BAZINGA! : GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Tense Revision and Verb Patterns

1. Choose the correct answer.

1. To swim / Swimming is very good for you.

2. Janet didn’t realise the baby had been crying / has been crying for over half an hour.

3. We have watched / have been watching this video clip on YouTube four times this week.

4. John is sure his son had forgotten / has forgotten to take the key with him.

5. Would you recommend to eat / eating in this restaurant?

6. Do you know what time it is? I had been waiting / have been waiting for you for over ten minutes.

2. Complete the sentences with the time expressions below.

by the time • so far • the day before • since six o’ clock this morning

1. …………………………… the performer arrived, the audience had been waiting for almost an hour.

2. The teacher has corrected only half the exams …………………………… .

3. The builders have been working on the roof …………………………… .

4. They rode on the bikes that they had bought …………………………… .

3. Choose the correct answer.

1. Martin has been feeling ill for some time.

a. He is still ill.

b. He felt ill, but now he is better.

2. Kieran didn’t remember to tell Jane about the meeting.

a. He forgot to tell her.

b. He doesn’t have any memory of telling her.

3. Penny had been studying all morning when her boyfriend arrived.

a. Penny started studying when he arrived.

b. He arrived during the time that Penny was busy studying.

4. So far, the Kellog family has lived here for six months.

a. They still live here.

b. After six months, they stopped living here.

5. By the time we left the city, it had been raining for over two hours.

a. It started raining after we left the city.

b. The rain had started before we left the city.

4. Complete the sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous form.

1. Laura started to play the clarinet when she was ten years old. She still plays the clarinet.

Laura ................................................................................................................. .

2. Nancy worked as a waitress until she went to university.

How long .......................................................................................................... ?

3. All my friends were swimming in the pool. I got there half an hour later.

By the time I got to the pool, .................................................................................... .

4. My grandfather started growing fruit trees when I was born. He still grows them.

From the time I was born, ....................................................................................... .

5. Write sentences that logically follow the original sentences with the words in brackets.

1... Adrian didn’t recognise his cousin.
(he / not see / her / for 40 years)

...............................................................................................................................

2... Chris has just bought a new book.
(he / read it / for hours)

...............................................................................................................................

3... My parents weren’t upset when the tickets were sold out.
(they / already see / the film / several times)

...............................................................................................................................

4... Ben is going to enter the American Idol contest.
(he / always want / be a singer)

...............................................................................................................................

5... Caroline was late.
(they / already close / the doors to the theatre)

...............................................................................................................................

6. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Your brother is too young ………………………… (ride) on your motorbike.

2. ………………………… (sail) in rough seas can be very dangerous.

3. The car needs to be repaired. It ………………………… (make) strange noises for weeks.

4. The thief admitted ………………………… (take) the money.

5. Sorry! Jeff isn’t here right now, but he ………………………… (leave) you a message.

7. Choose the sentence that best follows the original sentence.

1. I stopped drinking coffee.

a. I decided it wasn’t healthy.

b. I was very tired.

2. She didn’t remember turning off the television.

a. She went back to check.

b. The television was on all day.

3. Have you been working all morning?

a. You looked exhausted.

b. You look exhausted.

4. We had been planning this holiday for months.

a. We will soon go on holiday.

b. We finally went on holiday.

5. The Turner family has been living in that house for ten years.

a. They finally moved.

b. They have finally painted it.

8. Complete the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences.

1. The gates opened only a few minutes ago. (just)

.... The gates ........................................................................................................... .

2. I didn’t put the keys back on the table. (forgot)

.... I ....................................................................................................................... .

3. Iris went skydiving for the first time last week. (never)

.... Until last week, Iris ................................................................................................ .

4. It started raining last night and it’s still raining now. (since)

.... It ...................................................................................................................... .

5. After ten years of playing the piano, Joanna gave it up. (been)

.... Joanna .............................................................................................................. .

6. I hate to see him so frustrated. (can’t stand)

.... I ....................................................................................................................... .

7. They were tired from walking, so they rested. (stopped)

.... They ................................................................................................................. .

8. I’m sure I locked the door when I left the house. (remember)

.... I ....................................................................................................................... .

9. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below.

call • receive • check • build • climb • appear • apply • borrow

1. Andrew is looking forward to ………………………… in his school play.

2. She finished reading the book she ………………………… from the library only the day before.

3. Bob’s house is nearly finished. He ………………………… it for over two years now.

4. They didn’t know what time the programme was on. They forgot ………………………… in the local newspaper.

5. Darren wants to appear in a reality TV programme. He ………………………… to take part in three shows already.

6. It’s no use ………………………… him again today. He’s already left.

7. They were tired because they ………………………… the hill for over an hour.

8. On ………………………… her e-mail, I realised I had made a mistake.

10. Complete the passage with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Wesley Autrey, a 50-year-old New Yorker, ^1. ………………………… (discover) several years ago that being famous causes people around you to behave strangely. It all started when he ^2. ………………………… (stand) on a subway platform in Manhattan with his two young daughters waiting for a train, when a young man fell onto the tracks. Without ^3. ………………………… (hesitate), Autrey ^4. ………………………… (jump) onto the tracks and pulled the young man to safety. At the time, a train ^5. ………………………… (approach) the station. Luckily, no one was hurt and Autrey became famous overnight. He was awarded a lot of money and was asked to give interviews.

He discovered just how many friends and relatives he had. After ^6. ………………………… (become) famous, they decided ^7. ………………………… (contact) Autrey. For example, he ^8. ………………………… (not heard) from his father for 30 years, but suddenly his father called him and asked him for money. Autrey claims it’s not worth ^9. ………………………… (be) angry about the past.

And what about his daughters? They’re paying the price of fame by ^10. ………………………… (share) their dad with the rest of the world.

Modal Verbs

1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of a suitable modal or semi-modal. There may be more than one possible answer.

1. You ……………………… drink coffee at night because you’ll have trouble falling asleep.

2. ……………………… you please talk quietly? I’m trying to concentrate.

3. He ……………………… be too far away from us. I saw him a minute ago.

4. I ……………………… get up early because there wasn’t school today.

5. Last year, we ……………………… afford to eat out more, but it’s too expensive this year.

6. There’s a new school rule. We ……………………… bring our mobile phones to class.

7. I ……………………… come to the concert tomorrow, but I’m still not sure.

2. Choose TWO possible answers.

1. I can’t find my car keys. I should have left / must have left / may have left them at home.

2. May I borrow / Should I borrow / Can I borrow your dictionary for a minute, please?

3. You shouldn’t lie / mustn’t lie / couldn’t lie to people.

4. I would have visited / must have visited / could have visited you, but I wanted to call first.

5. You shouldn’t worry / don’t have to worry / can’t worry. I promise I’ll help you.

3. Complete the sentences with a modal or modal perfect, affirmative or negative. Use the modal and verb
in brackets.

1. Don’t run so fast. You ………………………… (might / fall) and hurt yourself.

2. We ………………………… (need / catch) the early train. We’ve arrived much too early.

3. Toby came home with an injured knee today. He ………………………… (must / fall off) his bike again.

4. Jenny can’t stop crying. You ………………………… (should / tell) her the sad news.

5. I got to work very late today. I ………………………… (should / take) the short cut.

6. Jane ………………………… (could / find) her winter shoes, so she wore sandals in the park.

7. Ellen isn’t answering her phone. She ………………………… (may / go) on holiday.

8. There’s a light in the window. They ………………………… (must / be) at home.

4. Complete the sentences with the affirmative or negative form of the verbs in brackets.
Use should or had better.

1. You broke my window. (pay)

You ................................................................................................................... .

2. Dad needs the car at 6 o’clock. (be late)

You ................................................................................................................... .

3. There’s a lot of traffic on the motorway. (leave early)

They ................................................................................................................. .

4. The food is delicious. (eat)

You ................................................................................................................... .

5. Jack is probably sleeping now. (call him)

We ................................................................................................................... .

5. Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences.

1... It’s possible that they didn’t remember. (might not)

...............................................................................................................................

2... It’s important we don’t forget to lock the door. (mustn’t)

...............................................................................................................................

3... Perhaps they are at home. (might)

...............................................................................................................................

4... It would be a good idea to invite Jason to our party. (should)

...............................................................................................................................

5... Do I have permission to leave the room? (may)

...............................................................................................................................

6... I thought of driving but I decided to walk. (could)

...............................................................................................................................

6. Answer the questions. Make them true for you.

1... What do you have to do at home?

...............................................................................................................................

2... How can you improve your marks?

...............................................................................................................................

3... What might happen at the weekend?

...............................................................................................................................

4... What mistake that you made could have been prevented?

...............................................................................................................................

5... What should you try to do more often?

...............................................................................................................................

