Tenses for Speaking

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Tenses for Speaking Improve your English Grammar in Spoken Communication © 2016 by Nestor Kiourtzidis All rights reserved. You You are permitted to print and photocopy photocopy this book for your own personal use. You may not reproduce, distribute, share or publish the material on any website without the prior pri or written permission per mission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author.


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Tenses for Speaking Improve your English Grammar in Spoken Communication © 2016 by Nestor Kiourtzidis All rights reserved. You You are permitted to print and photocopy photocopy this book for your own personal use. You may not reproduce, distribute, share or publish the material on any website without the prior pri or written permission per mission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author.


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The aim of this book

4

Tips for learning tenses

5

COMMON TENSES AND STRUCTURES 6 Present simple/continuous

7

Past simple/continuous

9

Present perfect simple

11

Present perfect simple/continuous

14

Going to/will + infinitive

17

Used to + infinitive

19

ADVANCED TENSES

21

Past perfect simple

22

Past perfect simple/continuous

25

Future continuous

28

Future perfect simple/continuous

30

ANSWERS

33


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The aim of this book !is

book is designed to improve your understanding of English tenses. !ere are 10 units in total. In each unit, I explain the use of a structure or pair of structures. I give examples f rom spoken English and you can also find some exercises for practice.

!ere

are two main sections:

COMMON TENSES AND STRUCTURES !is

section covers nine di" erent structures. If you’re taking a test such as IELTS, the ability to understand and use these tenses will help you get a high score for grammatical range and accuracy.

ADVANCED TENSES !is

section is for learners who have a good understanding of the structures in the first section of the book. You don’t need to use these tenses to do well in English speaking tests, but they can help you sound very proficient if you are able to use them appropriately. If you have di#culty understanding some of the structures in the first section, then don’t study this section.

© www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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Tips for learning tenses Develop intuition In total, there are 15 structures presented in this book. !at might sound like a lot, especially if your native language only has three tenses. However, you should not think that you need to learn 15 di" erent individual structures and their uses. Instead, you should try to notice patterns and develop a ‘grammatical’ intuition. For example, try to notice the similarities between the present perfect, past perfect and future perfect. If you understand the concept of the present perfect, it’s easy to grasp the idea of the past perfect and future perfect. Similarly, understanding the di" erence between the ‘simple’ and ‘continuous’ forms for one tense can help you intuitively use the same forms for other tenses.

Observe, observe, observe Studying grammar and doing exercises will help you understand concepts and learn structures. But by itself, it won’t help you to use the structures in your speaking. To use the tenses correctly and without hesitating too much, you will need confidence. To develop this confidence, you need to observe tenses in the speech of other people, especially fluent or native speakers. !is means exposing yourself to as much English as possible (films, radio, news, YouTube videos, music, etc.) When you hear other people using the same structures again and again, the structures will feel more natural to you.


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COMMON TENSES AND STRUCTURES


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1

Present simple/continuous We use the present simple to talk about repeated actions or permanent situations in the present: I always travel to work by car. I live in Madrid. I sometimes play football on Sundays. We use the present continuous (be + -ing ) to talk about actions happening now or around the present time: I'm learning English at the moment. I live in Madrid, but I'm staying in Barcelona this week. We also use the present continuous to talk about plans for the future: I’m moving to Canada next year. Only verbs of action can be used in the continuous form, e.g. I'm working , she's singing , etc. Some verbs such as believe , know and love are states, not actions. State verbs can normally only be used in the simple form (I love, not I'm loving ). Examples of state verbs: want, like, love, hate, prefer, know, realise, understand, believe, remember, seem, suppose, mean... Some verbs can be action or state verbs, with a change in meaning: STATES

I think you need to relax more. (= I believe, in my opinion) I see that you are very tired. (= my observation) She is stupid. (= her general character) I have a lot of work to do. (= I possess) ACTIONS

