English Tenses

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English Tenses – Examples

Explanation Past Present Future

Simple Past Simple Present Future I Simple

action that takes place once, never or several times

He played football every Tuesday.

He plays football every Tuesday.

He will / is going to play football every Tuesday.

actions that happen one after another

He played football and then he went home.

He plays football and then he goes home.

He will play football and then he will go home.

state He loved football. He loves football. He will love football.

Past Progressive Present Progressive

Future I Progressive

action going on at that moment

He was playing football.

He is playing football.

He will be playing football.

actions taking place at the same time

He was playing football and she was watching.

He is playing football and she is watching.

He will be playing football and she will be watching.

Past Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Future II Simple

action taking place before a certain moment in time; emphasises the result

He had won five matches until that day.

He has won five matches so far.

He will have won five matches by then.

Past Perfect Progressive

Present Perfect Progressive

Future II Progressive

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action taking place before a certain moment in time (and beyond), emphasises the duration

He had been playing football for ten years.

He has been playing football for ten years.

He will have been playing football for ten years.

Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

Simple Present

A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak?

action in the present taking place once, never or several times

facts actions taking

place one after another

action set by a timetable or schedule

always, every …, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually if sentences type I (If I talk, …)

Present Progressive

A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking?

action taking place in the moment of speaking

action taking place only for a limited period of time

action arranged for the future

at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now





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Simple Past A: He spoke. N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak?

action in the past taking place once, never or several times

actions taking place one after another

action taking place in the middle of another action

yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday if sentence type II (If I talked, …)

Past Progressive

A: He was speaking. N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking?

action going on at a certain time in the past


action in the past that is interrupted by another action

when, while, as long as


A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken?

putting emphasis on the result

action that is still going on

action that stopped recently

finished action that has an influence on the present

action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now







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A: He has been speaking. N: He has not been speaking. Q: Has he been speaking?

putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result)

action that recently stopped or is still going on

finished action that influenced the present

all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

Past Perfect Simple

A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken?

action taking place before a certain time in the past

sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive

putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day if sentence type III (If I had talked, …)


A: He had been speaking. N: He had not been speaking. Q: Had he been speaking?


sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple

putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action

for, since, the whole day, all day








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Future I Simple

A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?

action in the future that cannot be influenced

spontaneous decision

assumption with regard to the future

in a year, next …, tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, she will help you.) assumption: I think, probably, we might …, perhaps

Future I Simple (going to)

A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak?

decision made for the future

conclusion with regard to the future

in one year, next week, tomorrow


A: He will be speaking. N: He will not be speaking. Q: Will he be speaking?

action that is going on at a certain time in the future

action that is sure to happen in the near future


Future II Simple

A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken?

action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

by Monday, in a week


A: He will have been speaking. N: He will not have been speaking. Q: Will he have been speaking?

action taking place before a certain time in the future

putting emphasis on the

for …, the last couple of hours, all day long



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course of an action

Conditional I Simple

A: He would speak. N: He would not speak. Q: Would he speak?

action that might take place

if sentences type II (If I were you, I would go home.)

Conditional I Progressive

A: He would be speaking. N: He would not be speaking. Q: Would he be speaking?


putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action

Conditional II Simple

A: He would have spoken. N: He would not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken?

action that might have taken place in the past

if sentences type III (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)

Conditional II Progressive

A: He would have been speaking. N: He would not have been speaking. Q: Would he have been speaking?


puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action

English Tenses – Graphic Comparison

Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand when to use which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there are just a few rules to keep in mind.

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If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.

→ Legend

Legend

moment in time

action that takes place once, never or several times actions that happen one after another actions that suddenly take place

period of time

action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that moment


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Result

action taking place before a certain moment in time puts emphasis on the result

Course / Duration

action taking place before a certain moment in time puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action

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Simple Past (Past Simple)

Exercises on Simple Past

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Form of Simple Past

Positive Negative Question

no differences I spoke. I did not speak. Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example

after a final e only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

admit – admitted travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past action in the past taking place once, never or several times

Example: He visited his parents every weekend.

actions in the past taking place one after the other Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.

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action in the past taking place in the middle of another action Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

if sentences type II (If I talked, …) Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Signal Words of Simple Past yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

Simple Present (Present Simple) - Introduction

Simple present is also called present simple.

The simple present expresses an action in the present taking place once, never or several times. It is also used for actions that take place one after another and for actions that are set by a timetable or schedule. The simple present also expresses facts in the present.

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Simple Present - Form

be

Use:

am with the personal pronoun II is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or with the singular form of

nouns) are with the personal pronouns we, you or they (or with the plural form of

nouns)

example: I am hungry.

affirmative negative question

I I am. I am not. Am I?

he/she/it He is. He is not. Is he?

you/we/they You are. You are not. Are you?

Exercise on simple present with 'be'

have

Use:

have with the personal pronouns I, you, we und they (or with the plural form of nouns)

has with the personal pronouns he, she, it (or with the singular form of nouns)

example: I have a dog. / I have got a dog.

'have got' is mainly used in British English. You can also use 'have' on its own (especially in American English). In this case, however, you must form negative sentences and questions with the auxiliary verb 'do' (see 'All other verbs').

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positiv negativ question

I/you/we/they I have got. / I have. I have not got. / I do not have.

Have I got? / Do I have?

he/she/it He has got. / He has.

He has not got. / He does not have.

Has he got? / Does he have?

Simple Present - Exceptions in Spelling

The 3rd person singular is usually formed by adding s. But there are a few exceptions to the rule:

Animation on exceptions in spelling when adding 's'

The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.

example: he can, she may, it must

Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.

example: do - he does, wash - she washes

A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s.

example: worry - he worries

But: A final y after a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) is not modified.

example: play - he plays



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Simple Present - Short Forms

affirmative negative

I am English. = I'm English. I am not English. = I'm not English.

We are English.= We're English.

We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.

He is English. = He's English. He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.

I have got a dog. = I've got a dog.

I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.

He has got a dog. = He's got a dog.

He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.

I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis

He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.

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Simple Present - Use

facts (something is generally known to be true)

The sun sets in the west.

The sun never sets in the east or south or north, but always in the west. Exercise


Colin always plays soccer

on Tuesdays.

