VERBS


·        The verb signals an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Whether mental, physical, or mechanical, verbs always express activity.

PHYSICAL VERBS

·        Physical verbs are action verbs. They describe specific physical actions. If you can create a motion with your body or use a tool to complete an action, the word you use to describe it is most likely a physical verb.

·        Let’s run to the corner and back.

·        I hear the train coming.

·        Call me when you’re finished with class.

MENTAL VERBS

·        Mental verbs have meanings that are related to concepts such as discovering, understanding, thinking, or planning. In general, a mental verb refers to a cognitive state.

 

·        I know the answer.

·        She recognized me from across the room.

·        Do you believe everything people tell you?

 

STATES OF BEING VERBS      

Also known as linking verbs, state of being verbs describe conditions or situations that exist. State of being verbs are inactive since no action is being performed. These verbs are usually complemented by adjectives.

·        I am a student.

·        We are circus performers.

·        The police is quiet.

 

TYPES OF VERBS

ACTION VERBS

ACTION VERBS ARE VERBS THAT EXPRESS ACTION

 

TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

·        This means that some are used with a direct object (the person or thing that receives the action of the subject) and others don’t need a direct object. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meaning.

·        Ex:

·        Transitive Verb – Joe will send the price quote as soon as he can.

·        Intransitive Verb – Many of the students are not well. They coughed throughout the lesson.


TRANSITIVE VERBS

TRANSITIVE VERBS ALWAYS RECEIVE A DIRECT OBJECT

·        Here’s a list of some common transitive verbs that must be followed by a direct object:

bring       send  owe   contain        buy    show take   tell

verify     check get     wash finalize        annoy lay     lend

offer       edit    make phone

·        Richard annoys his boss so much that he’ll never get a promotion.

(His boss is the direct object of annoys and a promotion is the direct object of get)

·        Jenna brings Mrs. Smith lunch every day.

(Lunch is the direct object of brings. Jenna is the subject.)

 

INTRANSITIVE VERBS

INTRANSITIVE VERBS DO NOT NEED A DIRECT OBJECT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THEIR MEANING. MANY ARE FOLLOWED BY AN ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, PREPOSITION OR VERB COMPLEMENT (GERUND OR INFINITIVE).

Here is a list of common intransitive verbs:

Come     explode       laugh sit      rise    excel  respond       run

cough     swim           emigrate      smile act     cry     immigrate   lie

arrive     continue      die     go

 

MANY VERBS CAN BE BOTH TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE DEPENDING ON THEIR MEANINGS.

·        Jamie set the documents down on the CEO’s desk.

(Transitive: The documents are the direct object to the verb: set.)

·        The sun set low over the Pacific Ocean.

(Intransitive: Low is an adverb. Set doesn’t need a direct object.)

·        Ms. Tyson manages the accounting department.

(Transitive: The accounting department is the direct object to the verb: manage.)

·        Here is a list of several verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive depending on their meanings:

 

Set leave  give   study sit      manage       stop  go

Grow     smell dance sing   write  climb run   pay

Teach     burn  eat     paint  drive  check         cost  improve

 

DECIDE WHETHER THE FOLLOWING VERBS ARE TRANSITIVE, INTRANSITIVE OR BOTH:

The workmen have been painting for hours.

When they call from the charity, Mrs. Alpert always gives generously.

Before you send the proposal, make sure you edit it carefully.

That perfume smells nice.

My new car costs me a small fortune.

 

AUXILIARY VERBS

USED TOGETHER WITH A MAIN VERB TO SHOW THE VERB’S TENSE OR TO FORM A NEGATIVE OR QUESTION. THE MOST COMMON AUXILIARY VERBS ARE HAVE, BE, AND DO.

 

EXAMPLES

·        Does Sam write all his own reports?

·        The secretaries haven’t written all the letters yet.

·        Terry is writing an e-mail to a client at the moment.

 

HAVE

·        Have” is a very important verb that can stand alone in all its tenses, including has, have, having, had, and hadn’t or had not. It is usually used to denote ownership, and it can also be used to discuss ability or describe appearance. “Have” is also a very popular substitute for the verbs “eat” and “drink.” For example: “Let’s have dinner.

EXAMPLES

·        Jerry has a large coffee stain on his shirt. → Has = action verb

·        Jerry has bought a new shirt to replace the one that was ruined earlier. → Has = auxiliary verb; bought is a past participle that competes the verb phrase.