What are you thinking about? (think = ‘use your brain’) “Where is Anne?” “I'm seeing her right now.” (= ‘I'm meeting her’) She is being stupid. (= ‘she is behaving in this way right now’) I’m having lunch with Michael right now. (= ‘eating’) © www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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Exercises 1.1

Complete the sentences below with the verbs in the correct tense. 1. I    (usually/wake up) at 7 o’clock. 2. My husband …………… (work) as an IT programmer. !is month, his company …………. (develop) a new application, 3. I ………… (usually/travel) to work by car, but this week I ………… (take) the bus. 4. I ……. (take) the IELTS exam in order to improve my chances of emigrating to Australia. 5. I ……… (enjoy) learning languages. !is month, I ……… (learn) Spanish. 6. Tomorrow afternoon, I ……….. (meet) an old friend for lunch. We ……… (see) each other once a month. 7. Young people in my country …………. (not/have) a healthy diet. !ey ……….. (eat) too much fast food. 8. I ………. (live) in the centre of my city. It’s really convenient, but at the moment the authorities ………… (build) a new metro line, so there’s a lot of construction work. 9. My girlfriend …………. (study) for her exams this term, so she ……….. (not/have) much free time.

1.2

Choose the best answer to complete the sentences below. 1. I believe/‘m believing that the best way to learn a language is to live in the country where it is spoken. 2. I love/I’m loving my country but I think/I’m thinking about moving somewhere else for work. 3. Many scientists believe/are believing that global temperatures rise/are rising. 4. Do you think/Are you thinking that we have/are having a healthier lifestyle than in the past? 5. I realise/I’m realising that I need/I’m needing a lot of time to learn a language fluently. 6. My son understands/is understanding Arabic, but he doesn’t speak/isn’t speaking it too well. 7. Joanne is/is being very selfish at the moment. She isn't usually/isn’t usually being like this.


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2

Past simple/continuous past simple and the past continuous tenses are used to talk about the past. We use the past simple to talk about a completed event in the past: !e

Yesterday, I had breakfast.

Last summer, I went to Italy.

We use the past continuous to talk about a past activity that was in progress at a particular time in the past:

7.50am

8am

8.10am

NOW

At 8 am, I was eating breakfast. “Where were you last night?” “I was sleeping .” We use the past simple and past continuous to talk about a completed past event that happened when another activity was in progress.

NOW It started to rain while we were running in the park. I was watching TV when the phone rang . What were you doing when he arrived?


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Exercises 2.1

Complete the sentences about Dan. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

2.2

At 8am yesterday,    . (have breakfast) At 4.30pm yesterday, …………………………… (work in the o#ce) At midnight last night, …………………………… (sleep) At midday yesterday, …………………………… (have lunch) At 9pm last night, …………………………… (watch a documentary) At 7am this morning, …………………………… (brush his teeth) !is time last year, …………………………… (study in Japan) !is time last week, …………………………… (drink co " ee in his favourite cafe)

Complete the sentences with the verb in the past simple or past continuous. 1. I   (make) breakfast when he  (call) me. 2. I ……… (meet) my husband while we ………. (work) together at the same company. 3. !ey ……….. (decide) to go to the beach while the sun ………………. (still/shine) 4. At 8pm last night, I ……….. (not/watch) television. I ………… (study) for my IELTS exam. 5. My brother ………….. (nearly/have) a car accident while he ……… (drive) to work. 6. I ……. (start) to use computers while I …….. (attend) high school. 7. When I ……. (finish) my meal, I ………. (forget) to pay the bill. !e waiter …….(call) me as I …………. (leave) the restaurant. 8. I ……… (go) to bed very late last night, so at 11am this morning, I …………. (still/sleep). 9. My cousin ……… (break) his leg while he ………… (play) football.


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3

Present perfect simple present perfect simple is used to talk about past actions or situations that have a connection with the present. It is formed from the verb have + past participle, for example:

!e

I've (= I have) never met him before.