Colin plays football regularly - every Tuesday. In English, signal words are often used, e.g.: always, never, seldom, often, regularly, every Monday. Exercise

actions in the present taking place one after another

She takes her bag and

leaves.

First one action takes place and then the other. Exercise

action set by a time table or schedule

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The train leaves at 9 pm.

Although the action takes place in the future, it takes place regularly and is set by a time table. Exercise

verbs expressing states, possession, senses, emotions and mental activity

I love her.

When you love someone, that's a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action (like running for example). Whenever you want to express a state, possession, sense or emotions, use the simple form (not the progressive). The following words all belong to this group:

be (state) believe (mental activity) belong (possession) hate (feeling and emotion) hear (senses) like (feeling and emotion) love (feeling and emotion) mean (mental activity) prefer (mental activity) remain (state) realize (mental activity) see (senses) seem (feeling and emotion) smell (senses) think (mental activity) understand (mental activity) want (feeling and emotion)




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wish (feeling and emotion)

Simple Present - Signal Words always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never

Simple Present - Summary

Form

be


I I am. I am not. Am I?

he/she/it He is. He is not. Is he?

you/we/they You are. You are not. Are you?

have


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I/you/we/they I have got. / I have. I have not got. / I do not have.

Have I got? / Do I have?

he/she/it He has got. / He has.

He has not got. / He does not have.

Has he got? / Does he have?

other verbs


I/you/we/they I play. I do not play. Do I play?

he/she/it He plays. He does not play. Does he play?

Exceptions in Spelling

Exception Example

The verbs can, may, might, must remain the same in all forms. So don't add s.

he can, she may, it must

Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, x) add es instead of s.

do - he does, wash - she washes

A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. (but: don't modify y after a vowel)

worry - he worries (but: play - he plays)

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Short Forms


I am English. = I'm English. I am not English. = I'm not English.

We are English.= We're English.

We are not English. = We're not / We aren't English.

He is English. = He's English. He is not English. = He's not / He isn't English.

I have got a dog. = I've got a dog.

I have not got a dog. = I've not got a dog. / I haven't got a dog.

He has got a dog. = He's got a dog.

He has not got a dog. = He's not got a dog. / He hasn't got a dog.

I do not play tennis. = I don't play tennis

He does not play tennis = He doesn't play tennis.

Use

Use Example


Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.

actions in the present taking place one after another She takes her bag and leaves.

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facts (something is generally known to be true) The sun sets in the west.

action set by a timetable or schedule The train leaves at 9 pm.

verbs of possession, senses, emotions and mental activity

I love her.

Typical Signal Words always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never

Future I Simple will

Exercises on Future I Simple with will

Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the future or an action in the future that cannot be influenced.

Form of will Future

positive negative question

no differences I will speak. I will not speak. Will I speak?

Use of will Future a spontaneous decision

example: Wait, I will help you.

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an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future example: He will probably come back tomorrow.

a promise example: I will not watch TV tonight.

an action in the future that cannot be influenced example: It will rain tomorrow.

conditional clauses type I example: If I arrive late, I will call you.

Signal Words in a year, next …, tomorrow Vermutung: I think, probably, we might …, perhaps

Past Progressive (Past Continuous)

Exercises on Past Progressive

The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.

Form


I / he / she / it I was speaking. I was not speaking. Was I speaking?

you / we / they

You were speaking.

You were not speaking.

Were you speaking?


Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

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final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting

l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English)

travel – travelling

final ie becomes y lie – lying

Use of Past Progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past

Example: He was playing football.

two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

action going on at a certain time in the past Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

Signal Words of Past Progressive when, while, as long as

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Present Progressive - Introduction

The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.

Present progressive is also known as present continuous.

Present Progressive - Form

Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.

Animation: form

Use:

am with the personal pronoun I is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns) are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)


I I am playing. I am not playing. Am I playing?

he, she, it He is playing. He is not playing. Is he playing?

you, we, they You are playing. You are not playing. Are you

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playing?

Present Progressive - Exceptions in Spelling

Animation: exceptions in spelling

A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.

example: come - coming I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.

But: ee at the end of the word is not changed

example: agree - agreeing

The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.

example: sit - sitting I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.

The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.

example: travel - travelling I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.

Mind: This applies only for British English; in American English there is usually only one l.

An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.

example: lie - lying I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.

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Present Progressive - Short Forms


I am playing. - I'm playing. I am not playing. - I'm not playing.

He is playing. - He's playing.

He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.

We are playing. - We're playing.

We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.

Present Progressive - Use

Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)


The action is going on now. Signal words like now, at the moment are often used to emphasise that the action is taking place at the moment of speaking. Signal words are not really necessary, however, as this is already expressed by the tense itself. Exercise

Arrangements for the near future

I'm going to the theatre

tonight.

In the example you can see that the tickets are already bought. So we are talking about an arrangement for the near future. To make clear that the action is not going on now, we usually use signal words like tonight, tomorrow, next Friday, at noon.

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Exercise

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time

Jim is helping in his

brother's firm this week.

Here we are talking about a time limit. Jim does not usually work in the firm, he is still at school and wants to earn some extra money during his holidays. To make clear that there is a time limit, we usually use signal words, e.g. this week/month/year. Exercise

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)

I'm studying for my

exams.

This action takes place around now and only for a limited period of time, but not at the moment of speaking. We don't have to use signal words here, but we often find signal words in such sentences, e.g. now, at the moment. Exercise

Development, changing situations

The population of China is rising very fast.

The sentence describes a development from one situation to another. Signal words are not that common here, only sometimes the change of situation is emphasised by using for example more and more. Exercise

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Present Progressive - Signal Words

Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now) at the moment now / just now / right now Listen! Look!

Arrangements for the near future in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening at noon / tonight tomorrow next ...

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time this week / this month / this year

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking) at the moment now / just now / right now

Development, changing situations more and more

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Present Progressive - Summary

Form


I I am playing. I am not playing. Am I playing?

he, she, it He is playing. He is not playing. Is he playing?

you, we, they You are playing. You are not playing. Are you playing?


Exeption Example

silent e is dropped before ing (but: ee is not changed)

come - coming (but: agree - agreeing)

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

sit - sitting

final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English)

travel - travelling

ie becomes y before ing lie - lying

Short Forms

positiv negativ

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I am playing. - I'm playing. I am not playing. - I'm not playing.

