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Exercise Book

Chapter 1 Exercises

I. Verbs: Introduction and Review

1.0 What do Verbs Do? Review of Verbs

1.5 Main Verbs, Helping Verbs and Linking Verbs

Write ‘mv’ (main verb), ‘hv’ (helping verb), or ‘lv’ (linking verb) in front of the following sentences.

  1. She is looking at her photos.
  2. Mei runs a small business in Beijing.
  3. Francisca seems tired today
  4. Alondra is studying in the library.
  5. Mr. Huang was a librarian.
  6. Jason seems a little disturbed by the teacher’s comments.
  7. Ms. Kennedy is a Systems Analyst.
  8. Manon has been working on her essay.
  9. Yan exercises every day.
  10. Abbad will be 32 years old next year.

III. The Simple Tense

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Writing the Simple Present Verb Tense

  1. Write the 3rd person form of these singular verbs.

     

    1. have
    2. buy
    3. try
    4. fall
    5. brush
    6. drive
    7. carry
    8. write
    9. study
    1. join
    2. worry
    3. wash
    4. ask
    5. exercise
    6. play
    7. pass
    8. match

     

  2. Write the correct form of the Simple Tense verb in the blanks below.  Be sure to check whether the subject is singular or plural (some nouns are count nouns, some nouns are non-count nouns).  Then, write the third person singular verbs in the correct form.
     
    Sergei, Andrei, and Tatiana (1) (know) each other very well.  They went to elementary school together and also (2) (play) in a band together.  Sergei (3) (be) a very good guitar player, and he (4) (have) a great voice.  Andrei (5) (have) very good rhythm, so he (6) (lay down) the beat.  Tatiana (7) (sing) very well and has a powerful voice.
     
    Sometimes, Andrei and Tatiana (8) (collaborate) together and write music.  Sometimes they (9) (play) some traditional music from their region because this music (10) (be) what their mother still (11) (sing).  One thing that (12) (inspire) them is to write songs about love and harmony.
     
    These three friends (13) (travel, often) to small towns in their region to give concerts of their music.  Now, however, they are thinking about their future life.  They (14) (make, don’t) a lot of money with their band.  In addition, Tatiana (15) (plan) to get married to her boyfriend in the summer.  They (16) (want) to start a family someday, but for now they both plan to start university in the fall.

1.3 When do We Use the Simple and Continuous Tenses?

In the blank on the left write:

  • ‘x’ for no time limits/unclear time limits
  • ‘r’ for repeating action
  • ‘p’ for permanent actions, situations (facts, historic facts, laws and principles)
  • ‘e’ for essence (definitions) and existence
  1.       Unfortunately, pandemics are a regular part of human history.
  2.       Hamid loves chicken and rice.
  3.       A virus spreads through the air
  4.       The tides follow the movement of the moon.
  5.       Different animals go extinct and new species form in the development of life on earth.
  6.       Thousands of asteroids hit the earth every year.
  7.       Music with predictable structures is common in classical music.
  8.       My alarm clock wakes me up at 5:00 a.m.
  9.       The weather is always sunny in the desert.
  10.       University studies require hard work.
  11.       Narcissism is a Personality Disorder where a person thinks only of themselves.
  12.       It rains almost every afternoon in Florida.

2.0 The Simple Tense and Time

Look at the examples below.  What are they examples of?  Some things may more than one answer; in that case, put a comma between the answers (i.e. d, r).  After you are finished, discuss your choices with a partner.  Which situations could include more than one category?  Why?

  • Write ‘d’ for descriptions of normal on-going life (actions with no time limits/unclear time limits).
  • Write ‘r’ for repeated actions and habits.
  • Write ‘p’ for permanent actions and situations (facts, historic facts, laws and principles).
  • Write ‘n/a’ for situations that use non-active verbs.
  1.       21 million people live in the city of Mumbai, India.
  2.       The train leaves at 8:00 a.m.
  3.       I usually read the newspaper before work.
  4.       Successful work habits consist of efforts, attitudes and people skills.
  5.       Eating sugar has serious effects on your health.
  6.       University life includes hard work, new friends, and interesting studies.
  7.       The 3-day Thai water festival includes things such as water fights, music, dancing, eating and drinking.
  8.       Makena is a person who likes to have everything organized.  She makes and follows schedules closely and checks the time constantly.
  9.       The annual Throne Speech is given every year for the first new session or meeting of a government.  The speech is given by a representative of a king or queen who talks about the plans and goals of the government.
  10.       This is a beautiful area.  It is surrounded by mountains, has a beautiful and fast-flowing river, and is covered with tall pine trees.  Many eagles also live here.
  11.       Winter in the Northwest is unpredictable.  Sometimes, the weather is mild and warm, but other times it is cold and snows a lot—sometimes up to 5 feet of snow.  But one thing is sure—there will always be a lot of rain.
  12.       Good government consists of trustworthy leaders, fair laws, and concern for the citizens of the country.
  13.       Quantum mechanics operates in ways that we don’t understand, and which are not always completely predictable.

3.0 The Simple Present Tense

3.1 Using the Verb BE for Descriptive Sentences in the Simple Present

Add a descriptive word after ‘BE’.