·        Jerry should have been more careful! → Have = auxiliary verb; phrase “should have been” expresses time and evaluates Jerry’s actions.

DO

·        “Do” can be used as an action verb that stands alone in all its tenses, including to do, do, does, done, did and didn’t, doesn’t or did not .

·        When used as an auxiliary verb, do is always paired up with another verb to create a complete verb phrase.

EXAMPLES

·        Because he spills things so often, Jerry does more laundry than most people.  Does = action verb

·        Jerry didn’t put his coffee in a cup with a lid.  Didn’t = auxiliary verb

·        Jerry doesn’t always spill things, but it happens a lot.  Doesn’t = auxiliary verb

BE

·        “Be” or “to be” is an important verb that has a multitude of uses in English. It can be used as an action verb that stands alone in all its tenses including be, to be, been, am, are, is, was, were, wasn’t, was not aren’t, are not, weren’t and were not.

·        When used as an auxiliary verb, be is always paired with another verb to create a complete verb phrase. It can be singular or plural, present or past. Negative sentences are formed by adding the word “not”

 

EXAMPLES

·        Jerry is messy.  Is = linking verb

·        Although he is always complaining about his accidents, Jerry fails to pay attention.  is = auxiliary verb

·        Jerry is doing extra laundry for the rest of his life.  is= auxiliary verb

 

EXERCISES

·        What ________________ the kids doing when you last saw them? (was, were, are, did, been)

·        Carla ________________ always wanted to try skydiving. (was, doesn’t, has, is, have)

·        Where __________________ you go on your summer vacation? (were, been, are, did, does)

 

MODAL VERBS

A MODAL IS A TYPE OF AUXILIARY (HELPING) VERB THAT IS USED TO EXPRESS: ABILITY, POSSIBILITY, PERMISSION OR OBLIGATION. MODAL PHRASES (OR SEMI-MODALS) ARE USED TO EXPRESS THE SAME THINGS AS MODALS, BUT ARE A COMBINATION OF AUXILIARY VERBS AND THE PREPOSITION TO.

·        The modals and semi-modals in English are:

Can/could/be able to

May/might

Shall/should

Must/have to

Will/would

 

CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO

Ability/Lack of Ability

·        Present and Future:

can/can’t + base form of the verb

·        Tom can write poetry very well.

·        I can help you with that next week.

·        Lisa can’t speak French.

am / is / are / will be + able to + base form of the verb

am not/ isn’t / aren’t/ won’t be + able to + base form of the verb

·        Mike is able to solve complicated math equations

·        The support team will be able to help you in about ten minutes.

·        I won’t be able to visit you next summer.

 

·        PAST

could / couldn’t + base form of the verb

When I was a child I could climb trees.

 

was / were + able to + base form of the verb

wasn’t / weren’t + able to + base form of the verb

hasn’t / haven’t + been able to + base form of the verb

 

I wasn’t able to visit her in the hospital.

He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the client yet.

 

Note: Can and could do not take an infinitive (to verb) and do not take the future auxiliary will.

·        Incorrect: I can to help you this afternoon.

·        Correct: I can help you this afternoon.

·        Correct: I will (I’ll) be able to help you this afternoon.

 

Possibility / Impossibility

can / can’t + base form of the verb

You can catch that train at 10:43.

He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.

could + base form of the verb

I could fly via Amsterdam if I leave the day before.

 

Ask Permission / Give Permission

Can + Subject + base form of the verb (informal)

·        Can you lend me ten dollars?

Can + base form of the verb (informal)

·        You can borrow my car.

Could + subject + base form of the verb (polite)

·        Could I have your number?

·        Could I talk to your supervisor please?

 

Make a suggestion – To make a suggestion use:

Could + base form of the verb (informal)

You could take the tour of the castle tomorrow.

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT FORM OF CAN, COULD OR BE ABLE TO AS IN THE EXAMPLES.

 

1.     _____ Tony run long distances when he was a boy?

2.     ______ you please call a tow truck for me? My car broke down. (polite)

3.     The students _______ to buy their textbooks today. The bookstore is all out of them.

4.     ______ you teach me how to fix my computer? You’re so good at it.

5.     ______ you ______ reach the customer if you call him at 4:00 his time?

 

MAY/MIGHT

Formal Permission / Formal Prohibition

may / may not + base form of the verb

You may start your exam now.