He is playing. - He's playing.

He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.

We are playing. - We're playing.

We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.

Use

Use Example

actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now)


arrangements for the near future I'm going to the theatre tonight.

actions taking place only for a limited period of time

Jim is helping in his brother's firm this week.

actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)

I'm studying for my exams.

development, changing situations The population of China is rising very fast.

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Typical Signal Words at the moment now / just now / right now Listen! Look!

Future I Progressive (Future I Continuous)

Future I progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action taking place in the future.

Form A: He will be talking. N: He will not be talking. Q: Will he be talking?

Use action that is going on at a certain time in the future action that is sure to happen in the near future

Signal Words in one year, next week, tomorrow

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Past Perfect Simple

Exercises on Past Perfect Simple

The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.

Form of Past Perfect Simple


no differences I had spoken. I had not spoken. Had I spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the past participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add ed.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed Example

after final e, only add d love – loved




Use of Past Perfect action taking place before a certain time in the past

(putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration) Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.

Conditional Sentences Type III (condition that was not given in the past) Example: If I had seen him, I would have talked to him.

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Signal Words already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day (with reference to the past,

not the present) If-Satz Typ III (If I had talked, …) Exceptions in Spelling when adding ed

Write the participle form (3rd form) of the regular verbs. Note the exceptions in spelling when adding ed.

1. push - pushed 2. carry - carried 3. cycle - cycled 4. drop - dropped 5. follow - followed 6. play - played 7. empty - emptied 8. close - closed 9. dial - dialled 10. sail - sailed

Positive Sentences in Past Perfect Simple

Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple.

1. The pupils talked about the film they had watched . 2. I was late for work because I had missed the bus. 3. We lived in the house that my father had built . 4. We admired the picture that Lucy had painted . 5. They watered the trees that they had planted . 6. The teacher corrected the tests that the pupils had written . 7. I received a good mark in my test because I had practised on ego4u. 8. The mail order house did not send me the shirt that I had ordered . 9. I had to clean the floor because my cats had knocked over the flower pots. 10. My friend was in hospital because she had slipped on a banana skin.

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Negative Sentences in Past Perfect Simple

Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple. Use the negative form.

1. In the shopping centre, I met a friend who I had not seen for ages. 2. The thief could walk right into the house because you had not locked the

door. 3. We lost the match because we had not practised the days before. 4. At school, Jim quickly copied the homework that he had not done . 5. We ate at a restaurant last night because I had not bought anything for

dinner. 6. When we came back, it was cold in the house because Alice had not closed

the windows. 7. All day long, Phil was angry with me just because I had not greeted him

first. 8. When I met Jane at eleven o’clock, she had not had breakfast yet. 9. I couldn’t go to the cinema with my friends last night because I had not

finished my homework yet. 10. Fred answered my question although I had not asked him.

Questions in Past Perfect Simple

Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.

1. What had Bob done that he was kept in after school? 2. Had you eaten anything before you went to the theatre? 3. Had he lived in London before he moved to Glasgow? 4. Had she found a new job by that time? 5. Had they booked a room before they went to Dublin? 6. How often had you rung the bell before he answered the door? 7. Why had they had dinner before they came to the party? 8. Had Carly washed the dishes when her mum came home? 9. Had you read the contract before you signed it? 10. Who had lived in the house before we moved in?

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Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple).

1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we had built . 2. He had not been to Cape Town before 1997. 3. When she went out to play, she had already done her homework. 4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum had made . 5. The doctor took off the plaster that he had put on six weeks before. 6. The waiter brought a drink that I had not ordered . 7. I could not remember the poem we had learned the week before. 8. The children collected the chestnuts that had fallen from the tree. 9. Had he phoned Angie before he went to see her in London? 10. She had not ridden a horse before that day.

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Exercises on Present Perfect

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect


I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example

after a final e only add d love – loved




Use of Present Perfect puts emphasis on the result

Example: She has written five letters.


http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple#exercises�


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Example: School has not started yet.

action that stopped recently Example: She has cooked dinner.

finished action that has an influence on the present Example: I have lost my key.


Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now Exceptions in Spelling when adding ‚ed‘

Write the participle form (3rd form) of the regular verbs. Note the exceptions in spelling when adding ‚ed‘.

1. use - used 2. try - tried 3. carry - carried 4. dance - danced 5. cycle - cycled 6. travel - travelled

have or has

Fill the gaps with 'have' or 'has'.

1. I have answered the question. 2. She has opened the window. 3. They have called us. 4. You have carried a box. 5. It has rained a lot. 6. We have washed the car.

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7. He has closed the window. 8. Jenny has locked the door. 9. The girls have visited the museum. 10. John and Sophie have helped in the garden

Positive Sentences in Present Perfect Simple

Write positive sentences in present perfect simple

The following people have just completed an action.

1. Bob has visited his grandma. 2. Jimmy has played on the computer. 3. Sue and Walter have washed their car. 4. Andrew has repaired his bike. 5. Phil has helped Anne with maths. 6. Brad and Louise have watched a film. 7. Tamara has talked to her best friend. 8. Bridgette has drawn a picture. 9. Carol has read a computer magazine. 10. Tom and Alice have been to a restaurant.

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Future II Simple

Future II Simple expresses an action that will be finished at a certain time in the future.

Form A: He will have talked. N: He will not have talked. Q: Will he have talked?

Use action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

Signal Words by Monday, in a week

Past Perfect Progressive (Past Perfect Continuous)

The past perfect progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action taking place before a certain time in the past.

Form A: He had been talking. N: He had not been talking. Q: Had he been talking?

Use action taking place before a certain time in the past sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action

signal words for, since, the whole day, all day

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Present Perfect Continuous

Exercises on Present Perfect Progressive

The present perfect progressive expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action.

Form of Present Perfect Progressive


I / you / we / they

I have been speaking.

I have not been speaking.

Have I been speaking?

he / she / it He has been speaking.

He has not been speaking.

Has he been speaking?


Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed)

come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting

l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English)

travel – travelling

final ie becomes y lie – lying

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-progressive#exercises�

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Use of Present Perfect Progressive puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result)

Example: She has been writing for two hours.

action that recently stopped or is still going on Example: I have been living here since 2001.

finished action that influenced the present Example: I have been working all afternoon.