  1. The campus of my university                    (BE)                                      (adjective)
  2. The students                    (BE)                                      (adverb or preposition phrase)
  3. The schedule                    (BE)                                      (adjective)
  4. Its reputation                    (BE)                                      (adjective)
  5. Its official animal mascot                    (BE)                                      (noun)
  6. The classes                    (BE)                                      (adverb or preposition phrase)
  7. The library                    (BE)                                      (noun)
  8. My dorm roommate                    (BE)                                      (noun)
  9. The professors                    (BE)                                      (adjective)
  10. My transportation to the university                    (BE)                                      (noun)

3.2 Using the Verb ‘BE’ in Making Yes/No Questions

Write the questions for these answers.  Be sure to use the correct pronoun for the questions.

  1. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: Yes, the test is on Tuesday.
  2. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: No, the noodles are finished.
  3. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: No, my friends are not from Bangladore.  They are from Mumbai.
  4. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: Yes, the class starts at 9:00 a.m.
  5. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: No, my homework is not finished.
  6. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: No, it’s not in May.  My vacation is in July.
  7. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: No, I do not like coffee.
  8. Make your own question and answer.
    Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer:                                                                                                                                                 

3.3 Making Information Questions in the Simple Present Using the Verb BE

  1. Write the correct form of the verb BE in the blanks below.  Be sure to use the correct form of the Verb BE.  It must have correct Subject/Verb Agreement.  Remember that the subject and verb are switched in questions.
     
    1. Where           my textbook?
    2. Who           the actors in this movie?
    3. What           climate change?  Could you explain it?
    4. What           the important points in this chapter?
    5. When           the start of the fall semester?
    6. How           the apple pie?  Do you like it?
    7. Where           the university library?
    8. When           spring break?
    9. What           your friends do on the weekend?
    10. Where           some good restaurants in this area?

     

  2. Write the questions for these answers:
     
    1. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: My book is wet because I dropped it in the bathtub.
    2. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: Your coat is in the closet.
    3. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: The pharmacy is on the corner of 1st Street and 10th Ave.
    4. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: The concert is at 7:30 PM?
    5. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: The lights are off because the power is out.
    6. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: My home is in San Francisco.
    7. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: My favourite kind of music is jazz.
    8. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: It is in downtown San Francisco.
    9. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: We are late because our train was late.
    10. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
      Answer: The test is about personality disorders.

3.4 Making Information Questions in the Simple Present Using the Verbs Do/Does

3.4.1 ‘Wh’ Questions

Write the questions for these answers.  Answers may vary slightly.

  1. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: This road goes to Chiang Mai.
  2. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: He doesn’t eat ice cream because it is unhealthy.
  3. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: The movie starts at 10 o’clock.
  4. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: These books go on the third shelf.
  5. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: They want to eat in a fastfood restaurant.
  6. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: They are going to Hawaii because they want to enjoy the sun.
  7. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: Some people play golf to relax.
  8. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: They don’t live in a house because it is too expensive in this city.
  9. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: A panda bear eats bamboo.
  10. Make your own question and answer.
    Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer:                                                                                                                                                 

3.4.2 Making Information Questions with ‘How’

Write the questions for these answers:

  1. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: She drinks 4 liters of water a day.
  2. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: This box of oranges weighs 5 pounds.
  3. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: I go running three times a week.
  4. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: This test is very difficult.
  5. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: She is completely fluent in Spanish.
  6. Question:                                                                                                                                                 ?
    Answer: They spend too much money on video games.

3.5 Writing the Negative of the Verb and Emphasizing the Positive with the Helping Verb Do/Does and Don’t/Doesn’t

Write the correct negative form of the Simple Tense verb in the blanks below.  Be sure to write the third person singular verbs in the correct form.  Include the helping verb don’t/doesn’t if needed.
 
Mr. Taka is a mountain climber, but he (1)                                  (like, not) heights.  So, when he climbs, he (2)                                  (look, not) down below him at the ground.  The friends that he climbs with (3)                                  (understand, not) this.  They love the thrill when they look down and (4)                                  (see, not) anything but air below them.  They think it is beautiful, so they sometimes joke with him about it.  “Why do you climb, when you are afraid of heights”, they ask?  But he (5)                                  (do, not) for the beauty and enjoyment of climbing.  He does it because he (6)                                  (want, not) fear to win in him.  He thinks that if he keeps doing it, that someday he will lose his fear of heights.  He also knows that fear (7)                                  (go away, not) unless you face it.  At least his friends (8)                                  (think, not) that he is a coward.

3.6 Use of Adverbs of Frequency and Time Expressions

  1. Write the correct form of the verb/time expression in the blank.
     
    The Spread of Slang
     
    Slang is an informal form of speech.  It is (1)                                  (use, almost always) by a culture within a culture—a subculture.  It’s more common with teens, because teenagers (2)                                  (want, always) to have an identity (who they see themselves as being) that is different from their parents and from adults.  Teens (3)                                  (identify, always) more with their friends then with their parents or family.  They would (4)                                  (want, never) to use the same slang that their parents used back in the old days.
     
    In the past, teenagers would (5)                                  (hear, sometimes) on a movie, a TV show or in a song on the radio.  Those TV shows were (6)                                  (produced, almost always) in California.  So, the language used in those shows naturally came from California.  This is where it gets interesting.
     
