To be - Positive Sentences & Contractions

Full Forms of the verb to be

I

am

a student.

He

is

a teacher.

She

is

a journalist.

It

is

a book.

We

are

mechanics.

You

are

pilots.

They

are

policemen.

Contracted forms of the verb to be

I

am

a student.

He

is

a teacher.

She

is

a journalist.

It

is

a book.

We

are

mechanics.

You

are

pilots.

They

are

policemen.

The verb to be - exercise

Chose the correct form of the verb to be - am/is/are.

1. It

cold today.
---

2. I

at home now.
---

3. They

Korean.
---

4. There

a pen on the desk.

---

5. My name

Nikita.
---

6. We

from Ukraine.
---

7. That

right.
---

8. I

OK, thanks.
---

9. Clara and Steve

married.
---

10. She

an English teacher.
---

To be - negative forms and contractions

Full negative forms of the verb to be

I

am not

a singer.

He

is not

a receptionist.

She

is not

a nurse.

It

is not

my book.

We

are not

not musicians.

You

are not

a shop assistant.

They

are not

taxi drivers.

Contracted negative forms of the verb to be

I'm not a singer.
He

isn't

a receptionist.

She

isn't

a nurse.

It

isn't

my book.

We

aren't

not musicians.

You

aren't

a shop assistant.

They

aren't

taxi drivers.

Negative forms of the verb to be - exercise

Complete the gaps with the negative forms of the verb to be.
Example: She

from France.
isn't

1. This book

mine.

2. Jane and Peter

3. That

4. My brother

married.

right.

here at the moment.

5. We

6. It

in England.

Monday today.

7. Jennie's surname

8. I

9. My name

10. There

Peters.

a hairdresser.

Alexander.

many people in this class.

isn't|is not;aren't|a

The verb to be - yes / no questions

Am

right?

Is

he

here?

Is

she

a nurse?

Is

it

second-hand?

Are

we

wrong?

Are

you

Alan Parker?

Are

they

American?

Yes / no questions with the verb to be - exercise

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb to be - am, is, are.

1.

Jane and Alice sisters?

---

2.

this car yours?

---

3.

I in your way?
---

4.

Maria John's sister?

---

5.

you twenty-five years old?

---

6.

the Smiths divorced?

---

7.

this your new bicycle?

---

The verb to be - Information questions

Full negative forms of the verb to be

I

am not

a singer.

He

is not

a receptionist.

She

is not

a nurse.

It

is not

my book.

We

are not

not musicians.

You

are not

a shop assistant.

They

are not

taxi drivers.

Contracted negative forms of the verb to be

I'm not a singer.

He

isn't

a receptionist.

She

isn't

a nurse.

It

isn't

my book.

We

aren't

not musicians.

You

aren't

a shop assistant.

They

aren't

taxi drivers.

Negative forms of the verb to be - exercise

Complete the gaps with the negative forms of the verb to be.
Example: She

from France.
isn't

1. This book

mine.

2. Jane and Peter

3. That

right.

4. My brother

5. We

6. It

married.

here at the moment.

in England.

Monday today.

7. Jennie's surname

8. I

9. My name

10. There

isn't|is not;aren't|a

Peters.

a hairdresser.

Alexander.

many people in this class.

The Present Continuous Tense - When to use

1. We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.
Examples
The kids are watching TV.
I am sitting down, because I am tired.
I am not learning German, because this is an English class.
Who are you writing to?
2. We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities
happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment.
Examples
Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.
I am reading a really interesting book now.
How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?
We aren't working hard these days.
3. The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening
in the near future, especially for planned future events.
Examples
I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.
Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.
Are you doing anything tonight?
We aren't going on holiday next week.

Present Continuous - Practice

What uses of the Present Continuous Tense do these sentences have?

1. I am playing football tonight.

---

2. I can't play with you now. I am finishing my homework.

---

3. Where are you studying?

---

4. What are you doing these days? Working?

---

5. Sally is taking a bath.

---

6. What are you doing at the weekend?

---

7. Peter and Mary are going out. They met at Adam's party last week.
---

The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

1. Permanent (usual) and Temporary (now, around now) actions.

o

We use the Present Continuous tense to speak about things

which are happening now or things which are temporary.
I am not working now. I am on holiday.
Sally is listening to a new CD.
Who are you phoning?

The Present Simple tense describes usual, repeated and

permanent things - for example, always, usually, often,
sometimes, never.
I work as an accountant.

John doesn't know German.

How often do you play tennis?
o

Compare how these two tenses are used.

Why are you walking to work? Don't you usually go by bus?
I live in Kharkiv, but now I am living in Moscow.
Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we are having it at 9.

2. Some verbs are not normally used in the Continuous Tense. They are
called "state" verbs. If you need to practice such verbs, visit
English Action and State Verbs page.
3. Present Continuous and Present Simple to talk about the future.
o

We use the Present Continuous Tense for plans and

arrangements.
What are you doing tonight?
I'm seeing a very important customer in my office at 4
o'clock.
We are going to the see for our holiday.
Where are you staying in Vienna?
I'm not going anywhere. It is final.