Signal Words of Present Perfect Progressive all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ing

Write the “ing” form of the verbs. Note the excepitons in spelling when adding “ing”.

1. run → running 2. arrive → arriving 3. chat → chatting 4. sit → sitting 5. lie → lying 6. move → moving 7. cycle → cycling 8. travel → travelling 9. tie → tying 10. dial → dialling

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Have or Has?

Decide whether to use “have” or “has”.

1. She has been asking questions all day long. 2. They have been climbing the mountain. 3. We have been washing the dishes. 4. You have been repairing your computer. 5. I have been working. 6. It has been snowing. 7. The boy has been playing. 8. Caty has been dreaming. 9. The men have been digging a hole. 10. Cindy and Bob have been studying English.

since – if the starting point is given (two o’clock, last Friday, 1998) for – if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)

Decide whether you have to use “since” or “for”.

1. I have been waiting since 4 o’clock. 2. Sue has only been waiting for 20 minutes. 3. Tim and Tina have been learning English for six years. 4. Fred and Frida have been learning French since 1998. 5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together since Valentine’s Day. 6. I haven’t been on holiday since last July. 7. Mary has been saving her money for many years. 8. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. 9. You have been watching TV for hours. 10. We have been living here for 2 months

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Exercise on Present Perfect Progressive Positive Sentences

Write positive sentences in present perfect progressive.

1. Albert / squash / play → Albert has been playing squash. 2. Hannah / the match / watch → Hannah has been watching the match. 3. we / in the park / wait → We have been waiting in the park. 4. you / a song / sing → You have been singing a song. 5. I / a magazine / read → I have been reading a magazine. 6. it / rain / all day → It has been raining all day. 7. Phil and Greg / a race / run → Phil and Greg have been running a race. 8. she / her teeth / brush → She has been brushing her teeth. 9. the Millers / in London / live / for three years → The Millers have been

living in London for three years. 10. we / on the lake / sail → We have been sailing on the lake.

Exercise on Present Perfect Progressive

Negative Sentences

Write negative sentences in present perfect progressive.

1. we / not / in the mountains / walk → We have not been walking in the mountains.

2. Beatrice / not / in Boston / teach → Beatrice has not been teaching in Boston.

3. Ricky / not / the car / wash → Ricky has not been washing the car. 4. she / not / a poem / write → She has not been writing a poem. 5. we / not / tea / drink → We have not been drinking tea. 6. we / not / our rooms / clean → We have not been cleaning our rooms. 7. the children / not / on the floor / sleep → The children have not been

sleeping on the floor. 8. Jeff and Linda / not / cycle → Jeff and Linda have not been cycling. 9. Christine / not / her home / decorate → Christine has not been decorating her

home.

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10. the cat / not / on the chair / lie / all day → The cat has not been lying on the chair all day.


Questions

Write questions in present perfect progressive.

1. she / on the phone / talk → Has she been talking on the phone? 2. his brother / dinner / cook → Has his brother been cooking dinner? 3. Jane and Mary / badminton / play → Have Jane and Mary been playing

badminton? 4. Sue / in the gym / exercise → Has Sue been exercising in the gym? 5. Robert / the room / paint → Has Robert been painting the room? 6. they / trees / plant → Have they been planting trees? 7. Henry / in the garage / work → Has Henry been working in the garage? 8. they / in the lake / swim → Have they been swimming in the lake? 9. how long / Boris / English / learn → How long has Boris been learning

English? 10. how long / you / for me / wait → How long have you been waiting for me?


Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive).

1. He has been working in this company since 1985. 2. I have been waiting for you since two o'clock. 3. Mary has been living in Germany since 1992. 4. Why is he so tired? He has been playing tennis for five hours. 5. How long have you been learning English? 6. We have been looking for the motorway for more than an hour. 7. I have been living without electricity for two weeks.

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8. The film has not been running for ten minutes yet, but there's a commercial break already.

9. How long has she been working in the garden? 10. She has not been in the garden for more than an hour.

Future II Progressive (Future II Continuous)

Future II progressive puts emphasis on the course / duration of an action taking place before a certain time in the future. It can also be used to express an assumption regarding a future action.

Future II progressive is not used very often as it can usually be replaced by future II simple.

Form A: He will have been talking. N: He will not have been talking. Q: Will he have been talking?

Use action taking place before a certain time in the future puts emphasis on the course of an action

Signal Words for ..., the last couple of hours, all day long

Exercise on Future II Progressive

Put the verbs into the correct form (future II progressive).

1. By the end of the week I will have been working here for four months. 2. By the end of this month we will have been living together for six years. 3. By the end of the term she will have been studying for nine years. 4. By midnight we will have been playing this computer game for 48 hours. 5. She will have been talking on the phone for the last couple of hours.

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6. They will have been looking for me all night long. 7. He will have been playing soccer all day long. 8. You will have been watching TV all the time. 9. He will not have been sleeping all morning. 10. Will they have been waiting for 2 hours?

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Easily Confused Words Both, Either, Neither, Nor and So

Expression Example

both … and … I like both cats and dogs.

so Jane likes cats. So do I.

not … either Jane doesn't like cats. I don't like cats either.

either … or … Jane either has a cat or a dog.

neither/nor Jane doesn't like cats. Neither do I./Nor do I.

neither … nor … I like neither cats nor dogs.

Exercise

Find out why some parents think that their teenage sons or daughters have a lot in common with cats. (Don't take it too seriously, though.) ;o)

1. Neither cats nor teenagers turn their heads when you call them. 2. You would hardly ever see a cat walking outside of the house with its

master. Nor would you see a teenager in public with his or her parents very often. 3. A cat doesn't share your taste in music. A teenager doesn't either 4. Both cats and teenagers can lie on the sofa for hours on end without moving. 5. Cats expect you to prepare the food for them. So do teenagers.

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6. If you tell a joke, neither your cat nor your teen will laugh about it. 7. If you make a sudden move in their direction, both cats and teenagers get

frightened. 8. Cats do not improve your furniture. Teenagers don't either 9. Cats roam outside and often come home very late at night. So do teenagers. 10. Conclusion: no matter if you either have a cat or a teenager at home - it's all

the same

Exercise on »since« and »for«

- since - if the starting point is given (two o'clock, last Friday, 1998) - for - if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year)

Decide whether to use »since« or »for«.