EXTENSION EXERCISES

1. Complete the sentences with a suitable modal and modal perfect below and the correct form of the verbs
in brackets.

have to • needn’t • must have • shouldn’t have • should have • might • can’t have • mustn’t • might have

1. You …………………………… (worry). I’ll help you.

2. John hasn’t arrived yet. He …………………………… (miss) the bus.

3. My bike needs new tyres, so I …………………………… (walk) to school this week.

4. I didn’t know the lesson was cancelled. You …………………………… (tell) me.

5. You …………………………… (make) so much food. Nobody was hungry.

6. Don’t give up yet. You …………………………… (win) the prize next time.

7. He …………………………… (forget) his camera again! I reminded him twice this morning.

8. That mountain is dangerous. You …………………………… (try) to climb it.

2. Complete the mini-dialogues with a modal or modal perfect and the verbs in brackets. There may be more than one correct answer.

I Nan: I ^1. ……………………… (not reach) my clothes on the top shelf. ^2. ………………………

you ……………………… (help) me?

Sue: Sorry. I’m busy right now. You ^3. ……………………… (try) standing on a chair.

II Kieran: I didn’t know that our neighbours were moving. You ^4. ……………………… (tell) me.

Maggie: Why? What difference does it make?

Kieran: I ^5. ……………………… (say) goodbye to them.

III Sally: ^6. ……………………… I ……………………… (get) you something to drink while you’re waiting?

Brian: No, thanks. I’m waiting for Jill to come. She ^7. ……………………… (be) here any minute.

3. Complete each sentence in a logical manner.

1... You had better not ……………………… because ........................................................... .

2... I think we should ……………………… in order to .......................................................... .

3... You shouldn’t ……………………… because I will ........................................................... .

4... He had better ……………………… at once or I will ......................................................... .

4. Complete the passage with a modal form of the verbs in brackets. There may be more than one correct answer.

What is 350 Day? It’s an international day on climate action, observed by teens all over the world who want to make a change. They also think that world leaders ^1. ………………………… (take) responsibility for climate change and do now what they ^2. ………………………… (do) many years ago. In the meantime, teens have been taking action. Students in Sweden decided to help the rainforests. They sold cakes and, with the money they earned, bought six hectares of rainforest in Costa Rica for preservation. They ^3. ………………………… (use) the money for other things, but they wanted to help the planet. Their actions ^4. ………………………… (inspire) others because now 22,000 hectares are protected. This protected area is called the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

A British teen group is encouraging teens to send a million footprints to Copenhagen. All you ^5. ………………………… (do) is paint your foot, take a picture and send it to their website. They say that if you ^6. ………………………… (not be) there, your feet can. They think a million footprints ^7. ………………………… (make) a difference! So, on 24th October, teens will be sending an important message to world leaders: we ^8. ………………………… (act) now to stop climate change!

5. Rewrite the sentences using a suitable modal or modal perfect. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences. There may be more than one correct answer.

1... It’s not a good idea for Hal to play football so soon after his accident.

.... Hal ................................................................................................................... .

2... I’m sure I heard her playing the piano yesterday.

.... She ................................................................................................................... .

3... It’s possible that her plane has landed.

.... Her plane ........................................................................................................... .

4... We decided to walk instead of taking the car.

.... We ................................................................................................................... .

5... Smoking is prohibited in this building.

.... You ................................................................................................................... .

6... It’s not necessary to arrive early.

.... You ................................................................................................................... .

Gerunds and Infinitives

List of verbs followed by Infinitive

List of verbs followed by Gerund

List of verbs followed by Noun + Infinitive

List of verbs followed by Noun + Infinitive or Gerund

List of verb followed by Gerund of Infinitive (different meaning)

List of verbs followed by Gerund or Infinitive (similar meaning)

Click on the exercises to practice the use of Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
Test yourself

The Passive

Here you can see the most common tenses in Active and Passive.

Active (Simple Forms)
Simple Present	I drive
Simple Past	I drove
Present Perfect	I have driven
Past Perfect	I had driven
will-future	I will drive
Future Perfect	I will have driven
Conditional I	I would drive
Conditional II	I would have driven

Active (Progressive/Continuous Forms)
Simple Present	I am driving
Simple Past	I was driving
Present Perfect	I have been driving
Past Perfect	I had been driving
will-future	I will be driving
Future Perfect	I will have been driving
Conditional I	I would be driving
Conditional II	I would have been driving

Passive (Simple Forms)
Simple Present	I am driven
Simple Past	I was driven
Present Perfect	I have been driven
Past Perfect	I had been driven
will-future	I will be driven
Future Perfect	I will have been driven
Conditional I	I would be driven
Conditional II	I would have been driven

Passive (Progressive/Continuous Forms)
Present	I am being driven
Past	I was being driven
Present Perfect ¹	I have been being driven
Past Perfect ¹	I had been being driven
Future ¹	I will be being driven
Future Perfect ¹	I will have been being driven
Conditional I ¹	I would be being driven
Conditional II ¹	I would have been being driven

¹ Tenses which are rarely used in everyday conversation.