We use the Present Simple in the conditional clauses after

if, when, as soon as, until etc, and when we talk about
timetable, schedules, itineraries etc.
What will you do if you fail your exam?
We will wait, until she comes.
My plane takes off at 9.00.
The President arrives in Norway on 17 September.
What time does your train leave?

Present Continuous and Simple - Practice

Put the verb in brackets in the correct form, either the Present Simple Tense or the Present
Continuous Tense.
1. I

a very interesting book.

---

2. Joanne

eight hours a day.

---

3. Tonight we

a play at the thereatre.

---

4. Who

to?
---

5. I

him very well.

---

6. What will you do if she

late?
---

7. My wife

coffee for breakfast.

---

8. What

for breakfast?
---

9. Your train

at 17.25 from platform 3.

---

10. What

? She's a student.
---

The Present Perfect Tense - When to use

1. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experiences. It is important if we

have done it in our lives or not. It is not important when we did it.
Examples
I have been abroad two times.
Anna has never broken a leg.

Have you ever eaten sushi?

Tip! We often use never and ever with the Present Perfect Tense to talk about
experience.
2. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past
and continuous up to now.
Examples
I have been a teacher for more than ten years.
We haven't seen Janine since Friday.
How long have you been at this school?
Tip! We often use since and for to say how long the action has lasted.
3. We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result
in the present.
Examples
I have lost my wallet. = I don't have it now.
Jimmy has gone to South America. = He isn't here now.
Have you finished your homework? = Is your homework ready?
Tip! We often use just, already and yet with the Present Perfect Tense for an
action in the past with the result in the present.

Uses of the Present Perfect - Practice

Exercise: chose for or since.

1. You have broken my watch!
---

2. I have never been to Paris.

---

3. How long have you been here?

---

4. Angela has bought a new flat.

---

5. How many times have you been married?

---

6. We haven't worked on a farm.

---

7. This building has been an office since 1998.

---

Present Perfect Tense - Already and Yet

Already means that something happened earlier than we expected. With Present Perfect
already usually goes after have or has and before the main verb.
Examples
- We've already had our breakfast.
- When are you going to do your homework?
- But I've already done it!
- Do you want a cup of coffee?
- No, thanks. I've already had one."
Yet means that something that we expected has happened or hasn't happened. We usually
put it at the end of a sentence.
Examples
- Has the post arrived yet?
- Have you done your homework?
- Not yet.
- Haven't you got ready yet? Look at the time!

Already and Yet with Present Perfect Tense - Practice

Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?

I haven't phoned home

Christmas.
---

We've been here

nine o'clock.
---

I have worked for International House

more than eight years.

---

I haven't visited my home town

I left school.
---

I haven't been to the cinema

ages.
---

I have studied non-stop

9.15.
---

I have had a driving licence

I was eighteen.
---

She hasn't had a day off

1999.
---

Johan has been in England

more than two weeks now.

---

Peter has been my best friend

we were nine.
---

Present Perfect Tense - For and Since

We use Present Perfect tense to talk about action which started in the past and continues
up to the present.
Examples
I have had this computer for about a year.
How long have you been at this school?
I haven't seen Julia since September.
Tip! For other uses of the Present Perfect tense, see the Present Perfect Tense - When To
Use.
We use for with a period of time, for example: a few days, half an hour, two years. We use
since with the time when the action started, for example: last year, June 8, I met you.

For or Since with Present Perfect Tense - Practice

Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?

I haven't phoned home

Christmas.
---

We've been here

nine o'clock.
---

I have worked for International House

more than eight years.

---

I haven't visited my home town

I left school.
---

I haven't been to the cinema

ages.
---

I have studied non-stop

9.15.
---

I have had a driving licence

I was eighteen.
---

She hasn't had a day off

1999.
---

Johan has been in England

more than two weeks now.

---

Peter has been my best friend

we were nine.
---

Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses

We use the Past Simple tense to talk about a definite finished time in the past. For
example: when, yesterday, last week, when I was at school, then, after etc.
Examples
I finished university three years ago.
Where did we first meet?
I didn't study French at school.
We use the Present Perfect tense with time references that refer to the time up to now.
For example: today, this week, this month, ever, never, already, recently, yet etc.
Examples
I haven't seen her today.
Have you ever smoked a cigarette?
I have never been abroad before.

Present Perfect and Past Simple - time references

Exercise. Do we usually use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple

tenses with the following time references?

a long time ago

---

since we last met

---

yet

---

after I got married

---

lately

---

this month

---

the day before yesterday

---

last night

---

since last weekend

---

at the weekend

---

Check It!

Present Perfect and Past Simple - Practice

Exercise. Chose the most suitable tense - the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.
Script for this exercise is provided by JavaScriptKit.com
You need to have cookies enabled in your browser to do this quiz.

She has studied very well at school.

She studied very well at school.

Have you ever visited Italy?

Did you ever visit Italy?