    Many people in California (7)                                  (try, usually) to look and sound current or cool.  So, young people like to pick up new slang that starts there.  One of the coolest sub-cultures in Los Angeles, where most movies and TV shows were made, was the beach sub-culture.  Surfing in the waves was a big part of the Beach subculture, and many surfers were teenagers, so they would (8)                                  (make up, often) new words or use words in new ways, so that they wouldn’t sound like their not-so-cool parents.  They would (9)                                  (call, sometimes) their friends ‘dude’—as in “Hey dude, what are you doing after school?” They also had special words to describe waves.  A big wave that was rolling and twisting around was called ‘gnarly’.  Strangely, a cool car was described as ‘bad’—as in “That is a bad car.”
     
    However, things are changing rapidly.  People are more likely to be entertained on the internet now.  Creative content can be made anywhere and by anyone.  So, will we soon be using slang that started on a farm or a ranch?  Horse slang?
     
  2. Describe your present life as someone who is new in your country.
    OR
    Describe your life after high school—your life as an adult.
    • Descriptions/Normal Life: List five things that were typical things that happen in your life as an adult (how is different from your life as a child or teenager) OR your life as someone who is new to this country.
    • Facts and Definitions: List five things that are important for an adult to do in order to survive and do well in the adult world.  What does it mean to be an adult (what is an adult)?
    • Habits/Repeated Activities: List five habits that help an adult to do well as an adult.  What things should they do regularly.

4.0 The Simple Past Tense

4.3 How to Write Simple Past Tense

4.3.1 Spelling of Verbs When ‘-ed’ Is Added

Write the past tense of these regular verbs that end in ‘-ed’.  Write the correct ‘-ed’ form.

  1. start:                              
  2. wait:                              
  3. help:                              
  4. wipe:                              
  5. occur:                              
  6. happen:                              
  7. hope:                              
  8. hop:                              
  9. cry:                              
  10. rain:                              
  11. explain:                              
  12. commit:                              
  1. refer:                              
  2. listen:                              
  3. promise:                              
  4. pull:                              
  5. smile:                              
  6. hurry:                              
  7. study:                              
  8. stay:                              
  9. step:                              
  10. try:                              
  11. offer:                              
  12. swipe:                              

4.3.2 Spelling of Irregular Verbs

  1. Write the past tense forms of the following verbs.  All are irregular verbs.
     
    Yesterday, I (1)                                  (speak) with Ajulo about the resume that he (2)                                  (submit) to our company.  I (3)                                  (say) that he (4)                                  (impress) me with his education at several top universities.  He also (5)                                  (write) a very good cover letter), which I (6)                                  (read) with interest.
     
    When I later (7)                                  (question) him about his work experience, he (8)                                  (speak) about working at several small but innovative companies.  He also really (9)                                  (understand) the concept of teamwork.  He ‘(10)                                  (draw) me in’ with his sincerity.  It (11)                                  (be) easy to trust him, and I (12)                                  (feel) confident that he would make a good employee.
     
  2. Write the past tense forms of the following irregular verbs:
    1. drive:                              
    2. drink:                              
    3. swim:                              
    4. understand:                              
    5. can:                              
    6. break:                              
    7. have:                              
    8. run:                              
    9. take:                              
    10. feel:                              
    11. fight:                              
    1. build:                              
    2. put:                              
    3. say:                              
    4. sell:                              
    5. ride:                              
    6. keep:                              
    7. hang:                              
    8. wear:                              
    9. win:                              
    10. think:                              
    11. sleep:                              

     

  3. Write the past tense forms of the following verbs.  Some are regular and some are irregular.  This is the same exercise found in the section on the Simple Present.  The exercise is being repeated to show that the same principles of time apply to the past.  However, now it is in the past form.
     
    Sergei, Andrei, and Tatiana (1)                                  (know) each other very well.  They went to elementary school together, and they also (2)                                  (play) in a band together.  Sergei (3)                                  (be) a very good guitar player and he (4)                                  (have) a great voice.  Andrei (5)                                  (have) very good rhythm, so he (6)                                  (lay down) the beat.  Tatiana (7)                                  (sing) very well and has a powerful voice.
     
    Sometimes, Andrei and Tatiana (8)                                  (collaborate) together and write music.  Sometimes they (9)                                  (play) some traditional music from their region because this music (10)                                  (be) is what their mother (11)                                  (continue) to sing.  One thing that (12)                                  (inspire) them, however, is to write songs about love and harmony.
     
    These three friends (13)                                  (travel, often) to small towns in their region to give concerts of their music.  Now, however, they are thinking about their future life.  They (14)                                  (make, don’t) a lot of money with their band.  In addition, Tatiana (15)                                  (plan) to get married to her boyfriend in the following summer.  They (16)                                  (want) to start a family someday, but for now, however, they both plan to start university in the fall.

4.3.3 Negative Form of Past Tense Verbs

  1. Write the following verbs in the negative form of these past tense verbs.  If they are irregular, also change them into their irregular form.  When you are finished, write them again, but this time in their contracted form.
     
    Negative Form:
    1. run:                       
    2. sell:                       
    3. jump:                       
    4. eat:                       
    1. draw:                       
    2. call:                       
    3. step:                       
    4. speak:                       
    1. take:                       
    2. feel:                       
    3. put:                       
    4. lose:                       

     
    Contracted Negative Form:

    1. run:                       
    2. sell:                       
    3. jump:                       
    4. eat:                       
    1. draw:                       
    2. call:                       
    3. step:                       
    4. speak:                       
    1. take:                       
    2. feel:                       
    3. put:                       
    4. lose:                       

     

  2. In the spaces below, write the correct form of the past tense verbs that are in parenthesis.
     
    Alfredo (1)                                  (enjoy) sports of all kinds.  He (2)                                  (hope) that one day he would become a famous athlete.  In fact, when he was in high school, he would do anything to get involved in sports.  He especially loved skiing, but he didn’t have skis because they were so expensive.  One day, he read a book about someone who (3)                                  (rob) a bank to get some money.  They (4)                                  (walk) into a bank, pointed a gun at the teller, and (5)                                 (demand) money.  Alfredo thought that it was a great idea, and he decided that he could get money by robbing a bank.  But he (6)                                  (need) to prepare carefully.  First, he (7)                                  (list) the things he would need: a mask to cover his face, a gun to threaten the bank teller, a note to give the teller, and a bag to hold the money.  Then, he (8)                                  (need) to write down what he would say in the note.
     
