Verb Tenses
Complete the passage with the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Perfect, Past Perfect or Past Simple.
In 2012, Scottish fishing boat captain Andrew Leaper ... (discover) a message in a bottle. Another Scottish captain, C.H. Brown, ... (throw) it into the sea 97 years earlier.
In 2012, Scottish fishing boat captain Andrew Leaper discovered a message in a bottle. Another Scottish captain, C.H. Brown, had thrown it into the sea 97 years earlier.
Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using 'that' or 'who' and a relative clause:
She worked for a man (the man used to be an athlete)
She loves books (the books have happy endings)
The man is in the garden (the man is wearing a blue jumper)
She worked for a man who used to be an athlete
She loves books that have happy endings
The man who is wearing a blue jumper is in the garden
What is the difference between Past Simple and Past Perfect? How do they relate? Give an example.
These two tenses are both used to talk about things that happened in the past. However, we use past perfect to talk about something that happened before another action in the past, which is usually expressed by the past simple.
eg The plane they were supposed to take on that day had been cancelled by the airline
Re-write these sentences in the passive form:
Somebody speaks English here.
Somebody will meet you at the airport.
Somebody often steals cars.
English is spoken here.
You will be met at the airport.
Cars are often stolen.
Choose the correct word
1 an embarrassed / embarrassing mistake
2 a frightened / frightening idea
3 a thrilled / thrilling audience
4 a frustrated / frustrating puzzle
5 a discouraged / discouraging student
6 a shocked / shocking scene
7 a confused / confusing map
8 a terrified / terrifying child
1 embarrassing
2 frightening
3 thrilled
4 frustrating
5 discouraged
6 shocking
7 confusing
8 terrified
Complete the sentences with the verbs below.
Live - not work - try - wait - study - rain
1 Sorry I'm late! ... you ... for a long time?
2 It ... all day. I wish it would stop!
3 How long ... you ... English?
4 John ... in New York since 2010.
5 I ... to call Yvonne for hours.
6 My phone ... properly since I dropped it.
1 Have ... been waiting
2 has been raining
3 have ... been studying
4 has lived / has been living
5 have been trying
6 hasn't been working
Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using a relative clause. Use 'that' or no pronoun:
She bought the computer (her brother had recommended the computer)
John met a girl (I used to employ the girl)
The car was stolen (my father gave me the car)
She bought the computer (that) her brother had recommended
John met a girl I used to employ
The car my father gave me was stolen
Natalie's dad is president of the university's golf club (Nathalie is a cheerleader)
My mum was born in New Delhi (the capital of India is New Delhi)
Sophie and her friends decided to go on vacations in Sydney (they met for the first time in Sydney)
Nathalie, whose dad is president of the university's gold club, is a cheerleader
My mum was born in New Delhi, which is the capital of India
Sophie and her friends decided to go on vacations in Sydney, where they met for the first time
Re-write these sentences in the passive form:
I don't like people seeing me in my pyjamas.
Somebody has turned on the air conditioning.
I understand that someone fired John.
I understand that John was fired.
I don't like being seen in my pyjamas.
The air conditioning has been turned on
I understand that John was fired.
VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE
Combine 1 2
3 Development 4
--- Complexity 6
--- Seriousness 8
9 Description 10
VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE
Combine Combination Combined
Develop Development Developed
--- Complexity Complex
--- Seriousness Serious
Describe Description Descriptive
Complete the passage with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
... (you / ever / consider) putting a message in a bottle and throwing it into the ocean? Thousands of people ... (do) this, not knowing when or where their message ... (find)
Have you ever considered putting a message in a bottle and throwing it into the ocean? Thousands of people have done this, not knowing when or where their message will be found
Add the phrase in brackets to the sentence using a relative clause. If it's possible, you should drop the relative pronoun:
The police arrested the man (I saw the man steal a handbag)
We had fish and chips (I always enjoy fish and chips)
This is George (you met George at our house last year)
The police arrested the man I saw steal a handbag
We had fish and chips, which I always enjoy.
This is George, who you met at our house last year.
Use the expressions below to complete these sentences. Make any necessary changes.
someone company - face - your breath - someone's life - a promise - a diary
1 He's embarrassed, so he's lying to ...
2 ... It's no use trying to convince him you're right
3 My sister ... for years, but she won't let me read it
4 This app will help you ... everything you eat
5 It's a good thing I had an extra phone battery - it ...!
6 I'd rather not go alone. Would you...?
1 He's embarrassed, so he's lying to save face
2 Save your breath. It's no use trying to convince him you're right
3 My sister has been keeping a diary for years, but she won't let me read it
4 This app will help you keep track of everything you eat
5 It's a good thing I had an extra phone battery - it saved the day!
6 I'd rather not go alone. Would you keep me company?
Re-write these sentences in the passive form:
The boss showed the new computer to Anna (start with 'Anna').
It seems that someone lost the papers.
The traffic might have delayed Jimmy.
Jimmy might have been delayed by the traffic.
Anna was shown the new computer (by the boss)
It seems that the papers were lost.
