Verb Tenses, Test 8

Choose the correct answer:

1. I ________ you were waiting for me.

a) didn't know   b) haven't known

 2. I ________ this happy in many years.

 a) wasn't           b) haven't been

3. I ________ you at the mall last Sunday.

a) have seen            b) saw 

4.I ________ here five years ago.

a) moved         b) have moved

5. P1: Have you spoken to her? 

    P2: Yes, I ________.

a) have           b) did

6. You spoke to her on Monday? What ________?

a) has she said            b) did she say

7. P1: What did you tell her?  

    P2: I ________ her the truth.

a) told            b) have told

8. I ________ to his new apartment.

a) wasn't                  b) haven't been

9. When ________ you? Last week.

a) has he called         b) did he call

10. That is the best song ________!

a) I've ever heard          b) I ever heard

11. I ______ all the washing up since morning

a) have been doing        b) had been doing

12. She ____ a shower when her mother entered the house.

a) had been having          b) was having

Correlative Constructions and Conjunctions

EXPLANATIONS

CORRELATIVE  CONSTRUCTIONS

A correlative construction is a short sentence pattern containing two corresponding phrases or clauses, each one headed by the and expressing a comparative: 

the X-er . . . . the Y-er.

ex. The more, the merrier.

The comparative correlative is also known as the correlative construction, the conditional comparative, or"the . . . the" construction.

The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.

"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art."

The more we do, the more we can do.

"The older the men are here, the more likely it is that they are wearing suits and ties."

"The less we deserve good fortune, the more we hope for it."

"The greater your achievements, the less satisfactory your personal and domestic life will be."

"The more you pay attention to the richness of the world, the more you allow your interest to be absorbed by things outside of you,,,

COMMON CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Correlative conjunctions are usually coordinating in nature because the sentence fragments they connect tend to be of equal rank.

As you know, a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses.

A subordinating conjunction, on the other hand, connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Some correlative conjunctions and their uses are explained below.

Such … that

It was such a hot afternoon that we decided to stay indoors. (Here the correlative connects the two clauses: It was a hot afternoon and We decided to stay indoors.)

She was such a bad tempered woman that nobody liked her. (Here the correlative connects the two clauses: She was a bad tempered woman and Nobody liked her.)

Scarcely …when

I had scarcely closed my eyes when someone knocked on the door.

OR,
Scarcely had I closed my eyes when someone knocked on the door.

As (many/much) … as

There are as many saucers as there are cups.

You are not as clever as you think you are.

His wife is as tall as he is.

No sooner … than

She no sooner completed one project than she started working on the next.

OR,
No sooner did she complete one project than she started working on the next.

Students sometimes wrongly use this structure. 
Remember that sooner is a comparative word and hence it should be followed by than, not when.

Rather … than

I would rather read a book than watch TV.

They would rather starve than surrender.

She would rather dance than sing.

The expression rather than is normally used in parallel structures. 
For example, with two adjectives, two adverbs, nouns, infinitives etc.

I would prefer to visit Switzerland rather than Australia.

I would prefer to walk rather than drive.

English Grammar Test 11

ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEST

Write the other two forms [ past tense and past participle ] of the following verbs:

Tear –

Spread-

Lead-

Lay-

Know-

Hide-

Bite-

Lean-

Slide

Throw

Rise

Raise

Lie

This is the first time +…………………………..:

Past perfect

Present perfect

Present simple

Past simple

This was the first time +…………………………..:

Past perfect

Present perfect

Present simple

Past simple

It`s high time +…………………………………….. :

Present simple

Present perfect simple

Present continuous

Past simple

Past perfect continuous

I wish I  ----------------- you, but I`m not.

a] had been    
b] am      
c] were      
d] has been

She wishes he ---------------------to that party last night.

a] had not been   
b] is not     
c] were not       
d] has not been

She is interested ……………………. painting.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

Melanie insists ……………………… cooking a meal for David.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

Everyone congratulated Jack ----------------- winning the competition.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

The fire fighters prevented the fire ------------------spreading.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

They are talking -----------------------building a new swimming – pool.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

She is keen ----------------------taking photos.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

There is nobody at the door, ------------------------?