    Alfredo (9)                                  (plan) the bank robbery carefully.  He (10)                                  (commit) to doing it.  But as the day came closer, he (11)                                  (start) to get scared.  He heard about someone who (12)                                  (rob) a bank, but everything went very wrong.  The bank robber (13)                                  (study) the bank carefully, so he would know where to go.  But, when he got to the bank and (14)                                  (recite) what he wrote out and (15)                                  (studied) at home, it forgot what he wrote out.  This made him very nervous.  Then, he (16)                                  (drop) the gun and (17)                                  (slip) on the floor.  He hit his head, but when (18)                                  (called) for help, they (19)                                  (call) the police instead.  When he started to play the bank robbery, he (20)                                  dream of all the money he would get, he (21)                                  (anticipate) something much easier.  But, I guess it is impossible to plan for everything that can happen.
     
  3. Write the past tense of the verbs in parenthesis in the blanks before them.
     
    Story of Albert Einstein (past tense)
     
    Albert Einstein (1)                                  (be) an amazing scientist.  He was born in Ulm, Germany in 1879, and he (2)                                  (live) in Germany for much of his life.  Then, in 1895, Einstein (3)                                  (move) to Switzerland, where he (4)                                  (study) mathematics and physics.  He (5)                                  (return) to Germany in 1914 to work with in a university and an academy of science.
     
    Then, in 1933, he (6)                                  (visit) the United States.  While Einstein (7)                                  (be) there, Hitler came into power in Germany, and because of this, Einstein (8)                                  (move) permanently to the United States.
     
    Einstein is most famous for some his scientific work.  He (9)                                  (write) the most famous scientific equation in history, E=MC2.  Almost anyone can tell you this equation even if they don’t understand it.  People also know Einstein because he (10)                                  (develop) two of the most famous scientific theories of all time, the Theory of Relativity and the Theory of Quantum Mechanics.  Although Einstein was most famous for his science, He (11)                                  (win) the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
     
  4. Write about the following things on a separate piece of paper:
    • Describe your high school years.
    • List five things that were typical things that happened in your high school.  What was life normally like in high school?
    • What is true of high school students?  What facts describe high school students?  Define a high school student.
    • What were some regular activities or events at your high school?

5.0 The Simple Future Tense

5.1 How to Write the Simple Future Tense: Two Forms

Decide what purpose the verb is for following situations.  Write the following letters in the blank on the left.

  • pl = Plans
  • pr = Prediction
  • prom = Promise
  • qd = Quick Decision

 

  1.        The economy will do well in the next quarter.
  2.        We will have a good time at the school dance.
  3.        It will be sunny tomorrow.
  4.        We are going to go to the mall this afternoon.
  5.        Don’t worry.  We will finish the project by Thursday.
  6.        We are driving to the mall right now.  Do you want to come with us?
    -OK, I’ll come with you.
  7.        I will graduate in the spring.  I have all the credits that I need to graduate.
  8.        If you don’t wash your hands, you will likely get the flu.  It is going around right now.
  9.        I am going to play tennis on the weekend.  Do you play tennis?
    -Yes, I love tennis.  Do you need a partner?
  10.        We will go hiking on Saturday.  The weather forecast looks good.
  11.        I need someone to watch the dog while I go to the store.  Can anyone do it for me?
    -I will.  I am staying here to study for the whole afternoon.

5.2 Future in the Past

5.2.3 Negative of ‘Future in the Past’

  1. Choose whether the following situations are predictions, plans or intentions (or promises).  Some questions may have more than one answer.  Write your answers in the following manner:
    Example: pl, pr
    • pr = predictions
    • pl = plans
    • i = intentions/promises

     

    1.        Jacob was going to travel to Beijing, but he got sick.
    2.        I knew that the power would go out when I saw the powerful wind and lightning.
    3.        Hamad was going to pay for the dinner at the restaurant, but he forgot his wallet.
    4.        They said that they would meet us at 7:00.
    5.        Nelly said that she was going to see her mother on the weekend.
    6.        WeiWei thought that she was going to be able to buy tickets for the concert, but they were sold out.

     

  2. Insert the correct ‘Future in the Past’ form of the verb in the blank before each verb.  First identify whether the sentence is for:
    • pr = predictions
    • pl = plans
    • i = intentions/promises

    Then, write the correct form of the verb in the blank.  In some cases, more than one answer is possible.
     