You may not wear sandals to work

Polite Request

May + subject + base form of the verb

May I help you?

Possibility / Negative Possibility

may/ might + base form of the verb

We may go out dinner tonight. Do you want to join us?

Our company might get the order if the client agrees to the price.

may not / might not + base form of the verb

Adam and Sue may not buy that house. It’s very expensive.

They might not buy a house at all.

To Make a Suggestion (when there is no better alternative)

may as well / might as well + base form of the verb

·        You may as well come inside. John will be home soon.

·        We might as well take Friday off. There’s no work to be done anyway.

Polite Suggestion

might + base form of the verb

You might like to try the salmon fillet. It’s our special today.

EXERCISES

·        They ______ finish the project on time. The main engineer is ill.

·        You _____ want to stop by the museum gift shop on your way out.

·        _____ I have your autograph?

·        He _______ visit the Louvre. He’s in Paris anyway.

·        You ______ park your car here. It’s reserved for guests of the hotel only.

IRREGULAR VERBS

·        Irregular verbs are verbs that don’t take on the regular –d, -ed, or -ied spelling patterns of the past simple (V2) or past participle (V3). Many of the irregular V2 and V3 forms are the same, such as: cut – cut, had – had, let – let, hurt – hurt, fed- fed, sold-sold

 

MOST OFTEN USED IRREGULAR VERBS

·        Go

·        Get

·        Say

·        See

·        Think

·        Make

·        Take

·        Come

·        Know

 

EXAMPLES

 

·        Go get your brother. It’s time to eat dinner.→ In this example, all three irregular verbs (go, get, and eat) are in base form.

·        I want to build a sand castle like the one we built last year.→ In this example, the irregular verb build is in base form. The irregular verb built is the past simple form of “build”. When you look at the complete list of examples, you’ll notice that built is also the past participle of the irregular verb “build”.

·        He bet me that I couldn’t run five miles without stopping. I proved him wrong; I ran seven miles before I had to catch my breath.→ In this example, bet is a past simple form. When you look at the complete list, you will see that all three forms of “bet” are the same. Next, in the same sentence, the irregular verb run is in base form. In the next sentence, ran is the past simple form of “run” and had is the past simple form of “have.” Meanwhile, catch is base form.

·        I awoke to find that a spider had bitten me. Although the wound didn’t bleed, it itched terribly.→ In this example, the irregular verb awoke is the past simple form of “awake.” Bitten is past participle form of “bite” and bleed is base form.

·        Let’s drink some of this lemonade. I drank some yesterday and found it delicious.→ In this example, the irregular verb drink is in base form. Drank is the past simple form of “drink,” and found is the past simple form of “find.”

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE BLANK SPACES WITH THE CORRECT IRREGULAR VERB

·         My dog jumped out of the swimming pool and _____________ himself, causing water to spray everywhere. (shake, shook, shaken)

· You should have ______________ Trish’s face when she got her surprise. (saw, had seen, seen)

· We _____________ the whole day lounging on the beach. (spend, spent, had spend)

· Let’s _____________ a hike on Saturday. (take, took, taken)

· My brother Mike ______________ his stinky socks on the coffee table. (leave, left, leaving)

·         This is the ninth time that pitcher has _____________ a foul ball (throw, threw, thrown)

·         The water balloon _____________ when it hit its target. (burst, busted, broken)

·         Jesse intentionally ______________ gum in Jeff’s hair. (stick, stuck, sticky)

VERB TENSES

 

PAST

PRESENT

FURURE

SIMPLE

I ate pizza yesterday

I eat pizza everyday.

I will eat pizza tomorrow.

CONTINUOUS

(PROGRESSIVE)

I was eating pizza when you arrived.

I am eating pizza right now.

I will be eating pizza when you arrive.

PERFECT

I had eaten all of the pizza when you arrived

I have eaten all of the pizza.

I will have eaten all the pizza by the time you arrive.

PERFECT CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE)

I had been eating pizza for 2 hours when you arrived.

I have been eating pizza for 2 hours.

I will have been eating pizza for 2 hours when you arrive

SIMPLE TENSES

SIMPLE PRESENT

·        It uses the verb’s base form

·        It indicates that an action is present, now. (I walk to school everyday)

It is used to describe actions that are factual or habitual – things that occur in the present but that are not necessarily happening right now.

 

It rains a lot in Baguio.

I use my bike to get around town.

