Past simple & past continuous past perfect & past perfect continuous Used to – Would – Be/Get used to

1. Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or past continuous.

1. Jenny ___________ (wait) for me when I _________ (arrive). 2. ‘What _______________ (you/do) at this time yesterday?’ – ‘I was asleep.’ 3. ‘_________________ (you/go) out last night?’ – ‘No, I was too tired.’ 4. How fast ______________ (you/drive) when the accident _____________ (happen)? 5. Sam _____________ (take) a photo of me while I _____________ (not/look). 6. We were in a very difficult position. We ____________ (not/know) what to do. 7. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last __________ (see) him, he _________ (try) to find a job. 8. I ___________ (walk) along the street when suddenly I ____________ (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody ___________ (follow) me. I was scared and I __________ (start) to run. 9. When I was young, I __________ (want) to be a pilot. 10. Last night I ___________ (drop) a plate when I ___________ (do) the washing-up. Fortunately, it ________ (not/break).

2. Put the verb in brackets into the past simple or past continuous.

She 1) … (lie) in bed when she 2) …. (hear) a sudden noise. She 3) … (open) her eyes in horror. Someone 4) … (open) a downstairs window; they 5) … (try) to get into her house. She 6) … (climb) slowly out of bed and 7) … (creep) to the door. She 8) … (stand) very still and 9) …. (listen) carefully when she 10) … (see) a light downstairs. It 11) … (move) about as if someone 12) …. (hold) a torch and 13) …. (search) for something. She 14) …. (know) that they 15) …. (look) for her.

3. Fill in the blanks with the past simple or past continuous of the verbs in brackets.

In 2002, I _________ (1. graduate) from high school and _______ (2. start) to study at the University. I __________ (3. study) to be a lawyer when a war _______ (4. break) out in my country. I _________ (5. have) to leave my country. I _________ (6. go) to Thailand and ______ (7. live) in a refugee camp. While I _______ (8. wait) for permission to come to the United States, I _______ (9. study) English. Finally, after two years of waiting, I _______ (10. get) permission to come to America. While I _______ (11. travel) to the USA, I _______ (12. think) about all the changes in my life. I ________(13. feel) nervous and excited about coming to the US.

When I _________ (14. arrive) in New York, my sponsor _________ (15. wait) for me. He __________ (16. take) me to his house. While we __________ (17. drive) to his house, I ___________ (18. look) at the streets of New York. Everything ___________ (19. seem) strange to me. I _________ (20. think) of so many different things when, suddenly, my sponsor ________ (21. say), ‘Here we are.’ At this point, a new life ________ (22. start) for me.

4. Study the following information.

• We use used to to refer to past habits or states. In such cases, used to can be replaced by the past simple with no difference in meaning. E.g. He used to go out a lot when he was younger. / He went out a lot when he was younger. (But now he doesn’t) She used to be angry when she was single. / She was angry when she was single. (But now she isn’t.)

• We use would to refer to past habits but not to states. E.g. He would smoke many years ago. / He used to smoke many years ago.

• Look at the following examples of how can we use be/get Used to (+ V-ing / noun / pronoun)

a) They are used to hot weather.

b) I’m used to getting up early.

c) She wasn’t used to working at night.

d) Mary is getting used to life in the city

e) Simon had never lived in a tropical country before, but he quickly got used to it

f) They will get used to cooking their own meals.

Complete the following sentences with used to.

1. People don’t observe the principle of revenge now, but they ________ in the ancient world. 2. Men don’t kidnap women they want for their brides anymore, but they ___________ in the ancient world. 3. A child who hit his father can’t lose his hand now, but he _____________ in the ancient world. 4. People can’t buy or sell other people now, but they _________________ in the ancient world. 5. False accusers don’t face death penalty any more, but they _____________ in the ancient world. 6. Punishments are not very cruel now, but they ______________ extremely harsh in the ancient world.

5. Choose the correct answer.

1. ‘I found it hard to get up early.’ ‘You … to getting up early once you start working.

a) are used; b) will get used c) were used

2. ‘Do you often exercise now?’ ‘No, but I … to exercise a lot when I was at school.’

a) used; b) will get used; c) am used

3. ‘Aren’t you bothered by that noise?’ ‘No, we … to noise.’

a) were used; b) will get used; c) are used

4. ‘Does your sister travel a lot?’ ‘No, but she … to before she got married.’

a) didn’t used; b) used; c) wasn’t used

5. ‘I don’t like wearing a suit every day.’ ‘Don’t worry, you … to it very soon.’

a) are used; b) will get used; c) were used

6. Sandra … to using a computer, but now she enjoys it.

a) isn’t used; b) will get used; c) wasn’t used

7. ‘Do you remember the things we …. to do when we were children?’ ‘Of course I do. How could I forget what fun we had!’

a) used; b) were used; c) got used

8. ‘Do you like living in the city?’ ‘Well, I … to it yet, but it’s okay.’

a) am not used; b) wasn’t used; c) am used

6. Put the verbs in brackets into the past perfect or past perfect continuous.

1. A: Did you do anything last night? – B: I went to the gym and I _______ (just / arrive) home when Michael phoned me. He said he _______ (try) to phone me for ten minutes before I finally answered the phone. 2. A: Did you catch any fish in your fishing trip yesterday? – B: Yes. I _______ (sit) in my boat for half and hour when I caught a huge fish. 3. A: Did you have enough time to finish your English test? – B: Almost. I _______ (just / start) writing the last sentence when the bell rang. We _______ (write) it for about an hour. 4. A: Why were you so upset this morning? – B: I was very upset, because I _______ (fail) my examination, I _______ (prepare) for it for nearly a week. 5. A: Why were you late for your classes this morning? – B: I_______ (wait) for the bus over 20 minutes before it eventually arrived.

7. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

A: 1. A: Why was Tim so tired last night? B: Oh, he ___________ (work) hard all day. 2. A: I _____ (go) to the cinema last night. B: Really? What __________ (you/see)? 3. A: Did you have enough to eat at the party? B: Yes. Sarah ____________ (make) a lot of food. 4. A: What __________ (you/do) at eight o’clock last night? B: I ___________ (watch) television. Why? 5. A: Colin! Look at yourself You are filthy! B: I know. I ___________ (repair) my motorbike. 6. A: I __________ (do) something really silly yesterday. B: Really? What? A: I ________ (get) up and ________ (set off) for work as usual. I ________ (drive) for an hour before I ___________ (realise) it was Sunday. 7. A: I ____________ (just/hear) some incredible news! B: What? A: Jason and Emily _______ (get) married last week in Las Vegas. Isn’t that amazing?

B: 1. We _________ (walk) in the park when the storm broke. 2. The man __________ (pay) for his new car in cash. 3. I _________ (already/eat) breakfast by the time the others woke up. 4. It ___________ (snow) for a few days when suddenly the sun came out. 5. Sam _________ (work) here for six months before he left to go to university. 6. Liz ________ (go) to the Bahamas for her holidays last year. 7. We __________ (watch) a film on TV when our guests arrived. 8. They ________ (already/see) the film twice at the cinema when he rented it on video. 9. The teacher ________ (teach) the children a song yesterday. 10. He _______ (sit) on the train at this time yesterday.

8. Choose the correct answer.

1. ‘Are you going shopping tonight?’ ‘No, I … yesterday.’

a) went; b) had gone; c) had been going

2. ‘Did you see Nathan?’ ‘No, he … by the time I arrived at his home.’

a) was leaving; b) had been leaving; c) had left

3. ‘Where is Scot?’ ‘He … on the phone when I saw him.’

a) was talking; b) talked; c) has talked

4. ‘How often do you clean your house?’ ‘I … clean it once a week.’

a) seldom; b) usually; c) never

5. ‘Sharon looks different now, doesn’t she?’ ‘Yes. She … to have long dark hair.’

a) is used; b) used; c) would

6. ‘Did Alan arrive on time?’ ‘No, I … for an hour before he arrived.’

a) was waiting; b) had waited; c) had been waiting

7. ‘Did you go out for dinner last night?’ ‘No, I … a lot at lunch, so I wasn’t hungry.’

a) had been eating; b) had eaten; c) was eating

8. ‘What time do you usually finish work?’ ‘Actually, I …’

a) have just finished; b) finish; c) finished

9. ‘How is Diana?’ ‘She’s fine. She … to life in the countryside.’

a) got used; b) used; c) is getting used

10. ‘Did you enjoy your holiday?’ ‘Yes, we … in a fabulous hotel.’

a) have stayed; b) had stayed; c) stayed

11. ‘I like your dress. Is it new?’ ‘No. I … it for ages.’

a) had; b) have had; c) have

12. ‘How is John now?’ ‘He … better slowly.’

a) gets; b) is getting; c) has been getting

13. ‘Do you remember when we were little?’ ‘Yes. Dad … read us a bedtime story.’

a) was used to; b) would; c) got used to

14. ‘Aren’t you tired?’ ‘No. I … to walking long distances.’

a) am used; b) got used; c) used

15. I think politics … a very interesting subject.

a) is b) are; c) have been

16. The news …. encouraging, I’m afraid.

a) are; b) have been; c) is

FUTURE SIMPLE & TO BE GOING TO

To be going to is used:

• for plans, intentions or ambitions we have for the future. E.g. I’m going to employ more staff. (intention / plan) I’m going to expand my company. (intention / plan)

• in predictions when there is evidence that something will happen in the near future. E.g. Look at him He is going to win the race. (There is evidence: he is ahead of the other runners.)

Note.

• We use will when we make a prediction based on what we think, believe or imagine. E.g. In the year 2050 there will be colonies on Mars.

• We use be going to when we make predictions based on what we can see (evidence) or know. E.g. Look! The acrobat is going to walk along the tightrope.

1. Put the verb into the correct form using will or be going to .

1. A: I’ve got a terrible headache. B: Have you? Wait there and I …. (get) an aspirin for you. 2. A: Why are you filling that bucket with water? B: I … (wash) the car. 3. A: I’ve decided to repaint this room. B: Oh, have you? What colour …. (you / paint) it? 4. Look! There’s smoke coming out of that house. It’s on fire! – B: Good heavens! I … (call) the fire brigade immediately. 5. A: The ceiling in this room doesn’t look very safe, does it? - B: No, it looks as if it …. (fall) down. 6. A: Where are you going? Are you going shopping? – B: Yes, I …. (buy) something for dinner. 7. A: I can’t work out how to use this camera. – B: It’s quite easy. I …. (show) you. 8. A: What would you like to drink – tea or coffee? – B: I … (have) tea, please. 9. A: Has George decided on what to do when he leaves school? – B: Oh, yes, everything is planned. He …. (start) a computer programming course. 10. A: Did you post that letter for me? – B: Oh, I’m sorry. I completely forgot, I …. (do) it now. 11. A: What shall we have for dinner? - B: I don’t know. I haven’t made up my mind. – A: Come on, hurry up! Make a decision! – B: Okay then. We …. (have) chicken. 12. A: We need some bread for lunch. B: Oh, do we? I …. (go) to the shop and get some. I feel like walking. (Before he goes out, he says :) I ….. (get) some bread. Do you want anything from the shop? A: Yes, I need some envelopes. B: Okay, I …. (get) you some.

2. Study the following information.