno de ellos dice: ‘I’m reading an interesting book at the moment’.
(claro que no en el momento de hablar, pero sí indica que está en ello, no lo ha terminado).

3. Cuando hablamos de cosas que suceden en un período de tiempo cercano al NOW. Para ello utilizamos
complementos de tiempo como son: today, this week, this month, etc., this afternoon, this evening, etc.
‘You’re working hard today’ – ‘Yes, I have a lot to do’.
‘Is Susan working this week?’ – ‘No, she’s on holiday’.

4. Cuando hablamos de situaciones “cambiantes”:

The population of the world is rising very fast.
Is your English getting better?

5. Situaciones temporales (= punto 1):

I’m living with some friends until I find a flat.

6. Quejarte de algo que haces (u otra persona) con demasiada frecuencia, aquí se utiliza “always”:
I’ve lost my keys again, I’m always losing things.
You’re always watching television.
John is always complaining.

7. Para hablar de planes, citas, cosas preparadas con anterioridad:

I can’t talk to you now, I’m meeting the boss in 5 minutes.
IMPORTANT

Hay ciertos verbos que son stative, es decir, no son action, por lo que NO pueden utilizarse en –ing aunque el
sentido de la oración lo pida.

1. Los siguientes verbos NO se pueden conjugar en –ing:

like – love – hate – want – need – prefer – know – realise – suppose –mean – understand – believe –
remember – belong – contain – consist –depend – seem.

I’m hungry, I want something to eat. (NO: I’m wanting)

Do you understand what I mean? (NO: are you understanding what I’m
meaning?)
Ann doesn’t seem very happy at the moment. (NO: Ann isn’t seeming..)

2. Cuando think significa believe no se conjuga en –ing:

What do you think / believe will happen?
Pero: You look serious. What are you thinking about?

3. Cuando have significa possess (have got) NO se conjuga en –ing:

We’re enjoying our holiday. We have (have got) a nice room in the hotel.
Pero: We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.

4. Los verbos de los sentidos tampoco admiten el –ing: see – hear – smell –taste.
Do you see the man over there?
This room smells. Let’s open the window.
Pero cuando see significa meet / have a meeting with (especialmente en el
futuro) entonces se puede conjugar en –ing:
I’m seeing / meeting the manager tomorrow morning.

5. Con look y feel se usa el Present Simple o el Continuous indistintamente cuando dices HOW SOMEBODY
LOOKS or FEELS now:
You look well today. – You’re looking well today.
How do you feel now? – How are you feeling now?
Pero en primera persona solo se utiliza el simple present:
I usually feel tired in the morning.

SPELLING: MAKE THE –ING FORM

1. Si el verbo acaba en “–y” sólo se le añade la –ing:

hurry – hurrying
study – studying
try – trying

2. Verbos acabados en “-ie”> la –ie cambia a “y” antes de añadir la –ing:

lie – lying
die – dying
tie – tying

3. Verbos acabados en “-e”> pierden la –e al añadir –ing:

smoke – smoking
dance – dancing
Excepciones:
1. be – being
2. verbos acabados en –ee :
see – seeing
agree – agreeing

4. Verbos de una sóla sílaba que acaban en consonante – vocal –consonante > duplicaremos la última
consonante antes de añadir –ing:
stop – stopping
plan – planning
rob – robbing

5. Verbos con más de una sílaba que acaban en consonante – vocal –consonante:
1. doblamos la última consonante únicamente si la sílaba final es la
acentuada:
preFER – preferring
reGRET – regretting
perMIT – permitting
beGIN – beginning
2. pero si la sílaba final no es acentuada, no doblamos la consonante:
VIsit – visiting
deVElop – developing
reMEMber – remembering

3. los verbos acabados en l siempre duplica n la última consonante:

travel – travelling
cancel – cancelling

SIMPLE PAST
Sujeto + verbo en pasado + complementos
Sujeto + didn‟t + verbo infinitive sin “to” + complementos
Did + sujeto + verbo infinitivo sin “to” + complementos?

Utilizamos el Simple Past para acciones, sucesos, etc. Totalmente pasados:

We invited them to our party but they decided not to come.
I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a shop.
Did she go out last night?
When did Mr Thomas die?
I didn’t do anything at the weekend.