    1.        He said                       (watch) a movie with us after he finished his work for the day.
    2.        He was told that he should work hard and have a positive attitude.  These habits                       (help) him for the rest of his life.
    3.        I knew that Jared                       (come, not) to the dance.
    4.        They thought that the restaurant                       (be) cheap, but it was expensive.
    5.        Maria said that she                       (call) her mother in the morning.
    6.        He thought that                       (win) the lottery for sure, but he forgot to buy the ticket.
    7.        When she practiced her violin for hours during high school because she                       (apply) to study music at Julliard School of Music.
    8.        Everyone thought that they                       (get married, not).
    9.        My friend promised me that he                       (pay back) the money I lent him.
    10.        After he studied the performing arts at Berklee, he                       (go on) to become a famous actor.

5.2.4 Questions with ‘Future in the Past’

Change the following sentences into a yes/no question.

  1. He would be able to wash the dishes in the evening.
                                                                                                                                                    
  2. I was going to come to the party.  However, I wanted to see my friends.
                                                                                                                                                    
  3. Ahmed was going to buy his friend a birthday present.
                                                                                                                                                    
  4. Julio would be willing to wash the dishes.
                                                                                                                                                    
  5. Lily was going to go hiking.  This was because she loved the mountains.
                                                                                                                                                    

5.2.5 Time Clauses with ‘Future in the Past’

  1. Identify the subordinate/dependent clause by putting /slashes around it/.  Then, underline the main verb in this dependent clause.  Notice that it is in the simple tense.  Finally, double-underline the verb in the independent clause, which will be in the simple future tense.
     
    1. I will call you when I arrive at the airport.
    2. After we return from vacation, we will need to get ready for the fall semester.
    3. When the storm is over, we can go outside for a walk.
    4. While he washes the dishes, he’s going to listen to the news.
    5. I will clean the apartment after I have washed the dishes.

     

  2. Write the correct form of the verb in the clauses below.  Use the either ‘will’ or ‘going to’ in the main/independent clause and the simple present tense in the dependent adverb clause of time.
     
    1. When Ahmed                       (graduate) with his from university, he                       (have) a double major in biology and engineering.
    2. I                       (apply) to rent a bigger apartment after I                       (start) my new business.
    3. After Katrina                       (reaches) her goal of climbing a 3,000-meter mountain, she                       (try) to climb a higher 5,000-meter mountain peak.
    4. I                       (speak) more professionally when I                       (finish) this communications class.
    5. I                       (study) for five hours for my final exam when I                       (wake up).

IV. Continuous Tense: Expansion and Exercises

4.0 How to Write Continuous Verb Forms

4.2 Spelling of Verbs When ‘-ed’ and ‘-ing’ are Added

  1. Write the following verbs with the ‘-ing’ form according to the chart above.  Learning the ‘-ing’ form of the verb is very important because it is used for continuous tense verbs, gerunds, and active participles, all of which are very common in English.
     
    1. twist:                              
    2. stare:                              
    3. miss:                              
    4. employ:                              
    5. lie:                              
    6. begin:                              
    7. forget:                              
    8. fight:                              
    9. hope:                              
    10. list:                              
    11. sip:                              
    12. send:                              
    13. buy:                              
    1. regret:                              
    2. insist:                              
    3. start:                              
    4. mandate:                              
    5. enjoy:                              
    6. die:                              
    7. excite:                              
    8. drop:                              
    9. carry:                              
    10. win:                              
    11. lend:                              
    12. care:                              
    13. tie:                              

     

  2. Underline the simple and continuous tense verbs in the following paragraphs.  Remember, there are past, present, and future tense verbs in the following paragraphs.
     
    In addition, there are words that look like simple and continuous verbs, but they are actually gerunds and infinitives, verbs used like nouns.  So, pay careful attention to the verb form.  Gerunds look like continuous tense verbs, but they are missing the verb ‘BE’.  (i.e.  Jorge enjoys walking) Infinitives look like simple tense verbs, but they have ‘to’ added in front of the verb (I want to walk around the building).
     
    Furthermore, there are sometimes adverbs which are added to the verbs, often between the verb ‘BE’ and the main verb.  So, be careful.  This can be a challenge.
     
    History of Technology for Listening to Music
    Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1878.  Before that, people could only listen to live music.  If you wanted to hear music, someone needed to play or to sing for you.  The only other way that you heard music was to play an instrument yourself, or to sing.  People sang while they were doing their work or while they were sitting around their house in the evening.  Of course, if there was a party, a group of musicians often performed music for the people at the party.
     
    Then, the phonograph changed everything.  People could listen to the phonograph while they were cleaning their house or maybe while they were doing some accounting at their kitchen table.  Eventually, inventors produced smaller and smaller devices that could play music.  Finally, in 1979, Masur Ibuka invented the Walkman, a cassette tape player that was so small that you could carry it with while you were travelling or exercising.
     
    Who knows what will happen next.  The music industry is always looking for ways to expand their music audience and save money.  Instead of paying a famous person to create music and sing on an album, the music industry can save money by creating their own music with a computer-generated voice.  In addition, Artificial Intelligence means that ordinary people are now creating their own music.  They are making their own music on a laptop and (are) substituting their own voice with the voice of a famous singer.  Musicians will need to be creative if they want to make money in the future.  But they themselves are using AI to create music, and they will still find a way to create a career in music.  But maybe we will go back to the past and begin playing and singing ourselves—we will be hearing our own voices again.
     
  3. This exercise has two parts:
    • First, read each paragraph.  Then, choose an appropriate time word or phrase from the list below, and write that time word or phrase in the [blanks in square brackets] below.  These [blanks in square brackets] are for time words.  After you are done, check your work. The time words are written in exercise 4 below.
    • If you can, also write in the correct form of the verb in the numbered blanks.  If that is too difficult, you can first finish the time words and then go to exercise 4 below, which has the time words written in, and complete writing in the continuous tense verbs.