1. Rewrite each sentence using two passive structures.

1... They gave Jim an award for his bravery.

....................................................................................................................................................

2... Somebody has just sent me some beautiful flowers.

....................................................................................................................................................

3... We’re forwarding the attachment to everyone at work.

....................................................................................................................................................

4... We should have told our parents the truth.

....................................................................................................................................................

5... Everyone knows that dogs are loyal pets.

....................................................................................................................................................

2. Complete the sentences. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences.

1... You have to send that e-mail by this evening.

..... That e-mail ............................................................................................................................ .

2... They are going to finish the script by tomorrow.

..... The script .............................................................................................................................. .

3... No one has ever used this sewing machine.

..... This sewing machine .............................................................................................................. .

4... The bike had been stolen before we got there.

..... Someone ............................................................................................................................... .

5... They are planting the winter vegetables now.

..... The winter vegetables ............................................................................................................. .

6... Janice sold her car to an old friend.

..... Janice’s old car ...................................................................................................................... .

7... The furniture was still being packed when the van arrived.

..... They ..................................................................................................................................... .

8... The essay should have been handed in yesterday.

..... You ....................................................................................................................................... .

3. Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences.

1... They haven’t said anything yet. (nothing)

....................................................................................................................................................

2... Has the garden been watered? (someone)

....................................................................................................................................................

3... Our teacher checks our homework regularly. (checked)

....................................................................................................................................................

4... We were planning our trip to Greece at the time. (our trip)

....................................................................................................................................................

5... Somebody should tell him about it. (told)

....................................................................................................................................................

6... Our flight may be cancelled because of the weather. (cancel)

....................................................................................................................................................

4. Complete the passage with the correct active or passive form of the verbs in brackets.

Social networking ^1. ……………………… (become) the most popular activity among people of all ages. Today, more and more people ^2. ……………………… (sit) in front of their computers in order to have a social life. But what ^3. ……………………… (happen) to face-to-face contact? Have people stopped talking to each other?

According to Dr Aric Stigman, a British doctor, online networking is actually harmful to our health. He ^4. ……………………… (claim) that today, less time ^5. ……………………… (spend) on interacting with other human beings. People are becoming more isolated: their best friend is their computer.

Dr Stigman goes on to say that the way our genes work ^6. ……………………… (can alter) by this lack of personal interaction. Furthermore, the risk of serious health problems like cancer and heart disease ^7. ………………………
(may increase). He adds that, in his opinion, modern technology ^8. ……………………… (should use) to improve our lives and our health, and not the opposite. But not everyone agrees with him. People living alone say their lives ^9. ……………………… (change) by the Internet – and for the better.

Practice

Click to do exercises with Passive

VERBS
Click on the following link to practise verb forms and tenses VERBS

Grammar Revision Level 1

1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. [9 x 1 = 9 points]

1. If you ……………………… (not be) home by five, I ……………………… (walk) the dog.

2. She ……………………… (not forget) the meeting yesterday if she ……………………… (write down) the date and time. ……………………… .

3. He ……………………… (cook) the soup for the past three hours. I ……………………… (not wait) any longer ……………………… (taste) it.

4. I ……………………… (must / leave) my mobile phone at the restaurant. I wish I ……………………… (not leave)
so quickly.

2. Complete the passage with the correct form of the words in brackets or a suitable relative pronoun.
There may be more than one possible answer. [10 x 1 = 10 points]

If an 18-year-old boy in London ^1.……………………… (not experiment) in a chemistry lesson many years ago, artificial dyes ^2.……………………… (not invent). In 1856, William Perkin, a talented student ^3.……………………… had been studying at the Royal College of Chemistry for years, ^4.……………………… (work) on an assignment
^5.……………………… he noticed the beautiful purple colour of the mixture he had made. He didn’t tell his professors what he ^6.……………………… (discover), but continued to work secretly on the formula, ^7.……………………… he called “mauveine”. After perfecting the formula so that the colour ^8.……………………… (not affect) by light or water, he began ^9.……………………… (sell) it to textile factories. Today, the colour ^10.……………………… (know) as mauve, and it was the first dye to be chemically made.

3. Complete the sentences. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences. [6 x 1 = 6 points]

1. A photographer took our class photos yesterday.

We ................................................................................................................... .