Con el Simple Past se utiliza la partícula AGO que significa “hace” y se coloca al final de la oración:
He left school three years ago.

También hay una serie de complementos de tiempo muy útiles: last week, last year, last century,… yesterday, the
day befote yesterday, etc.
I went to the cinema three times last week.
She came home late yesterday evening.

PAST CONTINUOUS
Sujeto + was/were + verbo –ing + complementos
Sujeto + wasn‟t / weren‟t + verbo –ing + complementos
Was / Were + sujeto + verbo –ing + complementos?

Utilizamos el Past Continuous para decir que alguien estaba hacienda algo en un momento determinado en el
pasado. La acción o suceso ya había comenzado antes de ese momento pero no había terminado.
This time last year I was living in Scotland.
What were you doing at 10 o’clock last night?
I waved to her but she wasn’t looking.

A menudo utilizamos el Simple Past y el Past Continuous en la misma oración para decir que algo sucedió /
interrumpió mientras otra oración estaba sucediendo (fíjate en el uso de WHILE y WHEN):
Tom burnt his hand while he was cooking dinner.
While Tom was cooking dinner, he burnt his hand.
Tom was cooking dinner when he burnt his hand.

Pero solo usaremos el Simple Past si una cosa sucedió a continuación de la otra:
When Karen arrived, we had dinner.
We had dinner when Karen arrived.

Recuerda los verbos que NO se pueden conjugar en –ing. (Ver apuntes Present Continuous)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

Subject + have („ve) / has („s) + verb past participle + objects

Subject + haven‟t / hasn‟t + verb pp + objects
Have / Has + subject + verb pp + objects?

1. Cuando utilizamos este tiempo verbal estamos conectando el pasado con el NOW presente. Es decir, la acción
del pasado tiene un resultado ahora:
He told me his name but I’ve forgotten it. (= I can‟t remember his name NOW)

2. Como a menudo utilizamos este tiempo para dar información nueva o para
anunciar un suceso reciente, si esto ocurre dentro de una conversación, sólo será present perfect el anuncio o
información, el resto del diálogo estará en simple past:
A: Ow! I’ve burnt my hand!
B: How did you do that?
A: I touched a hot dish.

3. Partículas del tiempo Present Perfect Simple: (ojo con la colocación) (“+” > oraciones verbo afirmativo; “-“ >
oraciones verbo negativo; “?”> oraciones interrogativas):
1. JUST (+ / ¿) = “a short time ago”
I’ve just had lunch.
Hello. Have you just arrived?

2. ALREADY (+) = que algo ha sucedido antes de lo previsto / esperado:

A: Don’t forget to post the setter.
B: I’ve already posted it.

3. EVER (+ / ?) > (+) nunca, (?) alguna vez:

Have you ever eaten real caviar?
He’s the most handsome boy I’ve ever seen.

4. NEVER (es una particular negativa, por lo que el verbo debe ir en afirmativo) = nunca.
I’ve never driven a lorry.

5. YET (- / ?) = “until now” (muestra que el hablante está esperando que algo suceda).
 Has it stopped raining yet?
I‟ve written the letter but I haven‟t posted it yet.

6. FOR > va seguida de período de tiempo. Ejemplo: for a year, for two years, etc. for a month, for seven months,
for a long time, for centuries, etc.

7. SINCE > va seguida del comienzo de la acción. Ejemplo: since May, since June, since I was born, since 1978,
since Monday, since the 10th century, since 8 o’clock, since this morning, since yesterday, since Christmas, since
Easter, etc.

4. Lo utilizaremos siempre que hablemos de un período de tiempo que empezó en el pasado y que ahora, en el
presente, todavía no ha terminado. Ese período de tiempo se suele identificar con expresiones como: recently, in
the last / few days, so far, since breakfast, since lunch, for a long time, for…., today, this morning, this evening, this
term, etc.
Have you heard from George recently?
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problems so far.
I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.
It’s nice to see you again. We haven’t seen each other for a long time.
I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today.

5. Utilizamos este tiempo detrás de expresiones como: It‟s the first time / second time / third time, etc.
It’s the first time Tom has driven a car. (= He has never driven a car before).
Linda has lost her passport again. It’s the second time this has happened.
This is a lovely meal. It’s the first food meal I’ve had for ages.
Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That‟s the third time he’s phoned her
this evening.