·        It is also used to describe events that are scheduled (whether by nature or by people).

Ex: High tide is at 3:15pm.

The UAAP Volleyball championship starts at 6:15pm.

·        Present tense habitual activities are frequently signaled by time expressions such as the following:

All the time                                   Never                             Usually

Always                               Often

Every (day, hour, time)                 Rarely

Most of the time                            Sometimes

EXERCISE

Instructions: Put in the correct verb forms

1.     Andy __________ the family car. (to wash)

2.     Every morning my mother ___________ at 6 o’clock. (to get up)

3.     Mr. Black _____________ email in the morning. (to write)

4.     The girls _____________ shopping. (to do)

5.     Mandy and Susan __________ films every weekend. (to watch)

6.     Jill _______________ two children. (to have)

7.     I often ____________ to the cinema. (to go)

8.     She ______________ to Menorca this summer. (to fly)

9.     Peter ____________ emails. (not / to write)

10. _________ you ____________ English? (to speak)

 

EXERCISE

Instructions: Form questions in the Simple Present

Ex: Frank / to read / comics = Does Frank read comics?

1.     What / they / to eat / breakfast

2.     When / his mom / to come / home

3.     Marie and Joe / to like / homework

4.     How/Linda / to go / to the park

 

SIMPLE PAST

It indicates that an action is in the past relative to the speaker or writer.

We went to Chicago last Christmas.

We visited mom last week

I worked with FBI for two months.

EXERCISE

Instructions: Complete the exercises with the verbs inside the box.

1.     Mozart _____ more than 600 pieces of music.

2.     “How did you learn to drive?” My father _________ me.

3.     We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we _________ it.

4.     I was very thirsty. I _____ the water quickly.

5.     Paul and I played tennis yesterday. He’s much better than me so he _____.

6.     Don _________ down the stairs this morning and ______ his leg.

7.     Jim ______ the ball to Sue, who _______ it.

8.     Ann ______ a lot of money yesterday. She ______ a dress. It _____ 100 dollars.

 

SIMPLE FUTURE

·        It indicates that an action is in the future relative to the speaker or writer. It employs will/shall + base form of the verb.

She will leave soon.

We shall overcome the trials.

 

EXERCISE

Instructions: Fill in the correct answer on the space provided.

1.     I _______ (help) you with your homework.

2.     She _______ (be) here very soon.

3.     It _______ (be) very hot this summer.

4.     Ashley ________ (stay) at home tonight.

5.     Ralf ____ (pay) for it.

6.     We _______ (return) as soon as possible.

 

CONTINUOUS OR PROGRESSIVE TENSES

(BE + -ING)

·        The progressive form is a verb tense used to show an ongoing action in progress at some point in time. It shows an action still in progress.

 

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

It indicates continuing action, something going on NOW.  This tense is formed with helping verb (is,are) + -ing.

Ex: He is washing the dishes.

 

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

It can also indicate a future action that is going to happen especially with verbs that convey the idea of a plan or of movement from one place or condition to another.

 

Ex:

He is moving to Siargao this summer.

He is arriving in two hours.

 

EXERCISE

Instructions: Fill in the correct answer on the space provided.

1.     His dad and brother ________ (cycle) to the shops.

2.     We ______ (not travel) to Japan.

3.     I ______ (sunbathe) on the beach.

4.     She ______ (not watch) TV.

5.     Sue ________ (stay) at home today.

6.     They _______ (not swim) in the sea.

7.     My favorite team ____________ (win).

 

EXERCISE

Instructions: Write the questions and the short answers.

1.     Your dad/ work/ today

Question: ___________________________

Yes, _______________________________.

 

2.     You/ have a good time/ on holiday

Question: __________________________

Yes, _______________________________

 

EXERCISE

Instructions:  Complete the dialogue.

1.     I’m going on a holiday.

Where ___________________________?

2.     He’s cooking dinner.

What ____________________________?

3.     My sister is going to England?

Who ____________________________?

 

PAST PROGRESSIVE

·        It indicates continuing action, something that was happening, going on, at some point in the past. This tense is formed with the helping verb (was,were) + -ing.

 

Ex: I was riding my bike all day yesterday.

Joel was being a terrible role model for his younger brother.

 

PAST PROGRESSIVE

·        It indicates a limited duration of time and is thus a convenient way to indicate that something took place (in the simple past) while something else was happening.

 

Ex: Carlos lost his watch while he was running.

