VERBAL TENSES

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Your little brother (cry)............................... See what he wants.

2. I generally (do)...............................my homework alone, but I

3. He usually wears sandals but when I last saw him he (wear)............................thick boots.

4. (you lock)..........................the door before you left the house?

5. The football season (not start)...............................in July, it (start)........................... in

6. Tomorrow afternoon I´m going to play tennis from 3.00 to 4.30. So at 4.00 tomorrow I
(play).............................................tennis.

7. What´s the most beautiful country you (ever-visit)................................................?

8. My favourite football team (win).............................a lot of games last season but they
(not win)........................................many games so far this season.

9. Be quiet! David (try)................................to understand what the teacher

10. While she(sit)................................in the pub, she (meet)...................................an old friend.

11. I don´t think he (phone).....................................before he arrives.

12. You must tell me what you (do)....................................since I last saw you.

13. Mother (cook)...................................some food in the kitchen at present;she always (cook)

14. He (come)..................................to see me the day after tomorrow.

15. Where (you spend).....................................your holiday last year?

16. (you-be)..................................asleep all the morning? I (ring)...................................the bell

17. (you-ever-see)........................................a rhinoceros? I (shoot).............................one in

18. Look! A man (run).....................................after the bus. He (want)..................................

to catch it.

19.I (wait)...................................for her since seven o´clock and she (not come).................yet.
20.That clock (stand)......................................there for as long as I can remember.

21. He (go)...........................off the road while he (drive)............................................last night.

22. She (work).......................................so hard this week that she (not have).................... time
to go to the hairdresser.

23. (you-see)...................................a good film lately?

24. What time (you-get)....................................up this morning?

25. (you-remember)....................................these sentences next lesson?

MODAL VERBS
A. Fill in the blanks with the positive or negative form of “can” “could” or “be
able to”. There may be more than one correct answer.

a) ................................you please help me wash the car?

b) I..............................go to Greece for my holiday. What do you think?

c) We............................visit him next week.

d) Jessica......................speak French and also Italian.

e) You...........................drink beer! You´re not 18 yet.

f) I...........................decide whether he´s telling the truth.

g) She............................finish painting the room by tomorrow. She´s too busy.

h) He........................take my car and bring it back later.

i) We...................................sleepl. You are making too much noise.

j) We almost had an accident, but fortunately, the driver......................stop in time.

k) I...........................see you tomorrow because I´m going away.

l) Luckily, the firemen........................... rescue the family from the burning building.

B. In this exercise you have to make sentences with “may” or “might”.

Example: “Do you know if Jack´s in his office?”

“I´m not sure. He may be in his office.

a) Do you know if they are married?...........................................................................

c) Do you know if he´s telling the truth?.....................................................................

d) Do you know if he has a car?.................................................................................

C. In this exercise you have to talk about your (or other people´s) future plans. But

you are not sure what it is going to happen. Use “may” or “might”.

Example: Where are you going for your holidays? (to Italy??)

I haven´t finally decided but I may (or might) go to Italy.

a) What sort of car are you going to buy? (a Mercedes??)

I´m not sure yet but.......................................................................

b) What are you doing this weekend? (go to London??)

I don´t know for sure but..............................................................

c) Where are you going to hang that picture? (in the dining room??)

I haven´t made up my mind yet but............................................

d) When is Tom coming to see us? (tomorrow evening???)

I´m not sure but............................................................................

e) What´s Jill going to do when she leaves school? (a secretarial course??)

She hasn´t decided yet but.........................................................

D. Make the following sentences interrogative:

a) There may be an election next year. ..........................................................................

b) Ann will be able to find our house ...............................................................................

c) They have been able to find the house.......................................................................

d) Jenny could speak English and French.......................................................................

E. Make a), b), c) and d) negative.

a).............................................................................................................
b).............................................................................................................

c).............................................................................................................

d).............................................................................................................

F. Write these sentences using the correct form of CAN, COULD or BE ABLE TO.

1. ............................I have a word with you?

2. (she)..................................come to the office tomorrow?

3. I tried to see her, but I .....................................

4. He (not)......................................work since his illness.

5. After I had tried for a few hours, I ..................................open the door and get out.

6. ........................you help me carry this downstairs?

7. (you).........................contact your parents yesterday?

8. I......................see you next Monday at ten.

G. Put the correct form of MUST or HAVE TO in these sentences.

1. The children are happy because they................................do any homework today.

2. You............................get up early tomorrow if you want to catch the bus.

3. ................................you have a visa to come here?

4. It was a very bad accident. You.................................be more careful in future.

5. He´s been ill. He ...............................stay in bed since last month.

6. I´ve told the children that they...................................come home before ten on

7. ..................................(you) do military service in your country when you were young?

8. It was a lovely holiday. We......................................do anything.

H. Write the second sentence using SHOULD or OUGHT TO and the words given.

1. These windows are dirty. (you/clean them/more often)

2. Peter drives too fast. (he/drive/more carefully)

3. He owes you a lot of money. (you/not lend him/any more)

4. There won´t be much food at the party. (we/take something/to eat?)

I. Put SHOULD, OUGHT TO, MUST or HAVE TO in the sentences below, using negatives or
questions if necessary.

1. We...............................go home at twelve because my mother wants the car.

2. They insisted that we.....................................have a meal.

3. There are no trains today, so we.....................................to go by car.

4. I think you.............................tell your parents you´re going to be late. They´ll be

5. You..........................never do that again.

6. The manager suggested that we........................................try to find another hotel.

7. You..................................see that film if you get the chance.

8. According to our information, the President .....................................be re-elected

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Mary always has breakfast at 7 o´clock.

2. Rock has been a sergeant since 1990.

3. He became a sergeant in 1990.

4. My sister-in –law does the shopping on Saturdays.

5. We go to evening classes four times a week.

6. My grandfather has worked for an American firm for twenty years.

7. The students are writing a composition.

8. They bought a white tie in that expensive shop.

9. Ken visited the Museum ten years ago.

10. Sheila went out with that boy four or five times.

11. When we were having breakfast the postman arrived.

12. I didn´t understand them because they were speaking French.

13. Jenny and her mother will pay $300 for that hat.
14. Those boots cost 6,000 Ptas. last year.

15. My parents talked, ate and drank at the party.

16. Jenny and her friends were having lunch in a very expensive restaurant.

17. John was 26 when he got married.

18. That skirt costs 10,000 Ptas.

19. Her parents are doctors.

20. My teacher has worked in this school for 21 years.

21. Mr. and Mrs. García have got a housein the country.

22. The plane was landing on the beach.

23. Mary left the party because she was sick.