EXERCISES

A. PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

1. Put the verbs in brackets in the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.
1. I 1_________________ (not understand) that sign over there. What 2_________________ (it/mean)?
2. Paula and Jack are in the sitting-room. They 3_________________ (listen) to the news, and Paula
4____________________ (look) at a magazine as well.
3. The students 5____________________ (count) the books in the library today, because we 6_________________
(not know) how many we have.
4. Tim 7_________________ (like) his new shoes; they 8_______________ (fit) him perfectly.
5. June: Look! That woman 9__________________ (sit) in your chair.
Barry: It 10____________________ (not matter). I can sit over there.
6. This computer is very expensive. It 11_________________ (cost) more than $3000, but the price
12_______________ (include) tax.
7. I don’t like Adam because he 13____________________ (always/tell) stupid stories.
8. “Why are you annoyed with Mary?” – “Because she 14__________________________ (always /ask) me for money.

2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Simple Present or the Present Continuous tense.
1. Cuckoos 15…………………………. (not build) nests. They 16……………………… (use) the nests of other birds.
2. You can’t see Tom now; he 17………………………..………… (have) a bath.
3. He 18…………………………………. (usually drink) coffee but today he 19….……….………………… (drink) tea.
4. What 20……………………….………………..(she / do) in the evenings? – She 21……………………………..……..
(usually play) cards or 22…………………………. (listen) to the radio.
5. I won’t go out now as it 23 ………………..…………………. (rain) and I 24…………………………….……… (not have)
an umbrella.
6. The last train 25………………………… (leave) the station at 11.30 every day.
7. He 26………………………….. (usually speak) so quickly that I 27………………………………….. (not understand)
him.
8. Ann 28………………………… (make) a dress for herself at the moment. She 29………………………………. (make)
all her own clothes.
9. In Spain women 30……………..……………….. (usually not wear) hats.
10. I 31……………………………………. (wear) a hat today because the sun is very hot.
11. I can’t answer the phone now because I 32…………………………… (make) an omelette.
12.33 ………………………………………… (you enjoy) yourself or would you like to leave now? – I
34…………………………….. (enjoy) myself very much. I 35………………………………. (want) to stay to the end.
13. How 36……………………………. (you get) to work as a rule? – I 37…………………………………. (usually go) by
bus but tomorrow I 38………………………………… (go) in Tom’s car.

3. Write the verbs in brackets into their correct tense:

Jenny: What’s wrong? (you/run) 39………………………………………… away from something? Jane: Yes, a horrible
green lizard on a skateboard (chase) 40…………………………………………. me. Jenny: That isn’t a lizard. That’s Trig,
an alien from Triglon. He’s very friendly. Jane: I (not care) 41………………………………… who he is. I (not like)
42……………………. him. I (usually / not talk) 43…………………………………. to aliens. Merton is a very strange
town. Jenny: Are you new here? Jane. Yes. I (live) 44…………………………….. in Kingsley, but my brother Ben and I
(stay) 45…………………………………… with my Aunt Sarah and my cousin Mike for a few months. I haven’t got any
friends here. Jenny: Well, I (go) 46………………………………….to the cinema with my brother tonight. Do you want to
come?
Jane: Yes, thanks. I (love) 47 …………………………. films. But, (Trig/come) ………………………………?

4. Detectives at work. Tom and Nick are watching the house across the street. Something strange is
happening. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple or the present continuous to make correct
sentences.
Tom: What (you / stare at) 48……………………………………………………? Nick: There’s a man at the Johnsons’
house. He (not live) 49 ……………………………..…. there. I wonder what he (do) 50………………………. Tom:
Perhaps he (visit) 51…………………………………….the Johnsons. Nick: No, they’re not at home. They both (work)
52………………………. in town. They (catch) 53……………………………….the same train as Dad every morning. It’s
strange. He (look) 54…………………………….. at the house very carefully. Tom: Now he (try) 55………………………
to open the gate, but it’s locked. Look! He (climb) 56…………………………………. over the garden wall. I can’t see
him now. Nick: Let’s follow him. I want to see what he (do) 57……………………………… Tom: He (go)
58…………………………………to the garage. He (carry) 59………………………………… a ladder. Now he (put)
60…………………………the ladder up to the bedroom window! Nick: He must be a burglar…. Hey! You! What (you/do)
61…………………………? Man: It’s all right, boys. I’m an insurance agent. I (examine) 62………………………………
the storm damage to the roof. The Johnsons (know) 63……………………………… that I’m here.