 

·        It also expresses incomplete action.

 

Ex: I was sleeping on the couch when Barbie smashed through the door.

 

·        It is also used to poke fun at or criticize an action that is sporadic but habitual in nature.

 

Ex: My father was always lecturing my brother.

 

EXERCISE 1

CONVERT THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE.

 

1.     We went to the mall last night.

2.     She is talking to the police officer.

3.     Margo and Anika did not ride a bus on their way home.

4.     My mom rocks the baby to sleep.

5.     We will try to get five gold medals in Olympics.

 

EXERCISE 1

WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB ON THE SPACE PROVIDED.

 

1.     I _________ (buy) a new bicycle when you called me last night.

2.     Jon ________ (listen) to a CD an hour ago.

3.     The four of us _____ (swim) in the lake yesterday.

4.     I _________ (sing) in the car this morning.

5.     My brother __________ (to be) mean last night.

 

FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

It indicates continuing action, something that will be happening, going on, at some point in the future. This tense is formed with the modal (will/shall) + be + -ing.

 

Ex: I will be running in next year’s Supreme Student Council election.

 

Our campaign plans suggest that the President will be winning the Education vote by March.

 

EXERCISES

1.     Peggy ____ (to come) to the party on Saturday.

2.     We ______ (to meet) him tomorrow.

3.     This time next week he _______ (to fly) to South Africa.

4.     At 6 o’clock on Friday, they _____ (to sing) the new song.

5.     It _________ (to rain/probably) when I reach Bangkok.

 

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE PROGRESSIVE TENSES  EXERCISE

1.     Our youth ______ (hike) to the waterfalls this weekend.

2.     We ____________ (camp) overnight too!

3.     I ____________ (bring) marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars.

4.     Our group leaders ___________ (plan) this trip for months.

5.     I ____________ (shop) just for the right gear last night.

 

PERFECT TENSES

·        The perfect form of the verb tense is used to indicate a completed, or “perfected” action or condition.  This tense if formed with has/have + past participle of the verb.

·        It indicates either that an action was completed or perfected at some point in the past or that action extends to the present.

·        I have walked two miles already.

·        I have run the Milo Marathon.

·        The critics have praised the film Saving Private Ryan since it came out.

 

SIMPLE PAST VS PRESENT PERFECT

·        The choice between Simple Past vs Present Perfect is often determined by the adverb accompanying the verb.

 

If adverbs refer to period gone by, use simple past.

Ex: I studied all night/yesterday/on Wednesday.

With adverbs beginning in the past and going up to present, we would use the present perfect tense.

Ex: I have studied up to now/lately/already.

Use Present Perfect when reporting or announcing an event of the recent past.

Ex: The company’s CEO has lied repeatedly to her employees.

 

Use Simple Past when reporting or announcing an events of the finished, more distant past.

Ex: Duterte encouraged his policemen to uphold the rule of law.

 

EXERCISES

CREATE A POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, AND QUESTION STATEMENT FROM THE GIVEN ITEMS.

1.     She/ go/ to the library today

2.     You/ keep/ a pet for three years

3.     You/ eat/ Thai food before

4.     It/ rain/ all day

5.     We/ hear/ that song already

 

PAST PERFECT TENSE

·        It indicates that an action was completed at some point in the past before something else happened. This tense is formed with the past tense form had + past participle of the verb.

Ex:

I had walked two miles by lunch time.

I had run three other marathons before entering the Milo Marathon.

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB IN THE SENTENCE

 

1.     The waiter bought a drink that I _______ (not/order).

2.     I could not remember the poem we ______ (learn) the week before.

3.     The children collected the chestnuts that _____ (fall) from the tree.

4.     (He/phone) ____________ Angie before he went to see her in London?

 

EXERCISES

CORRECT THE ERRORS FOUND IN EACH SENTENCE.

1.     The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we build.

2.     He has not been to Cape Town before 1997.

3.     When she went out to play, she do already her homework.

4.     My brother ate all of the cake that our mum will be making.

5.     The doctor took of the plaster that he has put on six weeks before.

 

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

·        It indicates that an action will have been completed at some point in the future. This tense is formed with will/shall + have + past participle of the verb.

Ex:

I will have spent my money by this time next year.

I will have run successfully three marathons if I can finish this one.