O sa te ajut cand voi avea timp.

a]  I`ll help you when I`ll have time.

b] I`ll help you when I have time.

c] I`ll help you when I`m having time.

d] I`m going to help you when I`m having time.

Everybody thinks it`s time she --------------------the Nobel Prize for her work in medical research:

a] will be awarded

b] was awarded

c] has been awarded

d] had been awarded

He is looking forward to ---------------------- from you.

hear                       
hearing                   
having heard                  
heard

Se intreba daca va reusi sa plece din oras la sfarsitul saptamanii.

a] He wanted to know if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

b] He wondered if he would manage to go away over the weekend.

c] He wondered if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

d] He asked himself if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

He wishes  she---------------------harder during  the previous term.

a] has worked         
b] would work            
c] will work                
d] had worked

Ann wishes she ---------------------a postcard to her family when she was on holiday.

a] had send         
b] had sent       
c] sent         
d] would send

If only she --------------him the truth! He wouldn`t have left in such a hurry.

a] would have told           
b] told               
c] would tell                        
d] had told

The 10 o`clock news were / was interesting.

It`s no use try / trying to make excuses. She won`t believe you.

Why do you let your children stay / to stay out so late at night?

The houses reminded me of those I ---------------------in Spain two years before.

A] saw        
b] have seen       
c] had seen          
d] was seen

As soon as she -------------------home, I will let you know.

a] came       
b] will come               
c] comes             
d] has come

Hardly had she put the telephone down -------------- there was a knock on the door.

a] than          
b] then            
c] when                   
d] that

They ------------------------------to the airport like that. The plane was delayed by several hours.

a] didn`t need to rush                       
b] didn`t have to rush                
c] needn`t rush                   
d] needn`t have rushed

The news was -----------------------last night, too late for us.

a] broadcast        
b] broadcasted              
c] broadcasting                    
d] broadcasts

The old lady ---------------with difficulty and greeted us.

a] rised      
b] raised         
c] rosed        
d] rose

In Victorian England, criminals were ---------------------- .

a] hanged      
b] hung     
c] hunged      
d] hang

They put on their skis and decided to -------------the slope.

a] slid down        
b] slide down             
c] slit down              
d] slight down

What does this sign stand……………….. ?

a] by      
b] out        
c] for      
d] down

You should excuse him; he didn`t do it -------------purpose, but -----------accident.

a] on – by       
b] on – in                    
c] by – by              
d] by – out of

I generally agree ----------------- you, but I object -----------  your general attitude as regards your work.

a] to – to           
b] to – at        
c] with – with               
d] with – to

I don`t have many responsibilities; I have……………………. .

a] a few                     
b] few                     
c] little           
d] a little

Jane doesn`t drive -------------------her husband.

a] so fast as                 
b] as fastly as                    
c] faster as

Her -------------------brother is 2 years older than she is.

a] elder                     
b] older                                 
c] oldest

Put away that dirty napkin or however / whoever / whatever it is.

Verb Tenses, Test 4

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Write the correct answer: present simple or present continuous:

1. You (not / like) _______________ chocolate.

2. She (not / study) _______________ at the moment.

3. We often (go) ____________  to the cinema.

4. He usually (not / do) ________________ his homework.

5. They (not / eat) ________________ rice every day.

6. We (not / study) _____________________ every night.

7. (You / like) _______________________spicy food?

8. (She / go) ______________________to Scotland often?

9. (He / eat) ______________________________ now?