B. PAST SIMPLE OR PAST CONTINUOUS ?

5. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or Past Continuous
1. The police arrived while I 64________________ (have) breakfast.
2. The storm started while they 65_________________ (drive) home.
3. I saw an accident while I 66_________________ (wait) for the bus.
4. While I was taking a summer course in Italy, I 67_________________ (meet) many people.
5. Yesterday evening, my sister 68__________________ (receive) a letter while we 69______________________ (do)
the washing up.
6. Last Monday he 70 _________________ (mow) the lawn when the dog 71________________ (start) to bark.
7. My father 72_________________ (cook) the dinner when he 73________________ (burn) his finger.
8. She 74______________ (read) the newspaper while her husband 75______________________ (watch) TV.
9. We 76__________________ (have) a loud party when the neighbours 77______________________ (complain)
10. As we78 ________________ (drive) down the hill, a strange object 79__________________ (appear) in the sky.
11. While Laura 80_______________ (sit) in the garden, it suddenly 81______________________ (begin) to rain.
12. You 82_________________ (drive) past me when I 83___________________ (wait) for the bus.
13. I 84___________________ (lie) in the bath when the phone 85________________ (ring). It 86_________________
(stop) after a few rings.
14. When I 87__________________ (see) the man, he 88______________ (stand) outside the bank. He
89_________________ (have) a black baseball cap on.
15. We 90__________________ (go) to London yesterday, but on the way we 91_____________________ (hear)
about a bomb scare in Oxford Street. So we 92_________________ (drive) back home straightaway.

6. Put the verbs in brackets into the Simple Past or the Past Continuous Tense.
1.I lit the fire at 6.00 and it 93……………………………… (burn) brightly when Tom came in at 7.00.
2. When I arrived the lecture had already started and the professor 94………………………………….. (write) on the
blackboard.
3. I 95…………………………….. (make) coffee when the light went out. I had to finish it in the dark.
4. I didn’t want to meet Paul so when he entered the room I 96………………………… (leave).
5. My dog 97………………..………………. (walk) along quietly when Mr Pitt’s Pekinese attacked him.
6. He suddenly 98…………………………….. (realise) that he 99……………………………….. (travel) in the wrong
direction.
7. He 100…………………………….. (play) the guitar outside her house when someone opened the window and
101………………………… (throw) out a bucket of water.
8. I 102……………………………….. (just open) the letter when the wind 103 …………………………….. (blow) it out of
my hand.
9. When I 104………………………………….. (look for) my passport I 105……………………………. (find) this old
photograph.
10. You looked very busy when I saw you last night. What 106……….. …………………………… (you do)?
11. The boys107 ………………………………… (play) cards when they 108………………………………… (hear) their
father’s stop. They immediately 109………………………… (hide) the cards and 110…………………………………..
(take) out their lesson books.
12. He 111………………………….. (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind 112…………………..
…… (blow).
13. As I 113…………………………………. (cross) the road I 114…………………………… (step) on a banana skin and
115………………………………… (fall) heavily.
14. While he 116………………………………. (mend) the fuse he 117……………………………… (get) a very bad sock.
15. When I came in they 118…………………………….. (sit) round the fire. Mr Pitt 119……………………………… (do) a
crossword puzzle, Mrs Pitt 120……………………………….. (knit), the others 121……………………. ……………(read).
Mrs Pitt 122……………………….. (smile) at me and 123…………………………. (say), ‘Come and sit down’.

8. Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple or past continuous.