    Time Words:

    • between 1936 to 1942
    • by the end of the war
    • in the 1950’s and early 60’s
    • by the time you read this
    • between the late 60’s and early 70’s
    • soon after that
    • from 1998 to 2011
    • many decades later
    • in April
    • 2001
    • soon
    • while
    • while
    • while
    • now
    • someday
    • someday
    • someday
    1. The history of space travel actually started with weapons of war.  The first rocket was actually a German missile named the German V-2 rocket.  [                    ] German rocket scientists (1)                      (develop) and (2)                      (test) it.  Although it was a missile, it could actually travel into space.  Then, through the rest of the war, it (3)                      (terrorize) the rest of Europe.  At first, it wasn’t very accurate, but [                    ], it was (4)                      (hit) its targets almost 100% of the time.
    2. Although the V-2 rocket could fly into space, at that time, it (5)                      (be, not) used for space exploration.  The first nation to launch something into space was Russia.  [                    ], the Soviet Union (6)                      (send, already) satellites, dogs, and humans into space.  The first satellite was the Russian Sputnik, a simple metal ball with four antennae pointing backwards.  [                    ] it (7)                      (orbit) the earth, it sent a simple ‘beep’ that could be picked up by people on the earth.
    3. [                    ], the human race (8)                      (launch) rockets regularly into space.  [                    ], the Americans were busy.  They (9)                      (send) astronauts to the moon.  Then, the United States developed the space shuttle.  [                    ], many nations around the world (10)                      (cooperate) to build the international space station.  They (11)                      (add, continuously) modules to the ISS [                    ].  In 1995, the first humans were sent to live on the ISS.
    4. [                    ], astronauts from many different countries (12)                      (live) and (13)                      (work) on the ISS.  They (14)                      (study) the space environment.  The (15)                      (do) experiments and (16)                      work hard, but they (17)                      (have fun) while they (18)                      (live) there.  [                    ], the Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield traveled to the ISS.  [                    ] he (19)                      (live and work) there, he maintained an active social media presence.  [                    ] he was there, he had some plans.  He (20)                      (record) a music album about space while he was in space.
    5. [                    ], many nations and even individual visionaries (21)                      (try) to reach the next goal in space.  They know that [                    ] people (22)                      (live) on the moon.  [                    ], they (23)                      (travel) to and (24)                      (live) on Mars.  Maybe, [                    ], there will be people who (25)                      (live and work, already) on Mars.

     

  4. See instructions on exercise 3.
    1. The history of space travel actually started with weapons of war.  The first rocket was actually a German missile named the German V-2 rocket.  Between 1936 to 1942, German rocket scientists                                  (develop) and (2)                                  (test) it.  Although it was a missile, it could actually travel into space.  Then, through the rest of the war, it (3)                                  (terrorize) the rest of Europe.  At first, it wasn’t very accurate, but by the end of the war, it was (4)                                  (hit) its targets almost 100% of the time.
    2. Although the V-2 rocket could fly into space, at that time, it (5)                                  (be, not) used for space exploration.  The first nation to launch something into space was Russia.  In the 1950’s and early 60’s, the Soviet Union (6)                                  (send, already) satellites, dogs, and humans into space.  The first satellite was the Russian Sputnik, a simple metal ball with four antennae pointing backwards.  While it (7)                                  (orbit) the earth, it sent a simple ‘beep’ that could be picked up by people on the earth.
    3. Soon, the human race (8)                                  (launch) rockets regularly into space.  Between the late 60’s and early 70’s, the Americans were busy.  They (9)                                  (send) astronauts to the moon.  Then, the United States developed the space shuttle.  Soon after that, many nations around the world (10)                                  (cooperate) to build the international space station.  They (11)                                  (add, continuously) modules to the ISS from 1998 to 2011.  In 1995, the first humans were sent to live on the ISS.
    4. Many decades later, astronauts from many different countries (12)                                  (live) and (13)                                  (work) on the ISS.  They (14)                                  (study) the space environment.  The (15)                                  (do) experiments and (16)                                  work hard, but they (17)                                  (have fun) while they (18)                                  (live) there.  In April 2001, the Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield traveled to the ISS.  While he (19)                                  (live and work) there, he maintained an active social media presence.  While he was there, he had some plans.  He (20)                                  (record) a music album about space while he was in space.
    5. Now, many nations and even individual visionaries (21)                                  (try) to reach the next goal in space.  They know that someday people (22)                                  (live) on the moon.  Someday, they (23)                                  (travel) to and (24)                                  (live) on Mars.  Maybe, by the time you read this, there will be people who (25)                                  (live and work, already) on Mars.

4.3 Writing the Negative Form of Continuous Tense Verbs

Write the negative form of the verb in parenthesis in the blank below.

  1. Misaki                       (buy, not) a new car.
  2. Jorge                       (study, not) in the library.
  3. Tatiana and Zhara                       (work, not) on the weekend.
  4. In court, the witness said that Amandeep                       (driving, absolutely, not) too fast on the highway.
  5. Fumio                       (BE, not) careful when he broke his arm while skiing.
  6. They                       (get, not) married until next year.
  7. Malia                       (pay, not) attention when she made the mistake on her test.