1. I have been waiting since 4 o'clock. 2. Sue has only been waiting for 20 minutes. 3. Tim and Tina have been learning English for six years. 4. Fred and Frida have been learning French since 1998. 5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together since Valentine's Day. 6. I haven't been on holiday since last July. 7. Mary has been saving her money for many years. 8. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. 9. You have been watching TV for hours. 10. We have been living here for 2 months.

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Some / any

Exercises on some and any

The words some and any are used for countable and uncountable nouns. In general, we could say that some means a few / a little and any means none in negative clauses or a few / a little in questions.

Positive Clauses

In positive clauses, we usually use some.

Example: I have bought some bread. I have bought some apples.

Negative Clauses

In negative clauses, we use any. Note, however, that any alone is not a negative - it must be not ... any

Example: I have not bought any bread. I have not bought any apples.

Questions

In questions, we usually use any.

Example: Have you bought any bread? Have you bought any apples?

Compound Words with some / any

Some / any can also be part of compound words such as:

something / anything someone / anyone somewhere / anywhere

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/some-any#exercises�

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Note that some / any have to be used with a noun while compound words with some / any can stand on their own.

Example: I have bought some bread. I have bought something.

However, some and any need not stand directly before the noun. Sometimes, the noun appears somewhere before some or any and is not repeated. So if you are not sure whether to use some or something for example, check if there is a noun in the sentence that you can place after some.

Example: I do not have to buy bread. Rachel has already bought some [bread].

Exceptions

Positive Clauses with Any

We usually use some in positive clauses. But after never, without, hardly, we use any.

Example: We never go anywhere. She did her homework without any help. There’s hardly anyone here.

Also in if clauses, we usually use any.

Example: If there is anything to do, just call me.

Questions with Some

We usually use any in questions. But if we expect or want the other to answer ‚yes‘, we use some.

Example: Have you got any brothers and sisters? → some people have brothers or sisters, others don't - we cannot expect the answer to be ‚yes‘ Would you like some biscuits?

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-clauses�

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→ we offer something and want to encourage the other to say ‚ja‘

A Little / A Few

Exercises on A Little and A Few

The expressions a little and a few mean some.

If a noun is in singular, we use a little Example:

a little money If a noun is in plural, we use a few

Example: a few friends

Countable / Uncountable Nouns

In connection with a little / a few people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a number (that's why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take a few.

Example: 4 friends – a few friends

Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number (that's why they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take a little.

Example: 3 money – a little money

Note: Of course you can count money – but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 3 euro (but not „3 money“).

A Little / A few or Little / Few

It's a difference if you use a little / a few or little / few. Without the article, the words have a limiting or negative meaning.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/little-few#exercises�

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a little = some little = hardly any

Example: I need a little money. - I need some money. I need little money. - I need hardly any money.

a few = some few = hardly any

Example: A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me. Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me.

Without the article, little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here.

Example: I need little money. = I do not need much money. Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me

Much / many

Exercises on much and many

The words much and many mean a lot of.

If a noun is in singular, we use much Example:

much money If a noun is in plural, we use many

Example: many friends

Use of much / many

In everyday English, we normally use much / many only in questions and negative clauses.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/much-many�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/much-many#exercises�

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Example: How much money have you got? Carla does not have many friends.

In positive clauses with so, as or too, we also use much / many.

Example: Carla has so many friends. She has as many friends as Sue. Kevin has too much money.

In all other positive clauses, however, we prefer expressions like a lot of / lots of.

Example: Carla has a lot of / lots of friends. Kevin has a lot of / lots of money.

In formal texts, however, much / many are also common in positive clauses. This you will notice for example when you read English news.

Countable / Uncountable Nouns

In connection with much / many people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a number (that's why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take many.

Example: 100 friends – many friends

Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number (that's why they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take much.

Example: 100 money – much money

Note: Of course you can count money – but then you would name the currency and say that you have got 5 euro (but not „5 money“).

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Exercise on »who« and »which« Relative Pronouns

You witnessed a bank robbery and now a police officer wants you to tell him what was going on. Decide whether to use which or who.

1. This is the bank which was robbed. 2. The man who robbed the bank had two pistols. 3. He wore a mask which made him look like Mickey Mouse. 4. He came with a friend who waited outside in the car. 5. The woman who gave him the money was young. 6. The bag which contained the money was yellow. 7. The people who were in the bank were very frightened. 8. The car which he escaped in was orange. 9. The man who drove the car was nervous. 10. He didn't wait at the traffic lights which were red.

Exercise on 'must not' and 'need not'

- must not - prohibition (it is not allowed) - need not - option (it is not necessary)

Soccer Rules

Decide whether to use 'must not' or 'need not'.

1. The teams must not have more than 11 players on the field during a match. 2. But there need not even be 11 players playing for each team. 3. Players must not wear anything which might injure another player. 4. Players need not play the ball with their feet only. 5. Substituted players must not return to the game. 6. Players must not leave the game without the referee's permission.

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7. Players must not hold an opponent. 8. The referee need not send a player off if he has committed foul play. 9. However, if a player is sent off during the game, he must not be replaced. 10. A period need not be over after exactly 45 minutes.

Confusing Words Weather – Whether

Exercise - A Poem about the Weather

Whether the weather be fine. Or whether the weather be not. Whether the weather be cold. Or whether the weather be hot. We'll weather the weather, Whatever the weather . Whether we like it or not.

Phone Numbers

Each figure is said separately.

24 - two four

The figure 'O' is called oh.

105 - one oh five

Pause after groups of 3 or 4 figures (last group).

376 4705 - three seven six, four seven oh five

If two successive figures are the same, in British English you would usually use the word double (in American English you would just say the figure twice)

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376 4775 - BE: three seven six, four double seven five 376 4775 - AE: three seven six, four seven seven five

Business-English – Communication Phone Anruf entgegennehmen

… (company). Good morning. … (company). Good afternoon. … (company). How can I help you? I'm afraid you have dialled the wrong number. Who would you like to speak to? What does it concern, please? Would you mind telling me what you're calling about? Hold the line, I'll put you through. I'll pass you over to … (department). … is speaking on another line. … isn't in (yet). … is away on business. … is on holiday (this week). … is out for lunch. I'm afraid, … is not available at the moment. … will be back any minute. I'm sorry, but the line is engaged. There's no reply. If you hold the line, I'll try again. Would you like to hold? Could you try again later / tomorrow? Can I take a message? Would you like to leave a message for …?