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB IN THE SENTENCE

1.     I (leave) by six.

2.     (You/finish) the report by the deadline?\

3.     When (we/do) everything?

4.     She (finish) her exams by then, so we can go out for dinner.

5.     You (read) the book before the next class.

6.     She (not finish) work by seven.

 

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

·        It indicates a continuous action that has been finished at some point in the past or that was initiated in the past and continues to happen.

 

·        She has been running and her heart is still beating fast.

 

·        It is frequently used to describe an event of the recent past. It is accompanied by the word just in this usage.

Ex: It has just been raining.

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB IN THE SENTENCE

 

1.     She (work) here for five years.

2.     I (study) all day.

3.     You (eat) a lot recently.

4.     We (live) in London for six months.

5.     He (play) football, so he’s tired.

6.     They (learn) English for two years.

 

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

·        It indicates a continuous action that was completed at some point in the past. This tense is formed with had+been+-ing.

Ex: I had been working in the garden all morning.

George had been painting his house for weeks, but he finally gave up.

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB IN THE SENTENCE

 

1.     They (chat) for over 2 hours.

2.     I (wait) there for ages.

3.     Brianna (sit) there for 2 minutes before the doctor (call) her name.

4.     You (work) there for several years before you (quit) your job.

5.     They (jog) for a while before they (get) tired.

 

EXERCISES

IDENTIFY THE ERROR AND CORRECT THE SENTENCE.

1.     I wait for the bus for 10 minutes when it arrive.

2.     She want to rest a bit because she clean the whole day.

3.     They decide to break up because they fight for a long time.

4.     Alex play golf for many years before he retire.

5.     Susan be hungry because she fast whole day.

 

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

It indicates a continuous action that will be completed at some point in the future. This tense is formed with will/shall + have + been+-ing.

 

Ex: Next Thursday, I will have been working on this project for three years.

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB IN THE SENTENCE.

1.     By the end of this month, we (live) together for six months.

2.     By midnight, we (play) Mobile Legends game for 48 hours.

3.     By the end of the term, she (study) for nine years.

4.     She (talk) on the phone for the a couple of hours by then.

 

EXERCISES

IDENTIFY THE ERROR AND CORRECT THE SENTENCE.

1.     By midnight, you were dancing for 4 hours.

2.     He is working there for 10 years by 2022.

3.     By next week, we renovate for over a month.

4.     By this time tomorrow, I did this exercise for a long time.

5.     Bob and Sarah cook for 2 hours at 8 o’clock.

 

6.  VERB TENSES

 

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE

SIMPLE

I ate pizza yesterday.

I eat pizza everyday.

I will eat pizza tomorrow.

CONTINUOUS

(PROGRESSIVE)

I was eating pizza when you arrived.

I am eating pizza right now.

I will be eating pizza when you arrive.

PERFECT

I had eaten all of the pizza when you arrived.

I have eaten all of the pizza.

I will have eaten all the pizza by the time you arrive.

PERFECT CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE)

I had been eating pizza for 2 hours when you arrived.

I have been eating pizza for 2 hours.

I will have been eating pizza for 2 hours when you arrive

 

EXERCISES

FILL IN THE CORRECT VERB.

Herbie loves trains. He first (see) a train when he was five years old and he (be) absolutely fascinated. He (go) to a different train station every week and (write) down the engine number of every train he sees. He (do) this since he was seven. By the time he left school he (collect) over 5000 different engine numbers from all over the world.

At one time, while he (stand) at a station, he (see) something very strange. He (wait) for a train for an hour when he suddenly (see) an old steam locomotive coming down the tracks. It (not stop) at the station and when it (pass), Herbie (see) that all the passengers (wear) old-fashioned clothes.

 

1.     My family (buy) some land in Southern France recently. They (build) a summer house there at the moment.

2.     Andy and Mary (go) to a concert tomorrow night. They (look forward to) it the whole week.

3.     Jona (watch) the news on TV every day and it (help) him with his English.

4.     My car (break) down when I (drive) home from work. I (fix) it if I (know) what was wrong. But I didn’t so I (have) to take it to the garage.

5.     She (not see) her father since he (start) to work in Manila two years ago.

6.     I (just see) the film “The Da Vinci Code”. (You see) it too?

7.     No, I (have) but I (read) the book.

8.     Linda phoned and explained she (can not) to come to the party the next day because she (be) sick.

9.     My sister (fly) home from London today. Her flight (arrive) in an hour so I (leave) for the airport right now to get here in time..


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