New information We often use the present perfect simple to give ‘new information’, for example when we want to report an event that happened a short time ago: Ouch! I've hurt my leg.

Has Michael arrived yet?

Spain have won!

NOTE: If we say when something happened in the past, we cannot use the present perfect . We use the past simple: Yesterday, I forgot my dictionary at home, so I borrowed one from a classmate.

Repeated past events that may happen again We use the present perfect simple to talk about a repeated past event that may happen again in the future:

???

NOW Brazil have won the World Cup five times. I’ve taught many students. BUT: when there is no possibility that the event will happen again in the future, we use the past simple: !e

English King Henry VIII got married six times.


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Situation from past to present We often use the present perfect simple to talk about a situation that began in the past and continues up to the present or future. It is often used with time expressions such as since , for , never , etc.:

2006

NOW (2016)

I've been married for nearly ten years. I've been married since 2006.

Changes/trends from past to present We often use the present perfect simple to talk about a change or trend that started in the past and is complete in the present. We often use this tense with verbs like become, change, increase, decrease, rise, fall, go up, go down, etc.

10 YEARS AGO

NOW

Joe’s life has changed. He has become very poor. © www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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Exercises 3.1

!e sentences below describe changes

from 20 years ago to today. Complete them with the verbs in the present perfect. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

3.2

world   (not/become) safer. Global temperatures ……… (rise). Technology ………… (become) more advanced. People’s eating habits ……….. (change). Online shopping ………. (become) much more popular. !e air ……… (not/become) cleaner. !e cost of living ………. (not/decrease). People’s taste in music ……….. (change). !e

Put the verbs in the correct form, past simple or present perfect simple. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

She ………… (meet) her boyfriend in 2005. I love that restaurant. I …….. (be) there five times this year. It ………. (not/rain) so far this month. !e weather ………. (improve) a lot since the beginning of the month. I ………… (not/have) a day o" work last week. I ……… (try) sushi about a year ago, but I ………. (forget) what it tastes like. 7. I ………… (never/visit) Greece, but I ……… (go) to Italy last year. 8. I ………… (make) a sandwich for you earlier. ………. (you/eat) it yet? 9. Bad news! You favourite politician ……… (lost) the election. 3.3

Make true statements by putting the verbs in the correct tense (past simple or present perfect simple) and in the correct form, positive or negative. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Spain ……. (win) the World Cup in 2014. Brad Pitt ……… (act) in many films. Obama ……….. (become) president of the United States in 2008. Astronauts ………. (never/walk) on Mars. !ere ………. (be) more than two world wars.


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4

Present perfect simple/continuous We use the present perfect simple (have/has + past participle ) to talk about completed actions (but we do not say when they happened): I've never been to China. He has made several films since last year. I've found your phone! We use the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing ) to talk about unfinished activities that started in the past and are still in progress in the present:

5 YEARS AGO

TODAY

I've been working for the same company for over 5 years. When we use the present perfect simple, we focus on a completed activity or the result of the activity:

!ere

are no cigarettes left. He’s smoked the whole pack!

We can use the present perfect continuous to focus on a recent activity. It is not important if the activity is finished or unfinished:

His clothes smell. He’s been smoking again! © www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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We use the present perfect simple to say ‘how much’ or ‘how many’: I've met him 5 times. How many books has he written? He’s made a lot of money since last year. We often use the present perfect continuous to say ‘how long’: I've been writing for two hours. How long have you been standing there? I haven't been living abroad for very long.


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Exercises 4.2

Cross out the wrong answers to complete the following sentences. 1. Right now, I’m a student. I’ve been studying/I’ve studied accounting for nearly two years. 2. !is is the first time I’ve ever taken/I’ve ever been taking the IELTS test. 3. Tariq has visited/has been visiting India five times. 4. Joanne looks very tired. Has she worked/Has she been working late again? 5. !e dog hasn't eaten/hasn't been eating anything all day. He must be hungry. 6. !ey speak Arabic very well. !ey've lived/ !ey've been living in Dubai for almost ten years. 7. Mr Carlson is a journalist. He has interviewed/has been interviewing a lot of interesting people. 8. You are completely wet. Have you swum/Have you been swimming ? 9. I haven't seen/haven't been seeing any interesting films this year. 10. Have you seen/Have you been seeing Je" recently? He has changed/has been changing a lot! 11. I love New York. I've visited/I've been visiting the city three times this year.