4.4 Making Questions with Continuous Tense Verbs

  1. Change the following answers into yes/no questions.
     
    1. We are going to John and Maria’s graduations.
                                                                                                      ?
    2. We will be studying for the test on Saturday.
                                                                                                      ?
    3. They will be going to the party on the weekend.
                                                                                                      ?
    4. He was eating at a restaurant every day.
                                                                                                      ?
    5. I am not going to the mall today.
                                                                                                      ?

     

  2. Change the following answers into information questions.  First, write the correct continuous form of the verb in the blank to the left of the verb.  Be sure to use the correct form of the past, present or future form of the verb BE.  Then, change the sentence into an information question using the appropriate question word.
     
    1. Tonight’s dinner party                       (happen) on 72nd street in New York.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    2. Everyone                       (arrive) to the dinner party at 6:30 p.m.  tonight.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    3. Ajulo and Marta                       (plan) to come for dinner because they were sick.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    4. Hanh                       (bring) a great vegetarian dish for dinner.
      Question:                                                                 ?
    5. After the dinner, everyone                       (sitting) around and                       (watch) a movie.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    6. Everyone                       (go) home at midnight.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?
    7. Tomorrow, everyone                       (feel) tired.
      Question:                                                                                                 ?

6.0 Writing Past, Present and Future Forms of the Continuous Tense

In the boxes below, write the Past at Future Continuous forms of the Continuous Verbs.  Remember and/or review the spelling rules for writing ‘-ing’ forms of verbs, which were given at the beginning of this chapter.  They are for a limited time (not ongoing), have clear time borders (action starts, continues, and stops), happen at a specific time (not general time), and time is always mentioned or can be implied.  They also are written in the same form—‘BE’ + ‘-ing’ form verb (using the past and future forms of the verb ‘BE’.
 
Past Forms of Continuous Tense Verbs (was/were                      -ing)
 
Past Continuous

  1. resist:                              
  2. blare:                              
  3. kiss:                              
  4. apply:                              
  5. tie:                              
  6. resign:                              
  7. regret:                              
  1. light:                              
  2. cope:                              
  3. twist:                              
  4. flip:                              
  5. bend:                              
  6. tell:                              

Future Continuous

  1. beget:                              
  2. enlist:                              
  3. harm:                              
  4. recreate:                              
  5. employ:                              
  6. reply:                              
  7. recite:                              
  1. mop:                              
  2. marry:                              
  3. win:                              
  4. send:                              
  5. compare:                              
  6. try:                              

6.1 Making Questions Using the Continuous Verb Tense

Change the following sentences into questions using the continuous tense.  The sentences are in the simple tense.
 
Example:
This dog runs in the park.  (where)
Where is this dog running?
 

Present
  1. Mei works at 6:00 p.m.  (what time)
                                                    
  2. John cleans his room every day.  (how often)
                                                    
  3. Maxim calls us from work.  (from where)
                                                    
  4. Lourdes fix her car.  (why)
                                                    

Past

  1. I cleaned my apartment yesterday.  (what, do)
                                                    
  2. I cleaned my apartment yesterday.  (when)
                                                    

7.0 Comparing Continuous and Simple Tense Verbs

  1. Fill in the blanks below with the correct simple past and past continuous tense of the verb in (parenthesis).
     
    Earthquake!
     
    I (1)                                  (work) at the office yesterday, when suddenly, the earth (2)                                  (begin) to shake.  It (3)                                  (be) an earthquake, and it (4)                                  (be) severe.  Everyone instantly (5)                                  (panic) and some people (6)                                  (start) to yell, “Get down!” Everyone (7)                                  (scramble) to climb under their desks, and they (8)                                  (cover) their heads.  Many books began to fall, and soon everything (9)                                  (fall) off of the shelves.  Computers (10)                                  (slide) all over the tops of the desks, and some (11)                                  (fall, even) onto the floor.  The shaking seemed to last forever, but finally it (12)                                  (stop).  Everyone (13)                                  (be) in a state of shock, but they (14)                                  (start) to climb from under their desks.  The boss (15)                                  (start) to go around and he (16)                                  (ask) if anyone was hurt.  Luckily, everyone was okay, but it (17)                                  (take) about 30 minutes for people to start cleaning [gerund].  But soon, everyone (18)                                  (clean up, busily), but they (19)                                  (talk, constantly) about what had just happened.
     
  2. Fill in the blanks below with the correct simple future and future continuous tense of the verb in (parenthesis).
     
    My Dream Job of the Future
     
    I can just imagine working [gerund] at my dream job in the future.  I (1)                                  (sit) at a huge desk, with a powerful graphics-capable computer sitting on it.  I (2)                                  (work) as an advertising specialist [gerund in compound noun] in a massive advertising agency [gerund in compound noun].  But first, I (3)                                  (quit) my job working [active participle] as a Barista at StarStruck Coffee.  It was a great job, and it helped to pay for my university degree, but it was just a stepping stone [gerund in compound noun] to my future career.  All day, I (4)                                  (field) calls from advertising executives from brand name companies such as ‘Know Jeans’, ‘Lectra Motors’ and ‘Peer Card-Ins’ clothing.  I (5)                                  (make) appointments with marketing representatives and (6)                                  (work) with them to create impressive and attention getting videos and online ads.  The company I (7)                                  (work) for (8)                                  (pay) me massive amounts of money, and I (9)                                  (spend) it on luxury items like expensive cars and luxurious condos in prime locations around the world.  For now, I am currently working at my summer job to help pay those bills while I am attending a local college, but someday, I (10)                                  (get) my real job—working [present participle] in advertising.
     