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If you give me your phone number, … will call you back. Could I have your name, please? Could I help you? / Maybe I can help you?

Anruf tätigen … here. / … speaking. / This is … This is … (company), … (name) speaking. Sorry, I must have dialled the wrong number. Could I speak to …, please? Am I speaking to …? Could you put me through to …, please? It's about … I'm calling about … Could you please tell … I phoned? Could you give … a message, please? Could you ask … to call me back? Do you know when … will be back? Will … be in the office tomorrow? I'll try again later / tomorrow. Maybe you could help me?

Verständndigungsprobleme My English isn't very good. The line is bad. I can hardly hear you. I didn't get that. Could you speak more slowly, please? Could you speak louder, please? Could you repeat that, please? Could you spell that, please? Sorry? / Pardon?

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Presentation

Structure and Content Introduction: General information on the topic

Give your listeners an introduction to the topic (some general information) and explain what exactly you are going to talk about in your presentation.

Actual Presentation Subdivide your presentation into several sub-topics.

Conclusion Try to find a good conclusion, e.g.:

o an invitation to act o an acknowledgement o a motivation

Tips on Giving a Presentation

As listeners cannot take up as many information as readers, keep the following rules in mind when giving a presentation:

Keep your sentences short and simple. Use standard English, avoid slang and techy language. Prefer verbs to nouns (not: The meaning of this is that …, but: This means

that …). Use participal constructions sparingly. (In written texts they are often used

to increase the density of information in a sentence. In spoken texts, however, they make it more difficult for the listeners to follow.)

Speak clearly and slowly. Have little breaks in between the sentences to allow your audience to reflect

on what has been said.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/inf-ger-par/participles�

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Communicate freely (don't read the whole text from a piece of paper). Illustrate certain aspects of your presentation with pictures and graphics.

The following tricks will also help you keep your audience's attention:

Outline to the audience how your presentation is structured. (e.g. I will first explain ... / Then I will … / After that … / Finally… ).

Indicate when you come to another sub-topic (I will now talk about …). This way your audience can follow your presentation more easily.

Use a rhetorical question or hypophora from time to time. Your listeners will think that you've asked them a question and thus listen more attentively.

Use enumerations starting first / second / third. This also draws your audience's attention.

A joke or a quotation might also help keeping your audience listening. Don't overdo it, however. Using too many jokes or quotations might not have the effect you want.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/rhetorical-question�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/hypophora�

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Table of English Tenses

tense Affirmative/Negative/Question Use Signal Words

Simple Present

A: He speaks. N: He does not speak. Q: Does he speak?


facts actions taking

place one after another


always, every …, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usually if sentences type I (If I talk, …)

Present Progressive

A: He is speaking. N: He is not speaking. Q: Is he speaking?

action taking place in the moment of speaking

action taking place only for a limited period of time

action arranged for the future

at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now

Simple Past A: He spoke. action in the yesterday, 2






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N: He did not speak. Q: Did he speak?

past taking place once, never or several times

actions taking place one after another

action taking place in the middle of another action

minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday if sentence type II (If I talked, …)

Past Progressive

A: He was speaking. N: He was not speaking. Q: Was he speaking?

action going on at a certain time in the past


action in the past that is interrupted by another action

when, while, as long as


A: He has spoken. N: He has not spoken. Q: Has he spoken?

putting emphasis on the result


action that stopped recently

finished action that has an influence on the present


already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now






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A: He has been speaking. N: He has not been speaking. Q: Has he been speaking?

putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result)

action that recently stopped or is still going on

finished action that influenced the present

all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

Past Perfect Simple

A: He had spoken. N: He had not spoken. Q: Had he spoken?



putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

already, just, never, not yet, once, until that day if sentence type III (If I had talked, …)


A: He had been speaking. N: He had not been speaking. Q: Had he been speaking?


sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple

putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action

for, since, the whole day, all day








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Future I Simple

A: He will speak. N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?




in a year, next …, tomorrow If-Satz Typ I (If you ask her, she will help you.) assumption: I think, probably, we might …, perhaps

Future I Simple (going to)

A: He is going to speak. N: He is not going to speak. Q: Is he going to speak?





A: He will be speaking. N: He will not be speaking. Q: Will he be speaking?

action that is going on at a certain time in the future

action that is sure to happen in the near future


Future II Simple

A: He will have spoken. N: He will not have spoken. Q: Will he have spoken?

action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

by Monday, in a week


A: He will have been speaking. N: He will not have been speaking. Q: Will he have been speaking?

action taking place before a certain time in the future

putting emphasis on the

for …, the last couple of hours, all day long











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course of an action

Conditional I Simple

A: He would speak. N: He would not speak. Q: Would he speak?


if sentences type II (If I were you, I would go home.)

Conditional I Progressive

A: He would be speaking. N: He would not be speaking. Q: Would he be speaking?


putting emphasis on the course / duration of the action

Conditional II Simple

A: He would have spoken. N: He would not have spoken. Q: Would he have spoken?


if sentences type III (If I had seen that, I would have helped.)

Conditional II Progressive

A: He would have been speaking. N: He would not have been speaking. Q: Would he have been speaking?


puts emphasis on the course / duration of the action

Pronouns (Personal, Possessive, Relative and Reflexive Pronouns)

Pronouns are words like I, me (personal pronouns) or my, mine (possessive pronouns).











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Personal Pronouns Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns subject

form object form

possessive adjective

possessive pronoun

I me my mine myself

you you your yours yourself

he him his his himself

she her her hers herself

it it its its itself

we us our ours ourselves

you you your yours yourselves

they them their theirs themselves

Exercise on Pronouns Personal Pronouns - Subject

Replace the words in brackets by the correct personal pronouns. Note that Sue is the person speaking. The (*) means that you are asked a question.