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5

Going to/will + in�nitive We use going to + infinitive to talk about intentions or decisions for the future. We make the decisions before the moment of speaking.

DECISION MADE

MOMENT OF SPEAKING

ACTION

I'm going to quit smoking. Are you going to come to the party tonight? We use will/won’t + infinitive when we make a spontaneous decision at the time of speaking (not before): DECISION MADE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

ACTION

“It's cold in here.” “I'll go and shut the window.” “Can you send me the information I need?” “Sure, I'll do it right away.” We use going to + infinitive to predict future events that are very near or certain to happen, often because of something we can observe in the present moment. Look at the dark clouds. It looks like it’s going to rain. I’m going to be 21 years old next Monday. We use will/won’t + infinitive to make general predictions or statements about the future. sun will shine tomorrow. Maybe I will see you at the party next week. “Where are you going on holiday this summer?” “I have no idea. But I don’t think I'll go to Spain this time.”

!e

Will/won’t + infinitive is often used with I think, I don't think, I'm sure, probably, perhaps, maybe, etc. © www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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Exercises 5.2

Complete the dialogues using ‘will’ or ‘going to + infinitive’: 1. A: I've decided. I ………….. (improve) my English. B: Good idea! I ……… (help) you with your grammar. 2. A: When ………… (you/tidy) your room? B: Oh, I completely forgot about that. I …………. (do) it later. 3. A: I …………. (buy) a new laptop. But I don’t know which one. B: Mark knows a lot about laptops. I …….. (ask) him for his opinion. 4. A: What ……….. (you/do) at the weekend? B: I don’t know yet. Perhaps I …….. (visit) my uncle. 5. A: What time ………… (you/come) to my place? B: I think around 7pm, but I ………. (call) you later to confirm. 6. A: What …………. (you/do) on your birthday? B: I …………. (organise) a big party. 7. A: I’m feeling a bit tired. I ……… (sleep). B: OK, I …………. (not/disturb) you then. 8. A: Have you decided where you …………. (you/have) lunch? B: Well, I …………. (not/eat) at the new Italian restaurant, that's for sure. It's too expensive.

5.3

Cross out the wrong answers to complete the following sentences. 1. Karl is going to be/will be 18 next !ursday. 2. In 20 years time, I will be/I’m going to be 50. 3. I don’t feel very well. I’m going to be/I will be sick. 4. I think it will snow/it’s going to snow next winter, but I can’t be sure. 5. Have you heard the news? Mike’s sister is going to have/will have a baby. 6. In 20 years, many people will dive/are going to drive driverless cars. 7. We are going to fly/will fly to Athens in July. We have the tickets already. 8. I’m going to have/I will have a party next week. Would you like to come? 9. Dinner is almost ready! I know you’re going to love/you will love it. 10. “Do you have some free time on Sunday?” “I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know/I’m going to let you know tomorrow.”


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6

Used to + in�nitive We say I used to do something when we talk about a past situation or habit that is di" erent now. In the negative, we say I didn't use to do something : I used to live in a large city, but now I live by the seaside. I didn't use to go swimming everyday. of used to + infinitive as the past of the present simple for talking about habits or long-term situations:

!ink

I used to go to school every day. (A PAST HABIT) I go to work every day. (A PRESENT HABIT) She used to live in Russia. (A LONG-TERM SITUATION IN THE PAST) She lives in England now. (A PRESENT LONG-TERM SITUATION) DO NOT CONFUSE used to do something with be used to something/doing something . We use the structure be used to when we say that something is not strange or new for us: I get up early every morning to go to work. It isn't something new or strange for me. I am used to getting up early. John is from England. He is used to driving on the left. I live near a busy street, so I’m not used to quiet places.


