Grammar » A2 Grammar lessons and exercises » Review of all pre-intermediate verb tenses (CEFR A2) » Page 2
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  • Review of all pre-intermediate verb tenses (CEFR A2)

    Exercise 2

    Choose the correct verb tenses to complete the dialogue below.

    JOHN: Hi, Leslie! How are you?

    LESLIE: Oh, John! It’s nice to see you again. The last time I saw you, you 1 your PhD.

    JOHN: Yes, I was very stressed out. It’s been a long time. 2 in East London with your parents?

    LESLIE: No, I 3 to the West End a long time ago. I 4 a Master’s degree in Marketing last year and now I’m working for an advertising company in Soho.

    JOHN: That’s great! 5 it?

    LESLIE: Well, the money isn’t bad, and it’s a part-time job, so I 6 time for judo.

    JOHN: Oh my god! You still do judo? How long 7 a judoka?

    LESLIE: Since I was 5.

    JOHN: 8 any competitions?

    LESLIE: Well, I 9 a couple of trophies. And next summer I 10 (represent) England in the European Judo Championships.

    JOHN: Wow! That’s great!

    LESLIE: What about you? What 11 these days?

    JOHN: Not much, really. I 12 a postgraduate course a few weeks ago and now I 13 for a job. I 14 to more than twenty jobs so far, but without any luck.

    LESLIE: Don’t worry; I’m sure you 15 a job soon.

    JOHN: Well, I’m not worried any more. Yesterday, I 16 an application form when I had a brilliant idea.

    LESLIE: What is it?

    JOHN: I’ve decided that I 17 my own business.

    LESLIE: That’d be great!

    JOHN: Anyway, what 18 this evening? I 19 Mark at 7 for a beer, and I’m sure he’d love to see you.

    LESLIE: Great! I 20 a drink with you.


     

  • Review of all pre-intermediate verb tenses (CEFR A2)– Summary table

    Revision verb tenses A2
     

    Present tenses

    Present simple

    1 Habits or situations that happen regularly.

    • I wash my hair every day.
    • I never go to the library.
    • She‘s always late.

    2 Permanent situations, or things that are always or usually true.

    • I don’t drink coffee.
    • She‘s very tall.
    • I have two brothers.

    Present continuous

    1 Actions in progress, happening now or ‘around now’.

    • I can’t talk now. I‘m brushing my teeth.
    • I finished your book and I‘m reading a new one now.

    2 Temporary actions.

    • My car’s in the garage. I‘m taking the bus this week.
    • I‘m not training because I have an injury.

    3 Future arrangements.

    • I‘m meeting Sally at 7.
    • We are leaving early tomorrow.

    Present perfect

    1 Recent events –we don’t say when. (Common with already, yet, just, recently, today, this week, etc.)

    • She‘s had an accident.
    • Have you finished yet?
    • He‘s changed jobs recently.
    • Have you seen Peter today?

    2 Past experiences –we don’t say when. (Common with never, ever, before, superlative + ever, number of times until now.)

    • We‘ve been to Italy.
    • Have you ever eaten insects?
    • This is the best food I‘ve ever eaten.
    • I‘ve read this book three times.

    3 Unfinished situations from past until now. (Common with how long, for, since, all + time, lately.)

    • How long have you been here?
    • We have been married for 20 years.
    • I‘ve liked chocolate all my life.
    • I‘ve been very busy lately.

     

    Past tenses

    Past simple

    1 Actions completed in the past.

    • I saw Jimmy yesterday.
    • She moved to Chester two years ago.

    2 Actions in chronological order in a story.

    • When I arrived home, I took off my shoes and turned on the TV.

    3 Past habits or situations that were true in the past.

    • We often played in the park after school.
    • He lived with his grandparents when he was a child.

    Past continuous

    1 Actions in progress at a certain time in the past.

    • What were you doing yesterday at 7?
    • When he arrived, I was sleeping.
    • They were arguing when I last saw them.

    2 At the beginning of a story to describe the scene.

    • It was getting dark and I was walking to the pub when suddenly …

     

    Future tenses

    Will + infinitive

    1 Decisions that we take at the moment of speaking.

    • “We don’t have sugar.” “Don’t worry, I‘ll buy some.”
    • I‘ll have a burger and chips, please.

    2 Predictions about what we think will happen.

    • I think he‘ll win the election.
    • You will be a good doctor.

    3 Offers (I will or Shall I/Shall we…?).

    • I‘ll carry that bag for you.
    • Shall I help you with those bags?

    4 Promises.

    • I will always love you.
    • Don’t worry. I will pay you back next week.

    Be going to + infinitive

    1 Intentions or plans.

    • Please, pass me the remote. I‘m going to watch TV.
    • This summer I‘m going to look for a job.

    2 Predictions about what we see is going to happen (present evidence).

    • Slow down! We‘re going to have an accident.
    • The doctor said I‘m going to have a girl.

    Present continuous

    See present continuous uses above.

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