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1. My name is Sue. I am English. And this is my family. 2. My mum's name is Angie. She is from Germany. 3. Bob is my dad. He is a waiter. 4. On the left you can see Simon. He is my brother. 5. We are twins. 6. Our dog is a girl, Judy. She is two years old. 7. We live in Canterbury. 8. It is not far from London. 9. My grandparents live in London. They often come and see us. 10. What can you tell me about your family?

Exercise on Pronouns Personal Pronouns Object

Aaron was on a business trip to California. He shows you the souvenirs he got for his family.

Fill in the correct pronouns.

1. My sister Jane loves books. This novel is for her. 2. My children like Disney films. The video is for them. 3. My brother Matt collects picture postcards. These postcards are for him. 4. My parents like Latin music. The CD is for them. 5. I like watches. This nice watch is for me. 6. My wife and I love sweets. These sweets are for us. 7. My nephew likes cars. The toy truck is for him. 8. My neighbour wants to go to California next year. The guide book is for her. 9. Here is another souvenir. I don't know what to do with it. 10. You know what? - It's for you.

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Exercise on Pronouns Possessive Adjectives

Replace the personal pronouns by possessive adjectives.

1. Where are your friends now? 2. Here is a postcard from my friend Peggy. 3. She lives in Australia now with her family. 4. Her husband works in Newcastle. 5. His company builds ships. 6. Their children go to school in Newcastle. 7. My husband and I want to go to Australia, too. 8. We want to see Peggy and her family next winter. 9. Our winter! 10. Because it is their summer.

Exercise on Pronouns Possessive Pronouns

Replace the personal pronouns by possessive pronouns.

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1. This book is yours. 2. The ball is mine. 3. The blue car is ours. 4. The ring is hers. 5. We met Paul and Jane last night. This house is theirs. 6. The luggage is his. 7. The pictures are hers . 8. In our garden is a bird. The nest is its . 9. This cat is ours. 10. This was not my fault. It was yours.

Exercise on Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns

Fill in the correct reflexive pronouns.

1. I did not want to believe it and then I saw the UFO myself. 2. The girl looked at herself in the mirror. 3. Freddy, you'll have to do your homework yourself. 4. You don't need to help them. They can do it themselves . 5. I introduced myself to my new neighbour. 6. Boys, can you make your beds yourselves ? 7. She made herself a pullover. 8. What happens when a fighting fish sees itself in the mirror? 9. The father decided to repair the car himself. 10. We can move the table ourselves .

Exercise on Pronouns

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Reflexive and Reciprocal Pronouns

Decide whether you have to use the reflexive pronoun, the reciprocal pronoun (each other) or nothing.

1. John hurt himself when climbing the tree. 2. Peter and Sue helped each other with the homework. 3. I feel - much better today. 4. Did she make herself a cup of tea? 5. The wild monkey looked at itself in the mirror. 6. Brigit and Billy smiled at each other . 7. We're meeting - at the station. 8. During the meeting, Jane and Mary were talking to each other. 9. I don't remember - where we spent our holiday last year. 10. We need to concentrate -.

Exercise on Relative Clauses (Contact clauses) Relative Pronouns (who / which / whose)

Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose).

1. This is the bank which was robbed yesterday. 2. A boy whose sister is in my class was in the bank at that time. 3. The man who robbed the bank had two pistols. 4. He wore a mask which made him look like Mickey Mouse. 5. He came with a friend who waited outside in the car. 6. The woman who gave him the money was young. 7. The bag which contained the money was yellow. 8. The people who were in the bank were very frightened. 9. A man whose mobile was ringing did not know what to do. 10. A woman whose daughter was crying tried to calm her. 11. The car which the bank robbers escaped in was orange.

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12. The robber whose mask was obviously too big didn't drive. 13. The man who drove the car was nervous. 14. He didn't wait at the traffic lights which were red. 15. A police officer whose car was parked at the next corner stopped and

arrested them.

Exercises “Little Red Riding Hood” – Teil 1

Fill the gaps with the correct pronouns.

1. Once upon a time there was a girl called Little Red Riding Hood. Together with her mum, she lived in a big forest.

2. One fine day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said, “ Your grandma is ill. Please go and take this cake and a bottle of wine to her. Grandma’s house is not too far from our house, but always keep to the path and don’t stop!”

3. So, Little Red Riding Hood made her way to Grandma’s house. 4. In the forest she met the big bad wolf. 5. Little Red Riding Hood greeted him and the wolf asked: 6. “Where are you going, Little Red Riding Hood?” 7. “To my grandma’s house.” answered Little Red Riding Hood. 8. “Can you tell me where your grandma lives?” 9. “ She lives in a little cottage at the edge of the forest.” 10. “Why don’t you pick some nice flowers for her?” asked the wolf. 11. “That’s a good idea.” said Little Red Riding Hood and began looking for

flowers. Meanwhile, the wolf was on his way to grandma’s house. 12. The house was quite small but nice and its roof was made out of straw. 13. The wolf went inside and swallowed poor old Grandma. After that he put

Grandma’s clothes on and lay down in her bed.

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Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Exercises on Reported Speech

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.

Statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

pronouns present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions tenses (backshift)

Type Example

direct speech “I speak English.”

reported speech (no backshift)

He says that he speaks English.

reported speech He said that he spoke English.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech#exercises�

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Type Example

(backshift)

→ more on statements in reported speech

Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns present tense verbs (3rd person singular) place and time expressions tenses (backshift)

Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question use the interrogative or if / whether

Type Example

with interrogative direct speech “Why don’t you speak English?”

reported speech

He asked me why I didn’t speak English.

without interrogative

direct speech “Do you speak English?”

reported speech

He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

→ more on questions in reported speech

Requests

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns place and time expressions

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/statements�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/questions�

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Type Example

direct speech “Carol, speak English.“

reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

→ more on requests in reported speech

Additional Information and Exeptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:

main clauses connected with and / but tense of the introductory clause reported speech for difficult tenses exeptions for backshift requests with must, should, ought to and let’s

Confusing Tenses

Simple Present – Present Progressive

Exercises and tests

Form

Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak

form of 'be' and verb + ing I am speaking

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech/requests�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro#exercises�

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you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak

you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 's' : For can, may, might, must, do not

add s. Example: he can, she may, it must

After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays

Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e is dropped. (but: does not

apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting

After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: travelling (American English)

Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?


in general (regularly, often, never) right now



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Colin plays football every Tuesday. present actions happening one after another First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.