Levi Strauss (come) 124…………………………..from a small town in the south of Germany. When he (be)
125………….……………a young man, he (fall)126 …………..……….in love with the mayor’s daughter. But the mayor
and Levi’s parents (not want) 127…………………………them to marry. Levi’s parents (send) 128……………………him
away to New York where his brothers (live) 129………………………… . They (be) 130………………………… tailors
and they (teach) 131…………………………him to sew. In 1850, Levi (take) 132…………………………some sailcloth
from New York to San Francisco when he (meet) 133…………………………some men. They (dig) 134………………
for gold in the streams and rivers. The weather was bad, it (rain) 135………………….……… and the wind (blow)
136…………………………. The men were cold because they (wear) 137………………………… only thin trousers.
Suddenly Levi (have) 138…………………………an idea. He (use) 139………………………… the sailcloth which he
(transport) 140………………………… to make trousers for the men. Then he (sew) 141………………………… on
metal studs to make them stronger. The men (love) 142………………………… the trousers but they (not like)
143………………………… the yellow-grey colour. So when Levi (open) 144………………………… a tailor’s shop in
San Francisco, he (import) 145………………………… a special thick blue material from Nimes in France. That’s how
jeans (become) 146………………………… blue.

9. Read about Jane’s frightening experience. Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple
or the past continuous.
I (catch) 147…………………………the nine o’clock bus home last night. It (get) 148 ………………………..…..… dark
and it (rain) 149……….…………………… hard as well. When I (get off) 150………………………… the bus, there was
no one in the street, only an old man who (take) 151……………….…………… his dog for a walk. He (walk)
151……………………………… in the opposite direction. Suddenly, I (hear) 152………………………… footsteps
behind me. I (begin) 153………………………… to run but they (come) 154………………………… nearer and nearer.I
(run) 155………………………… faster and faster, and I (shake) 156………………………… with fright. I finally (reach)
157………………………… home, but just as I (put) 158…………………………the key in the door, I (feel)
159…………………………a hand on my shoulder. A man’s voice (say) 160 …………………………, ‘Excuse me Miss,
here’s your umbrella. You (leave) 161………………………… it on the bus’.

C. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR PAST SIMPLE?

10. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Simple Past tense.
1. Where is Tom? – I 162……………………………. (not see) him today, but he 163……………………. (tell) Mary that
he’d be in for dinner.
2. I 164…………………………. (buy) this in Bond Street. – How much 165……………………….. (you pay) for it.
3. - Where 166…………………………….. (you find) this knife?
– I 167………………………………. (find) it in the garden. – Why 168…………………………………..(you not leave) it
there?
4. - I 169………………………….. (lose) my gloves. 170…………………… ………………….. (you see) them anywhere?
- No, I am afraid I 171 ………………. . When 172………………….……… (you last wear) them?
- I 173……………………………… (wear) them at the theatre last night.
- Perhaps you 174…………………………. (leave) them at the theatre.
5. – He 175……………………………. (serve) in the First World War.
- When 176………………………….…. (that war begin)?
- It 177…………………………… (begin) in 1914 and 177……………….. (last) for four years.
6. - Who 178………………………………. (you vote) for at the last election? - I 179……………………………….. (vote) for
Mr Pitt. - He 180…………………………… (not elected), 181………………………. (be) he? - No, he
182………………………. (lose) his deposit.
7. - 183……………………………….. (you hear) his speech on the radio last night? - Yes, I 184……………. . What
185………………………. (you think) of it?
8. -186 …………………………………. (you see) today’s newspaper? - No, 187 ……………..…………………………….
(anything interesting happen)?
9. – How long 188………………………………….. (you be) unemployed? - I’m not out of work now. I
189………………………………… (just start) a new job.
10. I 190…………………………… (phone) you twice yesterday and 191……………………………. (get) no answer.

11. Put the verb in brackets in its correct tense:

-Nick: (you/see) 192……………………………....Ben?
-Tom: Yes, I (see) 193……………………………....him about ten minutes ago.
-Nick: Where (you/see) 194……………………………....him?
-Tom: In the park. He was arguing with Jason.
-Nick: Jason? But he’s twice as big as Ben. (you/ever/have) 195 …………………………….... an argument with him?
-Tom: I once (have) 196………………………....a fight with him and two other boys.
-Nick: (you/win) 197…………………………..……....?
-Tom: No, I (lose) 198…………………….... . But it (not be) 199……………………….... a fair fight.