10. We (go) ______________ to the cinema this weekend.

11. They (study) _____________________________ now.

12. I (clean) ____________________ the kitchen every day.

13. She (work) _______________________ every Sunday.

14. We (not / sleep) _________________________ now.

15. He (not / go) ________________to the park very often. 

16. It (rain) _____________________________ a lot here.

17. I (go) ______________________ on holiday tomorrow.

18. How long (she / stay) __________________ in London?

19. I often (read) __________________________at night.

20. We (not / drink) ______________________much wine.

Prepositions, Exercise 3

Fill in the correct prepositions

about – at – by - for – from – in – of – on – to - with

1. She learned Russian ________ the age of 45.

2. The book was written ____________ Mark Twain.

3. I’ll show you the picture ____________ the palace.

4. We can only get to the camp _________ foot.

5. He reminds me _____ his old history teacher.

 6. What are you talking ____________ ?

7. ____________ the end of next year we will have made over £ 100,000.

8. She always gets up early ____________ the morning and goes to bed late __________night.

9. I went to work ____________ Tuesday but I didn’t go ____________ Friday.

10. You’ll have to wait. He’ll be with you ____________ a minute.

11. Philip waited ____________ her at the movie theater.

12. He started learning English ________ 2005.

13. You have to pay ____________ the tickets on the day you order them.

14. We are very proud _______ this company.

15. It’s very kind ____________ you to help us.

16. The old man suffered _____ a heart attack.

17. Please write _________ pencil.

18. It’s _________ time you told him the truth.

19. The manager didn’t take part_____the discussion.

20. He‘s very good ____________ telling jokes.

21. I’ll see you ____________ the conference.

22. We sat down ____________ the grass and ate our lunch.

23. My parents got married _______the 1970s.

24. There’s a good restaurant ____________ the end of the street.

25. We usually have turkey ____ Thanksgiving.

26. I would like to travel __ Italy next summer.

27. I took a plane __________ Munich to Rome.

28. I’d like to speak ____ the manager please.

29. I don’t usually feel tired _____ the morning.

30. My mother is abroad so my dad is taking care _________ us ____________ the moment.

31. Sonja gets ____________ the seven o’clock bus in the morning.

32. She always looks ____________ herself in the mirror.

33. I met Donna ____a party ____Friday night.

34. My friend always borrows money ____ me.

35. Daria’s books are lying ________ the floor.

36. He arrived at the school building just_ time.

37. The audience threw tomatoes_____ him.

38. Passengers are not allowed to use cell phones ____________ airplanes.

39. He is responsible ________  what he does.

40. I’m sorry ________ the job you didn’t get. 

Verb Tenses, Test 6

Fill in the blanks with the correct tense forms (present continuous / present perfect / present perfect continuous tense) of the verb. 

Choose your answers from the given options.

1. It …………… continuously since morning.

is raining              

has been raining                       

was raining

2. I ………………… him only once.

have met                        

have been meeting                   

am meeting

3. I ……………….. him for a long time.

did not see                         

have not seen                         

does not see

4. The children are hungry. They ……………… in the garden.

are playing             

have played                   

have been playing

5. We ……………… each other since our school days.

know                    

have been knowing                      

have known

6. ………………… you ………………… the job?

Have, completed                

Are, completed                  

Have, been completing

7. Her health …………….. considerably since she returned from the hills.

has improved                     

is improving                       

has been improved

8. We …………………. to find our way home yet.

have not managed                        

did not manage                     

have not been managing

9. Those who ……………. their work are free to go home.

finished                  

have finished                         

have been finishing

10. This is the fifth time you …………………… that question.

asked                          

have asked                 

have been asking

Choose the right answer:

1. We have stayed/have been staying / are staying in this house for the past three years.

2. The students went/have gone on an educational tour.

3. Only those students who have secured / have been secured / are secured ‘A’ grades will be considered for admission.

4. Sorry I am late. Have you been waiting long / Have you waited long?

5. If you have read / read / are reading that book, you should return it to the library.

6. Sorry about the mess – I have been painting / have painted the walls.

7. You have eaten / ate / have been eating ten candies since lunchtime.

8. I have written / have been writing / am writing six letters since morning.

9. I have been watching / have watched a lot of films recently.

10. I watched/have watched / have been watching three films this week.