2. “Someone has used my laptop without asking me,” Myra said.

Myra complained that ............................................................................................ .

3. Loch Ness is a lake in Scotland. Some people believe that a large sea monster lives there.

Some people believe that ....................................................................................... .

4. “Who does that fancy sports car belong to?”

“To ................................................................................................................. ?”

5. They’re editing the film now.

The film ............................................................................................................. .

6. If you don’t enter your password correctly, you can’t access the website.

Unless ............................................................................................................... .

Key

1. 1. aren’t; will walk

2. wouldn’t have forgotten; had written down

3. has been cooking; am not waiting; to taste

4. must have left, hadn’t left

2. 1. hadn’t experimented

2. wouldn’t have been invented

3. who

4. was working

5. when

6. had discovered

7. which

8. wouldn’t be affected

9. selling / to sell

10. is known

3. 1. had / got our class photos taken yesterday

2. someone had used her laptop without asking her

3. a large sea monster lives in Loch Ness, which is a lake in Scotland

4. whom does that fancy sports car belong

5. is being edited now

6. you enter your password correctly, you can’t access the website

Grammar Revision Level 2

1. Complete the passage with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. [10 x 1 = 10 points]

Less than twenty years ago, nobody ^1.……………………… (can / predict) the popularity of digital cameras, or how affordable they would eventually become. Today, these user-friendly devices ^2.……………………… (grow) more sophisticated, with new features that ^3.……………………… (add) every year. And if researchers succeed in
^4.……………………… (develop) some of the recent innovations, we ^5.……………………… (use) digital cameras for more than just ^6.……………………… (take) simple photographs. Among the new things which ^7.……………………… (develop) are features that will improve a camera’s ability ^8.……………………… (freeze) moving objects in a photo. But even more, it ^9.……………………… (think) that not too long from now, digital cameras will be able to create drawings from photographed images. Furthermore, they ^10.……………………… (possess) the capability of taking photos from two or more angles – without the camera itself being moved.

2. Write sentences with the words in brackets that logically follow the preceding sentences.
Use the correct form of the verbs. [5 x 1 = 5 points]

1. In my opinion, Sam is out of shape.
(if / I / him / start / work out)

.................................................................................................................

2. It’s terribly foggy and pouring with rain.
(we / better / not drive / in this weather)

.................................................................................................................

3. Did you paint your room yourself?
(no / I / have / it / paint)

.................................................................................................................

4. What were you and Kate whispering about earlier?
(she / tell / me / she / break up with / her boyfriend)

.................................................................................................................

5. We were so worried about you.
(you / should / call / and / tell / us / about the delay)

.................................................................................................................

3. Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences.
[10 x 1 = 10 points]

1. Has anyone written a book about this region? (been)

.................................................................................................................

2. Unless I can leave school early, I won’t meet you at the train station. (if)

.................................................................................................................

3. His films are quite violent. They’re not suitable for young children. (which)

.................................................................................................................

4. Regent’s Park is walking distance from here. London Zoo is there. (where)

.................................................................................................................

5. “I didn’t delete any songs from your MP3 player,” my brother said. (denied)

.................................................................................................................

6. Helen is a good friend. I can rely on her for anything. (whom)

.................................................................................................................

7. It’s too bad that we couldn’t stay there longer. (wish)

.................................................................................................................

8. We studied various forms of renewable energy last month. Then we took a tour of the
wind farm. (by the time)

.................................................................................................................

9. I advise you not to arrive late. (if)

.................................................................................................................

10. I’m sorry I never visited him in hospital. (regret)

.................................................................................................................

Key

1. 1. could have predicted 6. taking

2. have grown 7. are being developed

3. are (being) added 8. to freeze

4. developing 9. is thought

5. will use / will be using 10. will possess

2. 1. If I were him, I’d start working out.

2. We had better not drive in this weather.

3. No, I had it painted.

4. She was telling me that she had broken up with her boyfriend.

5. You should have called and told us about the delay.

3. 1. Has a book been written about this region?

2. If I can’t leave school early, I won’t meet you at the train station.

3. His films, which are quite violent, aren’t suitable for young children. / His films, which aren’t suitable for young children, are quite violent.

4. Regent’s Park, where London Zoo is, is walking distance from here.

5. My brother denied deleting any songs from my MP3 player.

6. Helen is a good friend on whom I can rely for anything.

7. I wish we could have stayed there longer.

8. By the time we took a tour of the wind farm, we had studied various forms of renewable energy.

9. If I were you, I wouldn’t arrive late.

10. I regret not visiting him in hospital.