Activities for bachillerato: Revision of tenses

Different tenses affect the meaning of what one is saying or writing. Here are some “tips” on choosing the appropriate tenses: 

• make it clear when things happen: in the past (happened), now (happen/s), or in the future (will happen)  

• indicate the duration of an event/happening or a change 

• indicate that this event or state is generalisable i.e. always the case, everywhere e.g. "Water boils at 100º” or "Antibiotics usually have side-effects" - present tense 

PAST TENSES IN ENGLISH: REVISION

Activities for bachillerato: Revision of tenses

1. All of the following sentences should be completed using the appropriate tense. 

EXAMPLE
A) I cannot sleep because the baby (cry) is crying.
B) Tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock, I (get) will be getting ready for work.
C) Sandra (travel) has travelled abroad several times. 

1. When Carol (call) ______________________ last night, I (watch) ________________________ my favourite show on television. 

2. I (work) ___________________________ for that company for more than thirty years. 

3. Sharon (love) ______________________ to travel. She (go) ______________________ abroad almost every summer. 

4. Thomas is an author. He (write) _______________________ mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) _______________________ since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) ________________________ seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry. 

5. We were late because we (have) ________________________ car problems. By the time we (get) _________________________ to the train station, Susan (wait) __________________________ for us for more than two hours. 

6. Sam (try) ______________________ to change a light bulb when he (slip) _______________________ and (fell) _______________________. 

7. Everyday I (wake) _______________________ up at 6 o'clock, (eat) _______________________ breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave) _________________________  for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) ____________________ up at 6:30, (skip) ______________________ breakfast and (leave) ______________________ for work late because I (forget) ______________________________ to set my alarm. 

8. Right now, Jim (read) _________________________ the newspaper and Kathy (make) _________________________ dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) _________________________ the same thing. She (cook) _________________________ and he (read) ___________________________ the newspaper. Tomorrow at this time, they (do, also) _________________________ the same thing. She (prepare) _________________________ dinner and he (read) _________________________. They are very predictable people! 

9. By this time next summer, you (complete) __________________________ your studies and (find) ________________________ a job. I, on the other hand, (accomplish, not) _______________________ anything. I (study, still) ______________________ and you (work) ___________________________ in some new high paying job. 

2) The sentences below contain common verb form mistakes. Find the errors & correct them.

                      went
EXAMPLE: She would always go on vacation last summer. 

1.  When I was a kid, I dreamt that I would always be an actor when I grew up. 

2. I would live in London when I was a child.   

3. I used to going to the beach every day when I lived in Los Angeles.   

4. When he asked for help with his homework, I told him I was going to help him. I can never refuse a request for help.   

5. She would constantly be tall when she was in elementary school.

You learn something every day if you pay attention. ~Ray LeBlond