The Tenses
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Вы здесь: UNIT IV. REVISION The Tenses

The Tenses

 

Ex.1. Insert the proper tenses.

 

1. My father was very pleased when he (buy) this house he always (want) to own a house by the sea. My parents (live) here for twenty years now and they never (regret) leaving the city.

 

2. Julie always (want) to be famous, ever since she (be) young. She (take) acting classes for years and last week someone (offer) her a part in an advertisement. They (need) her voice, though, because it (be) on the radio. At least her career (start).

 

3. It seems that Paul (came) in late last night after he (promise) Jan that he (be) home in time for dinner. By the time he (get) home, Jan (give) his dinner to the dog and (wait) by the window for two hours.

 

4. Debbie (work) as an administrator at the university. She (organise) all the timetables and teaching schedules. She (work) very long hours at the moment because it’s the start of the academic year but she (go) on a short holiday at the end of the month.

 

5. Simon and Sylvia (stay) in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales this month. The cottage (belong) to a cousin of Sylvia’s but the Cousin is away: she (cycle) around Norfolk for a few weeks. Simon and Sylvia often (use) the cottage when Sylvia’s cousin is away. They really (enjoy) being in the middle of the countryside.

 

6. May (take) photos ever since her parents (buy) her a camera when she (be) only ten. At first she only (take) colour snapshots of friends and family, but then she (change) to black and white. Lately she (shoot) a lot of nature photographs. This year she (complete) in three amateur photography contests. In fact, last month she (win) second prize for her night-time photo of a lightning storm.

 

7. Kate (find) a nice old stamp last month. It's now part of the collection she (work) on for the past two years. At first she just (save) stamps from letters that she (get) from friends. After a while, though, she (begin) to look more actively for stamps. Lately, she (buy) them from special stores and (trade) stamps with other collectors. So far she (find) over 200 stamps from all over the world.

 

8. I (feel) tired when I (take) the train to work yesterday because Sarah and I (be) to a party the evening before. We (not go) to bed until after one. I (not be) on the train long when I (have) a terrible shock. I suddenly (realize) that I (leave) my wallet at home. Then I (begin) to wonder. I (leave) it in the office the day before? I couldn't remember. I (feel) awful.

 

9. The police suspected that Brian (break) the window at his house because he (want) to make them think that a burglar (steal) his valuable stamp collection they (think) that Brian (do) this because he (need) the money. However, they (not know) that Brian (fly) to Brazil the week before, and (be) abroad when the burglary (take place).

 

10. When, in 1926, a US court (send) a man called Arthur Ferguson to prison for five years, it (be) the end of an amazing criminal career. The Police (arrest) him several months earlier, when he was trying to sell the Statue of Liberty to an Australian tourist. After the arrest, the police soon (find) that it (not/ be) the first time that Ferguson (try) to make money by selling famous buildings. Ferguson (emigrate) to the United States from Scotland the previous year. Soon after his arrival, he found a luxurious house in Washington for a rich Texas farmer; but the farmer (not/know) that he (buy) the White House, home of the Presidents of the United States for hundreds of years! Before coming to America, Ferguson (sell) Buckingham Palace – home of the English royal family – for £2,000, Big Ben for £1,000 and Nelson’s Column for £6,000 – all to rich American tourists who perhaps (have) more money than intelligence! When Ferguson (die), in 1938, he was a rich man.

 

Ex.2. Choose the proper item.

 

1. I __________ a raincoat because I think it might rain.
 
  1. wear
  2. am wearing
  3. wore
  4. has been wearing

 

2. Have you always worked as a nurse? – No. I __________ a childminder.
 
  1. was used to being
  2. am used to being
  3. used to be
  4. used being


3.  The restaurant was packed last night. Luckily, we __________ a table in advance.

 

  1. were booking.
  2. had booked
  3. had been booking
  4. booked

 

4.  There was a powercut last night. What __________ when the lights went out?

 

  1. was you doing
  2. have you done
  3. had you been doing
  4. were you doing


5.  Tom __________ the piano for years before he became famous.

 

  1. was practicing
  2. had been practicing
  3. practiced
  4. has been practicing

 

6.  My car is being repaired now and I don't know when it _________ ready.

 

  1. is ready
  2. will have been ready
  3. will be ready
  4. was ready

 

7.  Who is in that new film? – Well, a young actress __________ the leading role.

 

  1. has played
  2. is playing
  3. played
  4. plays

 

8.  __________ in a hotel? – No, but my parents did last year in Rome.

