Verb Tenses
Read the text and choose the best option:
Well, Christmas 1) is coming up/will come up, and we 2) should all be thinking/should all think about how we’re going to celebrate such a wonderful event. Yes, I know, 3) we’ve been having/we’ve had the decorations up since September, but now that it’s less than a month away, we’re really going to have to focus!
James, earlier you 4) had said/used to say that we should really push the discounts this coming long weekend, and I have to agree with you. So 5) could/do you write me up a report about what should go on sale and for how much and 6) get/to get it back to me by tomorrow? …
Put the verb in parentheses in the right tense for each second- or third-conditional sentence
If I 1)___(win) the lottery tomorrow, it 2___(help) me a lot! See, I’m in debt. A lot of debt. Part of my problem was university: I was told that if I 3)___(go) to a great school, I (4)___(get) a great job, and then I (5)___(can) pay off my debts quickly. But in this economy, there are no jobs to be had. I wish I (6)___(go) to …
Choose the correct tense from the choices.
Ursula: 1) Have you heard/Did you hear the latest news about our boss?
Frank: No! Tell me everything!
Ursula: Well, it seems that the police 2) have pulled him over/pulled him over last night because he 3) used to drive/was driving erratically.
Read the following monologues. Then, report what was said below, using the verbs given. Keep in mind, these words were said one week ago!
Adele: “I had gone to the shop to buy just one dress, but this jacket was irresistible!”
Brian: “I’ve never enjoyed reading, but that book was excellent!”
Connie: “If I ever see Henry again, I don’t know what I’d do.”
David: “Marina told me she saw Tyler yesterday at the mall with Vinnie.”
These wonderful little “question-ettes” are a great way to make your English sound more native-like, as well as being a very useful tool.
So, if you need a quick way to ask a question, or you’re just tired of always adding “really?” or “no?” or “right?” at the end of sentences, start using question tags!
Amid all the confusion surrounding how to use the word “news”, “notice”, etc., there’s something else Spanish speakers need to be aware of regarding the tenses we use when talking about news.
– When we first introduce news, we tend to use the present perfect tense.
– However, after that, we switch immediately to the past tense.
– Keep in mind, this type of tense usage is limited to news giving, and is not really used in other contexts.
Verbs: Choose the correct option “Excuse me! Has the train left / Did the train leave the station already?” “I’m sorry ma’am, what train are you referring to / do you refer to?” “I mean / am meaning the 5:15 to Birmingham.” “Yes, I’m sorry. It has left / left ten minutes ago.” “Oh no! […]
Verb Tenses: Choose the right one With my birthday less than two weeks away, I am about to enter / would enter my 30s. Yes. I’m going to be 30. Please give me a moment as I have mourned / mourn the loss of my youth. (mourn=lament) Okay, I’m exaggerating / I exaggerate. I really […]
Verb Tenses: Choose the right one
1.March is always / has always been my favorite month.
2.A lot of very interesting things happened / have happened in this 31-day period.
3.Back in 44BC, Julius Caesar has said / said his famous last words: “Et tu, Brute?”
4.In 440AD, St. Patrick died and gave / has given the Irish an excuse to drink.
5.And in 1983, I born / was born.