  3. Decide whether the verbs in (parenthesis) should be in the Simple Tense or the Continuous Tense.  Then write the correct form of that verb in the blank to the left of the verb.
     
    Jouji and his sister, Junko, (1)                                  (be) twins, but they are very different from each other.  Jouji (2)                                  (have) a quiet personality, while Junko is friendly and sometimes loud.  While they (3)                                  (grow up) they did many things together and made up many stories about their stuffed animal toys.  Sometimes they made videos about their funny stories.
     
    But now, they (4)                                  (be) older and they are finished high school.  They both moved from Tokyo last year and now they (5)                                  (study, both) in North America.  Junko (6)                                  (study) filmmaking at the Praett Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and Jouji (7)                                  (study) dentistry at the University of Montreal.
     
    Their aunt, Kumiko, (8)                                  (live) in Vancouver, Canada, so last year Jouji and Junko (9)                                  (study) English in Vancouver so that they could approve their English test score.  Last year was difficult for Junko because New York (10)                                  (be) very different from Tokyo, and when she (11)                                  (take) the train to Brooklyn, she sometimes (12)                                  (feel) a little afraid.  Sometimes the train (13)                                  (come) late, which (14)                                  (happen, never) in Tokyo.  But this year, Junko (15)                                  (enjoy, really) her studies in filmmaking.
     
    While [time, not contrast] some of her instructors (16)                                  (teach) at the Praett Institute, they (17)                                  (work, also) on movies, so students often help their instructors while they are making movies.  But this week, Junko (18)                                  (plan) her own short movie.  Every day, she (19)                                  (have) a lot of work to do.  She (20)                                  (do, must) a lot of reading, and she (21)                                  (watch, must) at least part of a movie every day to learn the techniques (how to) of film-making.  When she (22)                                  (have) time, Junko (23)                                  (go) to Starlucky’s to have coffee with Yuan, her friend from Beijing.  They (24)                                  (laugh, always) and (25)                                  (encourage) each other in their studies.
     
    Jouji (26)                                  (be) a quiet person, and he (27)                                  (study) a lot.  He (28)                                   (get, always) very high grades in his classes.  Last year, he was studying biology and chemistry.  This semester, he (29)                                  (take) physiology [the study of the human body] and basic dentistry methods.  He (30)                                  (spend) a lot of time in the library, but when he (31)                                  (have) free time, he (32)                                  (enjoy) going to downtown Montreal.
     
    About half of the people in Montreal (33)                                  (speak) French and the other half (34)                                  (speak) English.  Jouji (35)                                  (feel, often) like he (36)                                  (live) in two countries at the same time.  These days, he (37)                                  (meet) with a friend who (38)                                  (teach) him a bit of French.  This year, Jouji (39)                                  (live) in an apartment with a friend and they (40)                                  (shop) for food every week.  Sometimes the person who is at the check-out counter (41)                                  (speak, not) any English, so Jouji tries to use his limited French.  He (42)                                  (practice) French whenever he (43)                                  (need) a break from studying physiology, so Jouji (44)                                  (learn, slowly) French.
     
    Every week Jouji and Junko (45)                                  (talk) to their mother and father by Skype.  Living away from home is sometimes difficult, but they (46)                                  (try) not to feel homesick while they (47)                                  (study) in North America.  But any time that they are homesick, there are a lot of Japanese restaurants in both Montreal and Brooklyn to help them feel a little more comfortable.  Also, every semester, they (48)                                  (fly) to see each other.  One semester, Jouji (49)                                  (go) to Brooklyn, NY, and the next semester, Junko (50)                                  (go) to Montreal.  They enjoy their time and they are able to see many new and interesting places.
     
  4. Use the appropriate past, present or future forms of the following continuous or simple forms of the verbs.  First decide if the verbs should be past, present or future.  Then decide whether the verbs should be simple or continuous and write the past, present or future forms of these verbs.
     
    Mei’s New Job
     
    Last year, Mei (1)                                  (get) job as a software engineer for a video game production company, after she (2)                                  (study) software engineering at a University that was well-known for its software engineering program.  This job (3)                                  (be) Mei’s dream job.  Every day, she (4)                                  (be) able to work on video games.  It is a very creative job.
     
    Last week, she (5)                                  (propose) a new game to her supervisor.  Her supervisor loved it and on Monday, her supervisor (6)                                  (tell) her that she could start working on it.  So, Mei is very happy, and all this week she (7)                                  (work, busily) on her new project.  On Monday, she immediately (8)                                  (start) to work on the design of the video game.  All day on Tuesday, she (9)                                  (work) on a schedule for completing the project.  Then yesterday, she spent the whole day dreaming about the characters for her video game.
     
    This project (10)                                  (demand) a lot of time and energy from Mei.  For the next six months, she (11)                                  (work) 24/7 on this project [24 hours a day, 7 days a week].  When it is finished, other programmers on her team (12)                                  (need) to check to make sure everything is working correctly.  They (13)                                  (check) and (14)                                  (recheck) every little part of the game.  Then, they (15)                                  (recruit) professional game players to test the game.  The professional players (16)                                  (play) the game again and again and then they (17)                                  (make) suggestions for improvement.  While this (18)                                  (happen), May (19)                                  (worry, always) that something in the game will not work.  But that is just part of this job.  It can be stressful, but it is also fun and creative.

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