EXERCISE I. Identify all the verb forms and phrases in the following text.
She turned and went quickly to the door, whence she saw him. Now she had only to confront
the feeling that would henceforth surround her like a wall… What surprised her most was
knowing that her father’s words had drawn from her a secret endorsement which had not
made the slightest inroad on her feeling for Wilfred. Was it true, then, that defects in the loved
one made him the dearer? That seemed borne out by the dislike one had for the too good
people in books. Her father had blacklisted him. (J. Galsworthy)
Group them under the following headings:
- simple forms; went, turned, saw,seemed, surprised, made
- analytical forms- had drawn, had not made, had blacklisted
- modal verb phrases - had to confront, would surround
- link verbs + predicative.was knowing, was true
EXERCISE II. Distinguish in meaning between the following:
1. The house stood (has stood) twenty years. Stood - there is no house in the , has stood-it is still
there
2. The messenger came (has come). He came and went away, has come-he is still here
3. He should stay (have stayed). stay-present, have stayed-past. condition
4. It rained (has rained) for two weeks.rained-it doesn’t rain anymore after 2 weeks of raining ,
has rained-it is still raining
5. He was believed to live (to have lived) a happy life. Believed -he is still alive, to have lived-
he might be dead
EXERCISE III. Which of the italicized forms is right?
1. Where did you say Pike's Peak _was_ ?
2. I intended _to do_ it yesterday.
3. Atlas _is_ a mythical giant who was supposed _to hold_ the sky on his shoulders.
4. I do not think that anyone would say that winter _is_ preferable to spring.
5. Cadmus was supposed _to build Thebes.
6. Your father grieves _to hear_ of your bad conduct.
7. Would he have been willing _to go_ with you?
8. I meant to write yesterday.
9. He tried to learn how far it _is_ from New York to Syracuse.
10. He hardly knew that two and two _make_ four.
EXERCISE IV. Examine the tenses in the following sentences, explain any errors which you
find, and correct them:
1. I knew him since boyhood. I have known him since boyhood./I still know him/
2. It was a superstition among the Mexicans that a bullet will not kill a man unless it has his
name stamped on it. It is…/they still believe in this/
3. Being absent from the last recitation, I am unable to write on the subject assigned this
morning…..I was unable /time-morning/
4. Soon after Oliver reached home a servant announces the presence of Charles. Had eached,
Announced –both actions are in the past
5. "'Got any luck?' says I. 'No,' says he. 'Well,' says I, 'I've got the finest string of trout ever
was seen.'" I said, He said, I said. Ever seen
6. Be virtuous and you would be happy. Will be happy-First conditional
7. Stackhouse believed that he solved the problem he had so long studied over, and yesterday
afternoon he started from his house, No. 2446 North Tenth Street, to make a test. Had solved
8. This beautiful little bird that appears !appeared! to the king and tries !tried! to warn him,
was not an ordinary bird.
9. Next September I shall be at school three years. I shall have been at school for three years
10. I know very little about the "Arabian Nights," for I have never read any of the stories
before I came to this school. .....I had never read any of.....
EXERCISE V.
Use an appropriate verb phrase:
1. Whenever I (see) him he (try) to pull my leg. Whenever I see him he tries to pull my leg.
2. How long it (take) one to wash in the morning? How long does it take one to wash in
the morning?
3. They always (get) in the way. They will always get in the way.
4. On such evenings he (smoke) on the verandah.On such evenings he smokes on the
verandah.
5. He’s such an eager beaver that he never (sit) for an exam without having prepared for
it thoroughly. sits
6. He (come in) at night and (sit down) without uttering a word. He came in at night and
sat down without uttering a word.
7. When we were only acquaintances you let me be myself, but now you always (protect)
me. .....You always protect me
8. I (realize) it more and more when I (listen) to what he (say).I realize it more and more
when I listen to what he says.
9. I’ve chased a few women, but I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before. I (be)
glad if they (like) me. I (be prepared) to pay for my fun and when they (get) tired I
(send) them away.
I was glad if they liked me. I was prepared to pay for my fun and when they got tired I
sent them away.
10. If you don’t mind me asking, after the little talks we (have) when you (be) lonely and I
(try) to cheer you up … I was wondering if you intended to get married again. After
the little talks we had when you were lonely and I was trying to cheer you up.
EXERCISE VI. Put the verbs in brackets in the past tense, the present perfect or the present
perfect progressive:
1. I (do) my homework and then I (go out).I did my homework and then I went out.
2. I (do) my homework: now I can go out.I’ve done my homework now I can go out.
3. You (spend) all the money? Have you spent all the money?
4. You (spend) all the money yesterday? Did you spend all the money yesterday?
5. “Is Mr. Smith in?” – “I’m sorry, he just (leave) the house.”He has just left the house.
6. You (hear) my concert last night? Did you hear my concert last night?
7. You ever (hear) such nonsense?Have you ever heard such nonsense?
8. I (not be) able to do much work this month. I (be away) the first half and only (come
back) last week.I haven’t been able to do much work this month. I was away the first
half and only came back last week.
9. When you (be) born? When were you born?
10. He (live) in this country since he (be born).He has lived in this country since he was
born.
EXERCISE VII. Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple tense, the present perfect or the
present simple. Note that in some cases more than one form is accessible.
1. Your friend (go) home. He said he couldn’t wait any longer.Your friend has gone home.
2. All my money (go), and the documents and the keys to the flat. You (report) the theft
to the police.All my money has gone. Have you reported?
3. I (live) in London for the last ten years. I have been living in.....
4. So far I (be pleased) with the way things are going. So far I have been pleased
5. This is the first time I (be) late. .....I have been late