Later…
-Nick: Ben! Are you all right? What (happen) 200……………………………....? You (tear) 201…………………………your
trousers and you (lose) 202…………………………….... all your buttons.
-Ben: Well, I (only/lose) 203……………………………....a few buttons, but Jason (lose) 204…………………….the fight.

12. Complete the letter with the present perfect simple or the past simple of the verbs in brackets.
Dear Jenny, I’m sorry I (not write) 205…………………………....for a long time. I (get) 206…………………………....
your last letter in July. A lot of things (happen) 207…………………………….... since then. In August we (go)
208…………………….... on holiday to Spain. It was great! I (never/have) 209……………………………....such a good
time. I (even/learn) 210…………………………….... a few words of Spanish. Only two bad things (happen)
211………………….... there. I (lose) 212 …………………….... my new camera, and my sister (fall)
213…………………….... off our hotel balcony and (land) 214…………………….... on a palm tree. She almost (destroy)
215…………………….... the poor tree. I (send) 216 ……………………….... you a postcard from Granada. (you/get)
217……………………………....it?
In September I (start) 218……………………....at my new school. I (already/make) 219……………………………....a lot
of new friends. One more bit of news: I (paint) 220…………………………….... my room bright orange! Mum and Dad
aren’t too happy, but my friends think it’s great.

Please, write soon.

Much Love.
13. Daring Dick, the stunt man. Nick is talking to Daring Dick, the stunt man. Complete the sentences with
the present perfect simple or the past simple of the verbs in brackets.
Nick: Dirk, how long (you/be) 221……………………………....a stunt man? Dirk: For about ten years now. Nick: And
how (you/become) 222…………………………….... a stunt man in the first place? Dirk: Well, that’s a long story. One
night about ten years ago, I (stop) 223……………………...a fight in a bar. Jake, who is now my boss, (see)
224……………………….... me in action and (offer) 225…………………….... me a job with his stunt team. I (take)
226…………………………….... it. Nick: (you/ever/jump) 227…………………………………....from a plane? Dirk: Yes,
lots of time. Hanging upside down from a plane is nothing special. Nick: (you/ever/have) 228………………………… a
serious accident? Dirk: Yes. Nick: When (it/happen) 229……………………….... and what (happen)
230………………………....? Dirk: Four years ago, I (jump)231 ………………….... off a building onto a trampoline. I
(miss) 232………………….... the trampoline. I break) 233…………………….... my nose, both arms and both legs.
Nick: What’s the most dangerous stunt you (ever/do) 234……………………………....? Dirk: I think it (be)
235……………………….... last year. I (drive) 236…………………….... a car over the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Nick: (you/ever/be) 237……………………………....married? Dirk: Only once. My wife (leave)
238…………………………….... me after only three months. She couldn’t stand the excitement.

14. REVISION TENSES: SIMPLE PRESENT, PRESENT CONTINUOUS, SIMPLE PAST,

PAST CONTINUOUS, PRESENT PERFECT, PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

