SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS

EXERCISE 1:
1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) ______drives________ her kids to football practice.
2. Usually, I (work) ______work______ as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I
(study)____am studying__________French at a language school in Paris. That is why I
am in Paris.
3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) ______is sleeping___________.
4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) _______is raining__________.
5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) _______always rains____________.
6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) _____are saying_______because everybody (talk)
___is talking______ so loudly.
7. Justin (write, currently) ____is currently writing_______a book about his adventures
in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.
8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?
Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) _____am going_____to a movie tonight with some
friends.
9. The business cards (be, normally) ___are normally_________ printed by a company in
New York. Their prices (be) ___are_____ inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is
quite good.
10. This delicious chocolate (be) ____is____ made by a small chocolatier in Zurich,
Switzerland.
EXERCISE 2:
A Trekking Journal
November 12, 1997
Today (be) ____is_____ the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am
exhausted (kiệt sức) and my legs (shake) ____are shaking______; I just hope I am able to
complete the trek. My feet (kill, really) ____are really killing______ me and my toes
(bleed) _____are bleeding______, but I (want, still) ____still want______ to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)
______is______ so different, and I (try) ______am trying_______ to adapt (thích nghi)
to the new way of life here. I (learn) _______am learning________ a little bit of the
language to make communication (giao tiếp) easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not) ___don’t
learn_____ foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not) _____don’t
understand______ much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) ___am gradually
improving____.

I (travel, currently) _____am currently travelling______ with Liam, a student from Leeds
University in England. He (be) ____is______ a nice guy, but impatient (không kiên
nhẫn). He (walk, always) ____is always walking______ ahead of me and (complain)
__complaining_______ that I am too slow. I (do) ____am doing_____ my best to keep
up with him, but he is younger and stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for
myself because I am getting old.

Right now, Liam (sit) ______is sitting______ with the owner of the inn (nhà trọ). They
(discuss) ___are discussing___ the differences between life in England and life in Nepal.
I (know, not) _____don’t know_____ the real name of the owner, but everybody (call,
just) ____just calls______ him Tam. Tam (speak)___speaks___ English very well and he
(try) ____is trying______ to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say)
___says_____ a new word, Liam (try) _____is trying____ to repeat it. Unfortunately,
Liam (seem, also) ___also seems_____ to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I
just hope we don't get lost and have to ask for directions.

SIMPLE PAST AND PAST CONTINUOUS

EXERCISE 3:
1. A: What (you, do) __were you doing____ when the accident occurred?
B: I (try) _was trying_________ to change a light bulb that had burnt out.
2. After I (find) ____found_____ the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately)
_____immediately went______ to the police and (turn) _______turned_______ it in.
3. The doctor (say) _____said______ that Tom (be) _____was_____ too sick to go to
work and that he (need) ____needed_____ to stay at home for a couple of days.
4. Sebastian (arrive) ___arrived_____ at Susan's house a little before 9:00 PM, but she
(be, not) _____wasn’t_____ there. She (study, at the library) _______was studying at the
library______ for her final examination in French.
5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch,
also) ___was also watching_____ television. That's all she ever does!
6. A: I (call) ____called_____ you last night after dinner, but you (be, not)
_weren’t________ there. Where were you?
B: I (work) ____was working______ out at the fitness center.
7. When I (walk) ____walked_____ into the busy office, the secretary (talk) ___was
talking____ on the phone with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) _were busily
working_____ at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) ___were quietly
dicussing______ methods to improve customer service.
8. I (watch) ____was watching______ a mystery (bí ẩn, huyền bí) movie on TV when the
electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends.
9. Sharon (be) ____was______ in the room when John told me what happened, but she
didn't hear anything because she (listen, not) _____wasn’t listening______.
10. It's strange that you (call) _____called_______ because I (think, just) ____was just
thinking_____about you.
11. The Titanic (cross) _____was crossing____ the Atlantic when it (strike)
___struck______ an iceberg.
12. When I entered the bazaar (tiệm tạp hóa), a couple of merchants (nhà buôn) (bargain
(mặc cả), busily) ___were busily barganing_______ and (try) ____trying_____ to sell
their goods to naive tourists who (hunt) ____were hunting______ for souvenirs. Some
young boys (lead) _____were leading_____ their donkeys through the narrow streets on
their way home. A couple of men (argue) _____were arguing_____ over the price of a
leather belt. I (walk) ____walked______ over to a man who (sell) _____was
selling_______ fruit and (buy) ____bought____ a banana.
13. The firemen (rescue) ____rescued_____ the old woman who (be) ____was____
trapped on the third floor of the burning building.
14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) ____was always leaving_____ her dirty
dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually) ___actually expected____ me to do them
for her.
15. Samantha (live) ____lived_____ in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live)
___was living______ there when the Berlin Wall came down.
EXERCISE 4:
Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call) ___called_______. She said
she (call) ____was calling_____ me on her cell phone from her biology classroom at
UCLA. I asked her if she (wait) ____was waiting______ for class, but she said that the
professor was at the front of the hall lecturing while she (talk) ____was talking____ to
me. I couldn't believe she (make) ____was making___ a phone call during the lecture. I
asked what was going on.