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Exercises 6.1

Ben is a top manager. Ten years ago, he was just a junior accountant. Write about how his lifestyle has changed using ‘used to/didn't use to + infinitive’ or the present simple.

10 YEARS AGO

TODAY

1. He     (not/be) so busy. 2. He ……… (have) a lot of paperwork these days. 3. He ………… (have) more free time, but now he ……… (work) nearly ten hours a day. 4. He ……… (wear) black ties every day. Nowadays, he …….. (prefer) brown ties. 5. He ……….. (earn) less money than today. 6. His desk ……… (be) full of papers and folders. It …….…. (be) almost empty. 7. He ………. (have) a manager, but now he ……….. (manage) a team of workers. 8. He ……….. (go out) a lot, but now he ………… (not/have) any time. 6.2

Complete the sentences below with ‘be used to’ in a suitable form. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Arnold has lived in Dubai all his life. he    hot weather. !ey live in a small village. !ey ………. noise and pollution. I come from a big city. I ………… having a busy lifestyle. Alex is a spy. He ………….. dangerous work. Be careful. !ey animals ……….. people. Living with a flatmate was a bit strange at first. But I ……… it now.


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ADVANCED TENSES


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7

Past perfect simple past perfect simple (had/hadn’t + past participle ) is used to talk about past actions or situations that happened before a specific time in the past.

!e

11AM

NOW

!e

bus left at 10.55. I arrived at the bus stop at 11am. When I arrived, the bus had already left .

We often use the past perfect simple with time expressions such as already, just (= a moment ago), since, for, never, etc.: We got divorced last year. We'd been married for nearly ten years. When I called Josie, she'd just finished her homework. I sold my car yesterday. I'd had it since 2005. NOTE: We normally say 'd had instead of had had. We often use the past perfect simple with the past simple to talk about something that happened before an event in the past: I tried to call Anne but she had lost her phone. Tom was late because he had been stuck in tra#c. When I turned on the TV, the match had already started.


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NOTE: !e past perfect simple is the past of the present perfect simple (have/ has + past participle ). We use the present perfect simple to talk about actions or situations that happened before or up to now:

NOW (11am) “I’m too late. !e bus has already left .”


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Exercises 7.1

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, past perfect simple, present perfect simple or past simple: 1. 2. 3. 4.

When we arrived at the station, the train …….. (already/leave). Until now, it …………… (hardly ever/rain). I ………… (start) my studies in 2005. While I was travelling in Switzerland, I ………. (visit) a wonderful chocolate shop. 5. I ……….. (be) late for work this morning. 6. It was my first time in Turkey. I ……….. (never/be) there before. 7. I ………… (never/eat) sushi. What's it like? 8. When you called me, I …………. (just/finish) making breakfast. 9. !e cat is really hungry. It ………….. (not/eat) all day. 10. !e cat was really hungry. It ………….. (not/eat) all day. 11. I …………. (not/see) the match yesterday. 12. I didn't want to visit Mexico again because I ……….. (be) there many times. 13. I don’t want another sandwich. I ………….. (eat) too much. 14. I ………… (not/want) another sandwich because I'd eaten too much. 7.2

Last summer, Jake visited Japan for the first time. A lot of things were new for him. Write sentences like in the example. 1. eat sushi

     . 2. use chopsticks ………………………………………………………………………………. 3. drink Japanese wine ………………………………………………………………………………. 4. travel on the metro ………………………………………………………………………………. 5. visit a Buddhist temple ………………………………………………………………………………. 6. see tall skyscrapers ……………………………………………………………………………….