1. Look! The train (come) 239………………………………… .

2. ‘What (you/do) 240 …………………………_?’ – ‘I (wait) 241…………………………… for the train’.
3. I must get back to the office. We (work) 242…………………… on a new project.
4. The number of cars on the road (increase) 243………………………………… .
5. The Earth (slowly/get) 244………………………………… warmer.
6. I (play) 245………………………………… badminton with Matthew tomorrow.
7. What (you/do) 246………………………………… next Saturday evening?’
8. I (usually/ get) 247………………………………… the lunch ready at one o’clock.
9. We (always / do) 248………………………………… our shopping at Greenway.
10. Most children (like)249 ………………………………… ice-cream.
11. It (get) 250………………………………… busy at weekends.
12. Sarah (never / catch) 251…………………………………the early train.
13. What (he/want) 252………………………………… ? – Money.
14. Mike (often / work) 253………………………………… late at the office.
15. I (hate) 254 ………………………………… quiz programmes.
16. We (play) 255………………………………… table tennis every Thursday.
17. It’s OK. I (understand) 256………………………………… your problem.
18. He’s hungry. He (want) 257………………………………… something to eat.
19. Claire is very sociable. She (know) 258…………………………… lots of people.
20. We’ve got plenty of chairs, thanks. We (not want) 259………………………………… any more.
21. What’s the matter? You (not look) 260………………………………… very happy.
22. It (rain) 261………………………………… at the moment.
23. It (always/rain) 262………………………………… at the weekend.
24. Look. That man (take) 263………………………………… a photo of you.
25. He’s a photographer. He (take) 264………………………………… lots of photos.
26. At the moment they (live) 265………………………………… in a very small flat.
27. I (work) 266………………………………… at a sports shop. It’s a permanent job.
28. I (always/make) 267………………………………… silly mistakes!
29. I (surf) 268 ………………………………… the Net most evenings.
30. Hi, Matthew. What (you/look at) 269………………………………… ?
31. The children (do) 270………………………………… their homework now.
32. Yesterday I saw an accident. It (happen) 271………………………………… very quickly. A van (crash) 272 ………
……………………..into a car.
33. I (post) 273………………………………… the letter yesterday.
34. It was amazing! My train (leave) 274………………………………… on time.
35. Two people (die) 275………………………………… in a fire in Ellis Street yesterday morning. The fire (start) 276
…………………………at 3.20 a.m.
36. I know you were in Paris. (You/have) 277………………………………… a nice weekend?
37. I (not be) 278………………………………… very well last week.
38. Where (your friend / be) 279………………………………… last night?
39. I had a wonderful dream last night. I (sit) 280…………………………… in a park. The sun (shine)
281……………………… and the birds (sing) 282…………………………… . Children (play) 283…………………………
and (laugh) 284……………………… . It (be) 285…………… very peaceful. I (not want ) 286………………………… to
wake up.
40. I (not dream 287…………………………………. I really was in New York City.
41. (Matthew/wait) 288………………………………… for you when you got there?
42. I (ring) 289 ………………………………… at about three yesterday afternoon, but you weren’t in.
43. While we (drive) 290………………………………… home last night, we (see) 291………………………………… a
strange object in the sky.
44. Yesterday morning while Laura (sit) 292………………………………… in the garden, it suddenly (begin)
293………………………………… to rain.
45. I saw you two days ago. You (drive) 294………………………………… past me while I (wait)
295………………………………… for the bus.
46. David (make) 296………………………………… lunch when the phone rang.
47. We were shocked! When we (see) 297………………………………… the spaceship, we (stop)
298………………………………… the car.
48. When he was carrying a suitcase, he (drop) 299……………………it in his foot.
49. He broke his leg while he (ski) 300………………………………… .
50. As he (run) 301………………………………… for a bus, he collided with a lamppost.
51. His hair (catch) 302……………………………… fire while he was cooking chips.
52. Vicky (have) 303………………………………… a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.
53. When Andrew saw the question, he (know ) 304………………………………… the answer immediately.
54. We (not like) 305 ………………………………… the food he gave us.
55. I (know) 306………………………………… that ages ago.
56. When martin arrived, Anna (talk) 307………………………………… to someone on the phone. Martin (start)
308………………………………… to get the tea.
57. I (lie) 309………………………………… in the bath when the phone rang.
58. It wasn’t cold when we (leave) 310………………………………… the house that day, and a light snow (fall)
311………………………………… .
59. When I saw the man, he (stand) 312…………………………… outside the bank.
60. When I opened the cupboard, a pile of books (fall) 313………………………………… out.
61. I was walking along the street when I suddenly (feel) 314………………………………… something hit me in the
back. I (not know) 315………………………………… what it was.
62. The aircraft (just / land) 316………………………………… .They (open) 317………………………………… the
doors.
63. I (already / make) 318………………………………… the shopping list.
64. The dishes are clean now. We (wash) 319………………………………… them.
65. There aren’t any eggs left. We (eat) 320…………………………… all the eggs.
66. I’m tired. I (walk) 321 ………………………………… ten miles.
67. Ann’s computer is working now. She (repair) 322 …………………………… it.
68. It’s cooler in here now. I (open) 323 ………………………………… the window.
69. The visitors are here at last. They (arrive) 324………………………………… .
70. We haven’t got any new videos. We (watch) 325 ……………………… all these.
71. It isn’t a good party. Most people (already/go) 326………………………………… home.
72. My brother (already/ crash) 327 ………………………………… his new car