She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (sleep, actually)
____were actually sleeping_____in class. Some of the students (talk) ____were
talking____ about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her (draw) __was
drawing_____a picture of a horse. When Angela (tell) _____told_____me she was not
satisfied with the class, I (mention) ___mentioned____ that my biology professor was
quite good and (suggest) ______suggested_____ that she switches to my class.

While we were talking, I (hear) __heard____ her professor yell, "Miss, are you making a
phone call?" Suddenly, the line went dead. I (hang) ____hung_____ up the phone and
went to the kitchen to make dinner. As I (cut) ____was cutting_____ vegetables for a
salad, the phone rang once again. It (be) _____was____ Angela, but this time she wasn't
sitting in class.

SIMPLE PAST AND PRESENT PERFECT

EXERCISE 5:
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) ________that movie.
2. Sam (arrive) __________ in San Diego a week ago.
3. My best friend and I (know) ________ each other for over fifteen years. We still get
together once a week.
4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ________ ten very creative short stories in the
last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.
5. I (have, not) _________ this much fun since I (be) _________ a kid.
6. Things (change) _______ a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start) _________
working here three years ago, the company (have, only) ________ six employees. Since
then, we (expand) _________ to include more than 2000 full-time workers.
7. I (tell) __________ him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander)
_______ off into the forest and (be) __________ bitten by a snake.
8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) ________ the bus this morning. You (be)
_________ late to work too many times. You are fired!
9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never)
__________ the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
10. How sad! George (dream) ______ of going to California before he died, but he didn't
make it. He (see, never) _______ the ocean.
11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) _______ much easier and very
comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) _______ two or three months to cross North
America by covered wagon. The trip (be) _________ very rough and often dangerous.
Things (change) _______a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly
from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) _______ since the last time I (see)
_______ you. You (grow) ____ at least a foot!
13. This tree (be) _______ planted by the settlers who (found) ________ our city over
four hundred years ago
14. This mountain (be, never) _______ climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try)
_________ to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) _________. The climb is
extremely difficult and many people (die) _______ trying to reach the summit.
15. I (visit, never) _______Africa, but I (travel) ________to South America several
times. The last time I (go) ________ to South America, I (visit) ________Brazil and
Peru. I (spend) ______two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) ________for a week near Machu
Picchu, and (fly) _________over the Nazca Lines
EXERCISE 6:
Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology
(change) ________a great deal. The first computers (be) _____simple machines designed
for basic tasks. They (have, not) ________much memory and they (be, not) _____very
powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay)
__________ thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) _________very little.
Most computers (be) ________ separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive
typewriters or for playing games.
Times (change) _______. Computers (become) _________ powerful machines with very
practical applications. Programmers (create) ________ a large selection of useful
programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are
still playing video games, but today's games (become) ________ faster, more exciting
interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) ________ on the Internet and
(begin) _______ communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start)
_______to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual
machines of the past (evolve) _______ into an international World Wide Web of
knowledge.
PRESENT PERFECT AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
EXERCISE 7:
Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ____has forgotten____ us. We (wait) ____have been
waiting_____ here for over half an hour and nobody (take) ___has taken_____ our order
yet.
Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ____has walked______ by us at least twenty
times. He probably thinks we (order, already) _____have already ordered______.
Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ____have only been_____ here for
five or ten minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not) ______haven’t ordered______ yet! We (sit)
____have been sitting_____ here for over half an hour staring at him.
Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) _____has even noticed______us. He (run)
____has been running______ from table to table taking orders and serving food.
Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) ____hasn’t looked_____ in our direction once.
EXERCISE 8:
1. Judy: How long (be) _______ in Canada?
Claude: I (study) _________ here for more than three years.
2. I (have) _______ the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a
new one.
3. I (love) ______chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."
4. Matt and Sarah (have) _______ some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they
(go) _________ to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.
5. John (work) __________ for the government since he graduated from Harvard
University. Until recently, he (enjoy) ___________ his work, but now he is talking about
retiring.
6. Lately, I (think) __________ about changing my career because I (become) ______
dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.
7. I (see) ________ Judy for more than five years and during that time I (see) ________
many changes in her personality.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
EXERCISE 9:
1. It (rain) _________ all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go to the
beach.
2. Sid: Where is Gary?
Sarah: He (study, at the library) __________ for his German test on Wednesday. In
fact, he (review) _______ for the test every day for the last week.