 

  1. Have you ever stayed
  2. Did you ever stay
  3. Are you ever staying
  4. Do you ever stay

 

9.  We must be at the airport by two o'clock. The plane __________ at four.

 

  1. will leave
  2. is leaving
  3. leaves
  4. left

 

10.  Why are your shoes wet? – I __________ the car.

 

  1. was washing
  2. washed
  3. have been washing
  4. had been washing

 

11.  They __________ for a house for six months before they found one they liked.

 

  1. were looking
  2. looked
  3. had been looking
  4. used to look

 

12.  The police __________ Peter Duncan who escaped from prison two weeks ago.

 

  1. has finally arrested
  2. had finally arrested
  3. finally arrested
  4. have finally arrested


13.  He was happy. He _________ an important contract.

 

  1. signed
  2. has signed
  3. had signed
  4. had been signing


14.  Mike __________ more than twenty medals when he was an athlete.

 

  1. won
  2. was winning
  3. has won
  4. wins


15.  What __________ when the alarm went off?

 

  1. was you doing
  2. had you been doing
  3. were you doing
  4. have you done

 

16.  We __________ for ten hours, so we were exhausted.

 

  1. were driving
  2. had driven
  3. had been driving
  4. drove

 

17.  My car is being repaired. I wonder if John __________ me a lift to the party on Saturday.

 

  1. gives
  2. will give
  3. has given
  4. give

 

18.  I will wait for Tom until the clock __________ five and then I __________ him.

 

  1. strikes, call
  2. strikes, 'll call
  3. will strike, call
  4. strike, call

 

19. We must hurry up. The last bus __________ at 11.40.

 

  1. will leave
  2. is leaving
  3. leaves
  4. leave

 

20.  Why are you so disappointed? – Because I __________ that I would pass the test, but I didn't.

 

  1. hoped
  2. had hoped
  3. was hoping
  4. has hoped

 

21.  Sorry, I'm late. – Where have you been? I __________ you an hour ago.

 

  1. expected
  2. have been expecting
  3. was expecting
  4. had expected

 

22.  Did you enjoy the play last night? – No, even though I __________ good reviews before I bought

       the  tickets.

 

  1. had read
  2. read
  3. would read
  4. has read

 

23.  Julia did well in the teat, didn't she? – Yes. She __________ very hard for it.

 

  1. would study
  2. had been studying
  3. was studying
  4. studied

 

24.  I hope I __________ home by Tuesday evening.

 

  1. return
  2. will be returning
  3. will returned
  4. will have returned

 

25.  Have you heard about Mary's illness. – Yes, bad news __________ fast, you know.

 

  1. travels
  2. are travelling
  3. travel
  4. is travelling

 

26.  Mr Todd __________ for thirty years when he retired.

 

  1. taught
  2. was teaching
  3. would teach
  4. had been teaching

 

27.  I ___________ a party tonight. Do you want to come?

 

  1. have
  2. will have
  3. am having
  4. has had

 

28. Pete is playing his music very loud. – Again! He __________ that!
  1. always does
  2. always did
  3. is always doing
  4. he has always done

 

29. How did you tear your dress? – I __________ on it as I __________ out of the car.

  1. stepped, was getting
  2. was stepping, got
  3. had stepped, got
  4. stepped, got

30. I have almost finished with the newspaper. You can have it after I __________ the sports section.
  1. 'll finish
  2. have finished
  3. 'll have finished
  4. finished

 

31. Has the boss signed the contract yet? – No. I am not sure when it __________.
  1. has been signed
  2. will sign
  3. is signed
  4. will be signed

 

32. My friends organized a surprise party for me. No sooner _________ the door than all my friends __________ out to surprise me.
  1. I opened, jumped
  2. I opened, had jumped
  3. had I opened, jumped
  4. I had opened, had jumped

 

33. Mary hasn't cleaned her room yet. But she __________ it by the time Mum __________ home.
  1. will do, gets
  2. will have done, has got
  3. will have done, gets
  4. will do, has got