Jimmy might have been delayed by the traffic
Complete the sentences. Use keep or save and the expressions below.
awake - you waiting - me posted - the day - your breath - ourselves the trouble - to himself - her life
1 Our chances of winning the match are really bad, but maybe the new player will ...
2 Paul isn't very sociable. He likes to ...
3 The show was so boring. I couldn't ...
4 Here I am! Sorry to ...!
5 It's no use arguing with him. You can ...
6 If there's any news, please ...
7 The woman is seriously injured. Can the doctors ...?
8 Let's buy a cake and ... of baking one
1 save the day
2 keep to himself
3 keep awake
4 keep you waiting
5 save your breath
6 keep me posted
7 save her life
8 save ourselves the trouble
Write sentences that logically follow the first sentence using the words given. Use the Future Perfect Simple or Future Continuous.
1 I can't fly your drone with you on Sunday. I / study / for an exam
2 I'd like to go on holiday with my family in March. Hopefully, I / finish / my robotics project / before then
3 Can you help me cook for the party this evening? I / make / the dessert / on our 3D printer
1 I will be studying for an exam
2 Hopefully, I will have finished my robotics project before then
3 I'll be making the dessert on our 3D printer
This is Laura’s brother (I used to go to school with Laura's brother)
We can't find the chainsaw (we cut all the wood up with the chainsaw)
I had an English teacher (her children kept calling her when she was in class)
This is Laura’s brother, with whom I went to school.
We can't find the chainsaw that we cut all the wood up with.
I had an English teacher whose children kept calling when she was in class.
Write sentence that logically follow the first sentence using the words given. Use the Future Perfect Simple or Future Continuous.
1 Mum's phone isn't working. She / not answer / messages / until it's repaired
2 People our age will never get old. By the time we're 60, / they / invent / a cure for old age
3 Janice will probably start working in July. By then, she / complete / her engineering degree
1 She won't be answering messages until it's repaired
2 By the time we're 60, they will have invented a cure for old age
3 By then, she will have completed her engineering degree
She hates people laughing at her.
Lucy threw the ball to the child (start with 'the child').
Somebody must have taken my wallet.
She hates being laughed at.
The child was thrown the ball (by Lucy).
My wallet must have been taken.
Complete the sentences with the words and expressions below:
show you around - make the best of it - odd jobs - go broke - charge - queue
1 There's often a long ... in front of this shop
2 Would you like me to ... the neighbourhood?
3 Jack makes a lot of money doing ...
4 If you keep spending like that, you're going to...!
5 It's disappointing, but we'll have to ...
6 How much does your dentist ... for an X-ray?
1 queue
2 show you around
3 odd jobs
4 go broke
5 make the best of it
6 charge
Complete the passage with the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple or Past Continuous.
... you ... (know) what life was like before mobile phones were invented? How ... people ... (manage) in those days? Of course, they ... (not carry) their phones with them, and they couldn't make calls from their cars or while they ... (wait) for a bus.
All that ... (change) in 1973, when Martin Cooper, the inventor of the mobile phone, ... (stand) outside his New York office building to make the first mobile phone call in history. He still ... (remember) how amazed New Yorkers were because he ... (talk) on the phone and walking down the street at the same time!
By the way, ... you ... (plan) to buy a new phone? You certainly wouldn't want Martin's. It ... (weigh) over a kilo and its battery ... only 30 minutes!
Do you know what life was like before mobile phones were invented? How did people manage in those days? Of course, they didn't carry their phones with them, and they couldn't make calls from their cars or while they were waiting for a bus.
All that changed in 1973, when Martin Cooper, the inventor of the mobile phone, stood outside his New York office building to make the first mobile phone call in history. He still remembers how amazed New Yorkers were because he was talking on the phone and walking down the street at the same time!
By the way, are you planning to buy a new phone? You certainly wouldn't want Martin's. It weighed over a kilo and its battery lasted only 30 minutes!
She has three brothers (two of her brothers are in the army)
I read three books last week (one of the three books I read I really enjoyed)
There were some good programmes on the radio (I didn't listen to any of these programmes)
I had an uncle in Germany (I inherited a bit of money from my uncle in Germany)
She has three brothers, two of whom are in the army.
I read three books last week, one of which I really enjoyed.
There were some good programmes on the radio, none of which I listened to.
I had an uncle in Germany, from who(m) I inherited a bit of money OR I had an uncle in Germany who(m) I inherited a bit of money from.
Correct the mistakes in these sentences:
1 My best friend will has designed his robot by the end of the week
2 We'll be competing and be cooperating with other teams
3 After taking this course, will have you learnt a lot about robotics?
4 In five years' time, fast-food chains are delivering orders with drones
5 By 2020, robot fights will haven't become popular in my country
1 My best friend will have designed his robot by the end of the week
2 We'll be competing and cooperating with other teams
3 After taking this course, will you have learnt a lot about robotics?
4 In five years' time, fast-food chains will be delivering orders with drones
5 By 2020, robot fights won't have become popular in my country
Re-write these sentences in the passive form:
I like someone looking after me when I'm ill.
I hope someone will examine me soon.
He thinks that someone is teasing Lucy.
I like being looked after when I'm ill.
I hope to be examined soon.
He thinks that Lucy is being teased.
Write a short text using these words and expressions:
abroad - confident - expand your horizons - nightlife - hang out - curious - last a lifetime - fluent
Eg If you are curious and would like to get fluent in a new language, you should consider studying abroad! You don't have to be into hanging out and having a busy nightlife, you just need to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and expand your horizons! You would develop many assets that would last a lifetime, such as independence and confidence.