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8

Past perfect simple/continuous We use the past perfect simple (had/hadn’t + past participle ) to talk about completed actions (but we do not say when they happened): !e

match had already started when we turned on the television. I went to Brazil last year. I'd never been there before. !e meeting had finished when I arrived. We use the past perfect continuous (had/hadn’t been + -ing ) to talk about unfinished activities that started before a specific time in the past:

2006 (new job)

2011 (promotion)

TODAY

In 2011, I received my first promotion. I'd been working at the company for over 5 years. When we use the past perfect simple, we focus on a completed activity or the result of the activity:

!ere

were no cigarettes left. He’d smoked the whole pack!

We can use the past perfect continuous to focus on an activity. It is not important if the activity was finished or unfinished:

His clothes smelt. He’d been smoking again! © www.udemy.com/ielts-speaking-masterclass

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We use the past perfect simple to say how much or how many: I'd met him 5 times before that day. How many books had he written? He’d made a lot of money since that year. We often use the past perfect continuous to say how long: I'd been writing for two hours. How long had you been standing there? I hadn't been living abroad for very long.


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Exercises 8.1

Cross out the incorrect structure to complete the following sentences: 1. It wasn’t my first time in Berlin. I'd visited/I'd been visiting the city three times before then. 2. When I met Abdul, I was a student. I'd studied/I’d been studying in Cairo for nearly two years. 3. I felt very sick. It was the first time I'd ever eaten/I'd ever been eating food like that. 4. I was nearly ready for my test. I’d studied/I’d been studying since early morning. 5. I checked my phone an hour ago. I hadn’t received/I hadn’t been receiving any text messages. 6. Until 2010, Spain had never won/had never been winning the world cup. 7. Karen looked tired yesterday. I think she’d worked/she’d been working too hard. 8. I was getting tired of Moscow. I’d lived/I’d been living there for almost 30 years.


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9

Future continuous future continuous has two forms: will be + -ing and be going to + -ing . We use the future continuous to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a particular time in the future:

!e

7.50am TODAY

8am

8.10am

TOMORROW MORNING

At 8am tomorrow, I’ll be eating breakfast. At 8am tomorrow, I’m going to be eating breakfast. We use a time clause (with the present simple) and the future continuous to talk about a future event that will happen when another activity is in progress.

NOW

We’ll be watching television when you arrive. I’ll be waiting for you when your train arrives. I’m going to be staying at the Hilton Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me. !is

is the same structure as the first conditional (if/when + present, will + infinitive ), but with the future continuous instead of will + infinitive.


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Exercises 9.1

Complete the sentences below. Put the verbs in brackets in the future simple (‘will + infinitive’) or future continuous (‘will be + -ing’). 1. Right now, I’m having lunch. Tomorrow at this time, I ……….. (have) lunch as well. 2. Tomorrow after school, I think I …….. (go) to the beach. 3. !is time next year, I think I ………. (work) for the same company. Nothing …….. (change). 4. If it rains this weekend, I ……. (not/go out). 5. When your train arrives, I ………. (wait) for you on the platform. 6. When I emigrate to Canada, I ………. (start) to look for a decent job. 7. I’m sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when I wake up tomorrow morning, the sun …………… (shine). 8. If you need to contact me sometime next week, I ………… (stay) at the Ibis Hotel. 9. I you take this pill, you …..…… (feel) much better. 10. !is evening at 9pm, I ………… (not/watch) television. I ………. (work) on a work project instead.

9.2

Cross out the incorrect structure to complete the following sentences: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

!is

time next month, I’m going to be relaxing/I’ll relax on the beach in !ailand. I can’t wait! When I meet Abdul, I'll tell/I’ll be telling him you said hello. I’m going/I’ll be going home after work. If you arrive/you‘ll be arriving late, I’ll be waiting in my room. I hope he’ll call/he’ll be calling me tomorrow. I’m thinking of coming at 6pm. What will you be doing/will you do at that time? You'll recognise/You’ll be recognising me when you get there. I'll be wearing/I wear jeans and a white shirt.