Look! Colin is playing football now. also for several actions happening at the same time Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never first then

at the moment at this moment today now right now Listen! Look!

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?



The film starts at 8 pm.

arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

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Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?


daily routine

Bob works in a restaurant.

only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We are on holiday.

possession: belong, have Example: Sam has a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He feels the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loves pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I believe you.

Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

Simple Present - Present Perfect Progressive

Use

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Simple Present Present Perfect Progressive


action that started in the past and is still going on

puts emphasis on how often the action takes place

puts emphasis on how long the action has been going on

Present Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Progressive

Exercises and Tests

Form

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked

form of 'have' + been + verb + ing

Example: I / you / we / they have been speaking he / she / it has been speaking

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro#exercises�

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Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' : when the final letter is e, only add d

Example: love - loved

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example: admit - admitted

final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example: travel - travelled

after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - worried but: play - played

Exceptions when adding 'ing' : silent e is dropped. (but: does not

apply for -ee) Example: come - coming aber: agree - agreeing

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: sit - sitting

after a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling

final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

Use

Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.

Result or duration?

Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?

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Result (what / how much / how often)

I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice.

Duration (how long) I have been writing for an hour.

Certain verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).

state: be, have (for possession only) Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He has touched the painting.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I have known him for 3 years.

Emphasis on completion or duration?

Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?


Emphasis on completion

I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)

Emphasis on duration I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)

Result or side effect?

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Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?


desired result

I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)

unwanted side effect Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)

Time + negation: last time or beginning of an action?

In negative sentences: Do you want to express how much time has past since the last time the action took place or since the beginning of the action?


since the last time I haven't played that game for years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last played that game.)

since the beginning I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.)

Permanent or temporary?

If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.


permanent James has lived in this town for 10 years.

temporary James has been living here for a year.

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(Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)

(Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)

Signal words


how often ... times

how long since for

Simple Past – Past Progressive

Exercises and Tests

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs I spoke regular verbs: verb + ed I worked

past form of 'be' + ing form of verb I was speaking you were speaking he / she / it was speaking we were speaking they were speaking

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro#exercises�

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Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed' : when the final letter is e, only add d.

Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the

final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted

final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled

after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worried but: play - he played

Exceptions when adding 'ing' : silent e is dropped (but: does not

apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: sit - sitting

final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelling

final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Progressive

Use

After another or at the same time?

Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at the same time?


after another

She came home, switched on the computer and checked her e-mails.

at the same time Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was watchin TV.



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New action or already in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action, you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the action already in progress.


new action

My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a meeting.)

action already in progress While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was taking place at a certain time?


just mentioning Colin played football yesterday.

emphasising progress Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We were on holiday.

possession: belong, have Example: Sam had a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

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Example: He felt the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loved pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I did not understand him.

introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.

Signal words


first then If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

when while as long as

Simple Past – Present Perfect Simple

Exercises and Tests

Form

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs

Example: I spoke

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-preper#exercises�

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regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example:

I worked

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed': when the final letter is e, only add d

Example: love - loved

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example:

admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example: travel - travelled

after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example:

worry - worried but: play - played

See also explanations on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple

Use

In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if it's consequence in the present is important.

Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In American English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those who have to learn the differences.



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Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?


certain time in the past Example:

I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.

just / already / not yet Example:

I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has happened till now?


certain event in the past Example:

He went to Canada last summer.

whether / how often till now Example:

Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?


Emphasis on action Example:

I bought a new bike. (just telling what I did in the past.)

Emphasis on result Example:

I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

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Signal Words


yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ...

just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

Simple Past – Past Perfect

Use

Simple Past Past Perfect

action in the past taking place once, never or several times


actions in the past taking place one after the other


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action in the past taking place in the middle of another action

puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course of the action)

Future Mix

Comparison of future tenses: going to, will, Simple Present, Present Progressive

Use

Future I going to Future I will Simple Present Present Progressive



action set by a time table or schedule

action already arranged for the near future




General Information on Spoken Texts

Differences between spoken and written texts

In general, the same rules apply for spoken texts as for written ones:

use simple language keep subordinate clauses short prefer verbs to nouns (not: The meaning of this is that …, but: This means

that …) avoid slang and techy language

As listeners cannot take up as many information as readers, do also keep the following rules in mind when preparing a text that is to be presented orally:

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Keep your sentences short and simple. Avoid participal constructions. (In written texts they are often used to

increase the density of information in a sentence. In spoken texts, however, they make it more difficult for the listeners to follow.)

Listeners' attention

You surely know that it is not always easy to follow a lecture or presentation. On the other hand, imagine how a speaker must feel if nobody is listening. With just a few tricks, however, you can win your audience's attention:

Speak clearly and slowly. Use simple words and short sentences. Have little breaks in between the sentences to allow your audience to reflect

on what has been said. Communicate freely (don't read the whole text from a piece of paper). Outline to the audience how your paper is structured. (e.g. I will first

explain … / Then I will … / After that … / Finally …) and indicate when you come to another sub-topic (I will now talk about …). This way your audience can follow your presentation more easily.

Use pictures and graphics as an illustration. Use a rhetorical question or hypophora from time to time. Your listeners will

think that you've asked them a question and thus listen more attentively. Use enumerations starting first / second / third. This also draws your

audience's attention. Tip: Depending on the topic or your audience, you can also hand out questions that your listeners have to answer during the presentation, or you announce that there will be a quiz in the end. That will definitely make your audience listen very attentively.

For an even more sophisticated presentation, use some of the stylistic devices typical for spoken texts, e.g.:

alliteration allusion anaphora antithesis hyperbole hypophora

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/inf-ger-par/participles�



http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/alliteration�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/allusion�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/anaphora�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/antithesis�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/hyperbole�


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metaphor rhetorical question simile

A joke or a quotation might also help you keep your listeners' attention. Don't overdo it, however. Using stylistic devices, jokes or quotations where they don't fit in might not have the effect you want.

Very important: Don't try to show off your knowledge of English using complex sentences or difficult words. Always keep your audience in mind: they need to follow your presentation and will therefore appreciate simple language and sentence structure.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/metaphor�


http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style/simile�

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/writing/style�

Documents

English Tenses