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

    Exercise 1

    Choose the correct verb tenses to complete the dialogues below.

    1 A: "What ?"
    B: "I'm a teacher, but I at the moment."

    2 A: "How many people to the party last Saturday?"
    B: "I don't know. I at home."

    3 A: "What tonight?"
    B: "I don't know yet. I what's in the fridge."

    4 A: "John very strangely these days."
    B: "I know. I him later to see if he's alright."

    5 A: " that cake?"
    B: "No, I'm full." A: "I it then."

    6 A: " the contract for Mr Scott yet?"
    B: "Yes, I it last night."

    7 A: " in bed when I called you yesterday?"
    B: "No, I on the computer."

    8 A: "Who the next election in your opinion?"
    B: "I have no idea, but what I know is that I this time."

    9 A: "When the composition?"
    B: "I it yesterday while I home."

    10 A: "What time do you finish work?"
    B: "At 6." A: "Ok, then I you at 6.15."


     

  • 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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