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10

Future perfect simple/continuous future perfect simple (will have + past participle ) is used to talk about actions or situations that will be complete before a specific time in the future:

!e

8am NOW

8.30am

9am

TOMORROW

If you arrive at 9am, I'll have already finished my breakfast.

future perfect is the future of the present perfect (have/has + past participle). We use the present perfect to talk about actions or situations that happened before or up to now: !e

8am

8.30am

NOW (9am)

I've already finished my breakfast. We often use the future perfect with time expressions such as by and by the time , by this time next ...: By this time next year, we'll have been married for nearly ten years. By the time you get there, she'll have gone home.


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Simple vs. continuous Compare the future perfect simple with the future perfect continuous (will have + been + -ing ). We use the future perfect simple to talk about completed actions: By 6pm, I'll have left work. We use the future perfect continuous to talk about activities in progress up to a point in the future: By this time next year, I'll have been working in London for almost a decade. We use the future perfect simple to say ‘how much’ or ‘how many’: By the end of the year, I'll have been to Greece five times. We can use the future perfect continuous to say ‘how long’: By August, we'll have been living here for almost six months.


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Exercises 10.1

Karen has a lot of plans and ambitions. Complete her thoughts with the verbs below.

improve sell

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10.2

emigrate

visit

start

mee t

buy

I   my English. I …………… to Australia. I ………….. my car. I ………….. lots of new clothes. I …………… my future husband. I …………….. my own business. I ……………. lots of new cities.

Put the verbs in brackets in the future perfect. Use the future perfect continuous where possible. 1. Don't arrive at the cinema after 9 o'clock. !e film ……….… (already/start). 2. If he doesn't arrive soon, I …………… (wait) for almost an hour. 3. By the end of our holidays, we …………….. (meet) so many interesting people. 4. How long ……………. (you/live) here this time next year? 5. How many books ………………. (you/read) by this time next year? 6. Mark and Julia fight almost every day. By next year, I think they ………… (divorce). 7. Call me back in an hour. My job interview …………. (finish) by then. 8. She'll be very tired when she gets here. She …………… (travel) for almost two days.


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ANSWERS 1.1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

usually wake up works; is developing usually travel; 'm taking 'm taking enjoy; 'm learning 'm meeting; see don't have; eat live; are building is studying; doesn't have

1.2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

I believe I love; I'm thinking believe; are rising Do you think; have I realise; I need understands;doesn't speak is being/isn't usually

2.1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

he was having breakfast he was working in the office he was sleeping he was having lunch he was watching a documentary he was brushing his teeth he was studying in Japan he was drinking coffee in his favourite cafe

2.2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 3.1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

was making; called met; were working decided; was still shining wasn't watching; was studying nearly had; was driving started; was attending finished; forgot; called; was leaving went; was still sleeping broke; was playing

has become have risen has become have changed has become hasn't become hasn't decreased has changed


3.2 1. met 2. 've been 3. hasn't rained 4. has improved 5. haven't had 6. tried; forgot 7. 've never visited; went 8. made; have you eaten 9. has lost 3.3 1. didn't win 2. has acted 3. became 4. have never walked 5. haven't been 4.2 1. I've been studying 2. I've ever taken 3. has visited 4. has she been working 5. hasn't eaten 6. They've been living 7. has interviewed 8. have you been swimming 9. have you seen; has changed 10. I've visited 5.2 1. 'm going to improve; 'll help 2. are you going to tidy; 'll do 3. 'm going to buy; 'll ask 4. are you going to do; 'll visit 5. are you going to come; 'll call 6. are you going to do; 'm going to organise 7. 'm going to sleep; won't disturb 8. are going to have; 'm not going to eat 5.3 1. is going to be 2. I will be 3. I'm going to be 4. it will snow 5. is going to have 6. will drive 7. are going to fly 8. I'm going to have 9. you're going to love 10. I'll let you know

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Tenses for Speaking

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