Review of all pre-intermediate verb tenses (CEFR A2)

Exercises: 1 2 3

Exercise 3

Choose the correct verb tenses to complete the dialogue below.

AUTUMN: Hello?

SARAH: Hi, Autumn; it’s Sarah.

AUTUMN: Hi, Sarah. Everything OK?

SARAH: Yes, I 1 to tell you about Patrick. Do you know what 2 to him yesterday?

AUTUMN: No, what?

SARAH: Well, he 3 some money, so he 4 to a cash machine. And when he 5 the money out, he 6 that there was an envelope on the floor. He 7 it and there were 20,000 pounds!

AUTUMN: Really? 8 ?

SARAH: No! It's true.

AUTUMN: What 9 now with the envelope?

SARAH: He 10 . But he thinks that the owner of the money 11 to the police soon.

AUTUMN: And then?

SARAH: He says then he 12 the money back.

AUTUMN: Maybe it’s money from crime or drugs!

SARAH: In that case I don't think anybody 13 it.

AUTUMN: If nobody reclaims it, we 14 Patrick to pay for a nice and expensive dinner!

SARAH: Yes, definitely! By the way, what 15 when I rang you.

AUTUMN: I 16 the house.

SARAH: 17 anything when you finish cleaning?

AUTUMN: No. Why? Would you like to go for a beer?

SARAH: Yes, please! I think the last time I 18 for a beer, I 19 with Jeremy.

AUTUMN: OK then, I 20 you up in about twenty minutes then.

SARAH: Excellent! See you later.

AUTUMN: See you!

Exercises: 1 2 3

Present tense review

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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 the 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 and future tense review

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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 forms

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 Promises.

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

4 Suggestions (Shall we…?).

Shall we go to the cinema this weekend?

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

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

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 simple use 3 and present continuous use 3 above.

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