3. You look really great! (You, exercise) ______ at the fitness center?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) _______ for you since 1 PM.
5. Tim: What is that sound?
Nancy: A car alarm (ring) _______ somewhere down the street. It (drive) _______ me
crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring) _________ for more than twenty minutes.
6. Joseph's English (improve, really) _________, isn't it? He (watch) __________
American television programs and (study) ________ his grammar every day since he first
arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.
7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) ________ enough sleep lately?
Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) ________ relatively well. I just look tired because I (feel)
______ a little sick for the last week.
Dan: I hope you feel better soon.
Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) _________ some medicine, so I should feel better
in a couple of days.
EXERCISE 10:
Mr. Smith: So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out a
little bit more about your background.
Mr. Harris: I (work) ________in the insurance industry for over ten years. I worked for
Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half. During that time, I heard
many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and that's why I (apply) _________ for
the new sales position.
Mr. Smith: Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests.
Mr. Harris: In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at the
Sierra Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) ______ in a tennis tournament this
weekend.
Mr. Smith: Really, how long (you, play) ___________ tennis?
Mr. Harris: I (play) __________ since high school. I love the sport.
Mr. Smith: Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you
volunteer at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently) ___________ with them on the sea turtle
project. We (try) _________ to create a wildlife sanctuary near the bay.
Mr. Harris: Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work, presently)
_________ on the same project.
Mr. Smith: I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome
addition to Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look) __________ for somebody who
is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico.
Mr. Harris: No problem. I (study) __________ Spanish since elementary school.
Mr. Smith: Sounds like you are the perfect candidate.
SIMPLE PAST AND PAST PERFECT
EXERCISE 11:
I can't believe I (get) ________ that apartment. I (submit) __________ my application
last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ________
up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) ________
before me. Most of them (fill, already) _________ out their applications and were already
leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.
I (try) _______ to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They
(want) __________ me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous
landlord because I (have) __________ some problems with him in the past and I knew he
wouldn't recommend me. I (end) ______ up listing my father as a reference.
It was total luck that he (decide) _________ to give me the apartment. It turns out that the
landlord and my father (go) ________ to high school together. He decided that I could
have the apartment before he (look) ______ at my credit report. I really lucked out!
SIMPLE PAST, PRESENT PERFECT, AND PAST PERFECT
EXERCISE 12:
1. When I (arrive) _____ home last night, I discovered that Jane (prepare) _______ a
beautiful candlelight dinner.
2. Since I began acting, I (perform) _________ in two plays, a television commercial and
a TV drama. However, I (speak, never even) ________ publicly before I came to
Hollywood in 2010.
3. By the time I got to the office, the meeting (begin, already) _______ without me. My
boss (be) __________ furious with me and I (be) _______ fired.
4. When I (turn) _____ the radio on yesterday, I (hear) __________ a song that was
popular when I was in high school. I (hear, not) ________ the song in years, and it
(bring) ______ back some great memories.
5. Last week, I (run) _______ into an ex-girlfriend of mine. We (see, not) ________ each
other in years, and both of us (change) ________ a great deal. I (enjoy) ________ talking
to her so much that I (ask) ___________ her out on a date. We are getting together
tonight for dinner.
6. When Jack (enter) _____ the room, I (recognize, not) _______ him because he (lose)
________ so much weight and (grow) ________ a beard. He looked totally different!
7. The Maya established a very advanced civilization in the jungles of the Yucatan;
however, their culture (disappear, virtually) ________ by the time Europeans first
(arrive) _____ in the New World.
8. I (visit) ________ so many beautiful places since I (come) _______ to Utah. Before
moving here, I (hear, never) _______ of Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, or Canyonlands.