1.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (present simple OR present continuous):

The train always ________________ (1: leave) on time.

"What's the matter? Why ________________ (2: cry/you)?"

That's strange. They________________ (3: not to watch) TV.

He________________ (4: not to speak) very good English.

Please be quiet! I________________ (5: do) my homework.

Where________________ (6: live/they)?

Listen! John ________________ music! (7: play)

I never ________________ (8: go) to the swimming pool

Harold Black's a famous pianist. He________________ (9: give) two or three concerts every
week. He ________________ (10: travel) a lot and this week he's in New York.
He________________ (11: stay) at an expensive hotel. He's at his hotel now.
He________________ (12: have) his breakfast in the diningroom. He________________

(13: drink) a cup of coffee and he________________ (14: read) a newspaper. Harold's always
very busy. He________________ (15: play) the piano regularly. He________________ (16:
practise) for four hours every day. He________________ (17: go) to bed late and he always
________________ (18: get up) early. But he sometimes________________ (19: get) dressed
too quickly, and this morning he________________ (20: wear) one blue sock and one red one!

2. Complete the sentences below using one of the verbs in the box in the correct form.
You may use each verb once only.

Enjoy- prefer- play- produce work- seem- know- interview- wait- talk -finish

1. I always ________ tennis on Fridays.

2. He ________ his report. He will bring it into the office when it is complete.

3. "My parents phoned me this morning. They _________ themselves in the Seychelles.
Champagne every night! In fact, they don't want to leave."
4. We ________ to entertain our guests in a local restaurant rather than the canteen. Although
it is expensive, we can talk freely there.

5. I ___________ the answer to your problem. Get a new computer.

6. "Where is John?" "In his office ____________ for an important telephone call."

7. I can't make the meeting tomorrow. I _____________ the applicants for the sales manager's
job.

8. My brother _____________ for Shink Inc. which makes bathroom fittings.

9. Who ___________ to Bill? Is it the new secretary?

10. The new contract ________________ fine to me. However, could you just check it through
once more?

3. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form (present simple or present continuous )

Next week, my friends and I _________ (go) camping in the woods. I ____________ (organize)
the food, because I _____________ (like) cooking. Dave ________________ (have) a big car with
a trailer, so he _____________ (plan) the transportation. Sam ______________ (bring) the tent
he ___________ (go) camping every year, so he _________ (have) a great tent and lots of
other equipment. My wife _______ (think) we're crazy. She (like) _______________ holidays in
comfortable hotels, so she ______________ (take) a trip to Paris instead.

4. Present Simple or Continuous? Choose the correct alternative(s)

1 Today she s spending/spends time with her grandmother.

2 They usually are going/go to the gym on Sundays.

3 We re having/have a barbecue later on. Do you want to come?

4 No, she cant answer the phone, she has/is having a shower.

5 I always have/am having a coffee before I m leaving/leave for work in the morning.

6 They sometimes fly/are flying to Sweden, but usually they are going/go by boat.

7 Where are you? I m sitting/sit outside in the sunshine!

8 He always brings/is bringing a monolingual dictionary to his English class

5. Choose which verb tense (simple past or past continuous) fits better.

1. I ________ - I didn't hear you come in.

a) was sleeping
b) slept

2. I ________ to see her twice, but she wasn't home.

a) was coming
b) came

3. What ________? I was watching TV.

a) did you do
b) were you doing

4. Robin Hood was a character who ________ from the rich and gave to the poor.

a) stole
b) was stealing

5. Hey, did you talk to her? Yes, I ________ to her

a) was talking
b) talked

6. I ________ home very late last night.

a) came
b) was coming

7. How long ________ the flu?

a) did you have

b) were you having

8. ________ a good time in Brazil? Yes, I had a blast!

a) Were you having

b) Did you have
6. Read the story and answer the following questions.

A DISASTROUS DINNER

Last Friday, Mrs. Anderson planned to have a delicious dinner. She bought a T-bone steak and
some cream and apples for an apple pie. When she came home from the shops she put her
shopping on the table. While she was setting the table, her two pets sat underneath it and
watched her. Then she went to the kitchen to make the pastry for the pie. She was a little
forgetful so she didnt realize the steak, cream and apples were still on the table. While she was
making the pastry, the dog jumped on a chair and looked longingly at the steak. At last it took
the steak in its mouth and jumped off the chair, just as Mrs. Anderson was coming back into the
dining room. Mrs. Anderson screamed, but the dog ran into the garden. She ran after the dog.
While she was chasing the dog, the cat jumped on the table and started drinking the cream. Mrs.
Anderson didnt manage to catch the dog, and she came back into the dining room. When she
saw the cat, she shrieked, and the cat got such a fright that it jumped a meter into the air, and
leapt out the window. Mrs. Anderson threw her broom at the cat, but she missed, and broke
the window. At the same time she overbalanced and put her hand in the cream, spilling it all
over the tablecloth. Poor Mrs. Anderson - she had no dinner, only a dirty tablecloth and a broken
window.

Glossary: set the table - put knives and forks, plates, salt etc. on the table., underneath - under
it., longingly - e.g. the dog wanted it but knew it couldnt have it., shriek - louder than scream.,
get a fright - suddenly (not the same as be frightened)., overbalance - to lose your balance and
fall.

Answer these questions about the story. Answer in complete sentences.

1. What did Mrs. Anderson plan?

2. Why did she buy cream and apples?
3. When did her pets watch her?
4. Where did she leave the steak?
5. When did the dog jump on the chair?
6. How did the dog look at the steak?
7. When did the dog jump off the chair?
8. Where did the dog go?
9. What was she doing when the cat jumped on the table?
10. What did Mrs. Anderson do when she saw the cat?
7. Find the Past Simple of the following verbs:

Work ____________________ come __________________ Walk ____________________

speak __________________ Talk _____________________ see ____________________

Clean ___________________ do _____________________ Live _____________________

go _____________________ Wash ___________________ sing ____________________

8. Write the correct form of the verb, using the Past Simple or the Past Continuous

tense.

A: I __________________________ (see) Peter and John in the park on Sunday.

B: _________________________________ (they/play) football? They always play football on

Sundays.

A: No, they ______________________ (not/be). They _______________________ (talk) with

some girls.

B: ____________________________ (you/say) hello to them?

A. Although I _______________________ (call) their names, they _______________ (not/hear)

me.

B: Maybe they _______________________ (not/notice) you ________________ (be) there

Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous or the Past Simple.

1) Frank _______________ (finish) his lunch and ____________ (ring) his friend Jason.

2) Jason ____________ (watch) TV when Fran______________ (phone) him.

3) He ____________ (turn off) the TV when he ____________ (hear) the phone ringing.

4) They _________________________ (decide) what to do when Jason

_____________________ (suggest) going to the club.
5) Frank _______________ Jason ____________ (pick up) and _________________ (drive) to
the club.

6) Two other people _______________________(use) their tennis court when they

_________________________ (arrive).

7) They ______________________ (drink) a soda and ____________________ (eat) a

sandwich while they _____________________(wait) to play.

8) While they __________________________ (play), it ________ (start) to rain so they

______________________ (have) to stop playing.