Thomas Edison has invented the light bulb.

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.

How long have you had this job?

How long did you have this job?

I have never smoked a cigarette ever since.

I didn't smoke a cigarette ever since.

Charlie Chaplin has made a lot of films.

Charlie Chaplin made a lot of films.

When have you last been to the cinema?

When did you last go to the cinema?

It's the best car I've ever had.

It's the best car I ever had.

How many times have you been married?

How many times were you married?

We haven't had lunch yet.

We didn't have lunch yet.

Have To and Don't Have To - Use

We use have to to talk about strong obligation that comes from somewhere
else, for example from you boss, you parents, a rule at school or work.
Examples:
I have to be home by ten. (My parents told me so.)
I must be home by ten. I have a very difficult day tomorrow. (It is my own
decision.)
I have to get up early, because I start work at 8. (It is a rule.)
I should get up early. (Now I stay in bed until lunchtime.)

Don't have to means that there isn't any obligation at all,

there is no need to do it.
Don't have to is different from shouldn't and mustn't.
Examples:
I don't have to get up early at weekend.
(I can stay in bed as long as I want.)
You mustn't tell lies. (It is very bad to tell lies.)
You don't have to go with me.
(You can go with me if you want to.)
You shouldn't smoke. (It is bad for your health.)

In spoken British English you can also use have got to and haven't got to.
Examples:
Pamela is a waitress. She's got to work at weekends.
Have I got to do it right now?
I haven't got to take my sister to school, my parents do it.

Tip! We do not use have to when we talk about what is a good idea to do, but we
don't do it yet. Instead, we use should.

Have To and Don't Have To - Practice

Exercise. Chose have to / has to or don't have to / doesn't have to.

1. Every man

do military service in my country. It's obligatory.

---

2. When do we

pay for the next term?

---

3. Policemen

wear a uniform.
---

4. A pilot

train for many years.

---

5. Does Susan

work long hours?

---

6. I

get up early on Sundays. I can stay in bed.

---

7. You

have a visa to come to Ukraine.

---

8. You

to do it if you don't want to.

---

9. My daughter

to cook, because I cook for the whole family.

---

10. We

pay. It's free.

---

Have to & Have got to - Positives, Negatives, and Questions

Have to is a construction (structure). It is not a modal verb. We use auxiliary

verbs do and does to form questions and negatives.
Examples:
Positive
I have to work very unsociable hours.
She has to wear a uniform.
Negative
I don't have to work at weekends.
John doesn't have to do any work at home.
Question
Do I have to pay in advance?
Does your father have to travel a lot at his job?

With have got to negatives and questions are formed differently.

Examples:
Positive
I've got to work very unsociable hours.
She's got to wear a uniform.
Negative
I haven't got to work at weekends.
John hasn't got to do any work at home.
Question
Have I got to pay in advance?
Has you father got to travel a lot at his job?

Have To and Have Got To - Practice

Exercise. Click on the words in the correct order to make

positives, negatives and questions with have to / have got to and
don't have to / haven't got to.
Tip! If you have no idea what word should go next, you can
click on all the words one by one.
1 to Sorry, leave got I've but now.

2 has up postman A to early. get

3 I to phone answer calls. of have lots

4 go a has diet. The she doctor says to on

5 hate early. up to get having I

6 have When to you home? do go

7 six. there I've by be to got

8 to has be a This mistake.

9 to mad be here. to You have work

10 fault. was have say I to it my

Should and Shouldn't - Use

We use should and shouldn't to give advice or to talk about

what we think is right or wrong.

You should means something like I think it is a good idea

for you to do it.

You shouldn't means something like I think it is a bad

idea for you to do it.

Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker and often

follows I think or I don't think.

Examples
You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.
Alice works very long hours. She should to talk to her boss.
- I have an English test tomorrow.
- I shouldn't worry if I were you. You have worked really hard.
- I never have enough money.
- I don't think you should go out so much.

Should - Quick Grammar Note

To give advice to someone you can also say:

I should do it if I were you.

I shouldn't be so rude, if I were you.

When you regret not doing something in the past, you can say:

I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.

I should have apologized earlier.

Should or Shouldn't - Practice

Exercise. Chose should or shouldn't.

1. You

be so selfish.
---

2. I don't think you

smoke so much.
---

3. You

exercise more.
---

4. I think you

try to speak to her.

---

5. You are overweight. You

go on a diet.
---

6. Where

we park our car?

---

7. You

never speak to your mother like this.

---

8. The kids

spend so much time in front of the TV.

---

9.

I tell her the truth or should I say nothing?

---

10. I think we

reserve our holiday in advance.

---

Should - Positives, Negatives, and Questions

Should is a modal verb like can or must.

Positives
You should take it easy.
She should go to bed early.
We should go somewhere exciting for our holiday.
Negatives
You shouldn't get angry.
He shouldn't work so much.
I shouldn't do it if I were you.
Questions
Should we tell her the truth?
What should I do?
Shouldn't we try to finish it now?

Should and Shouldn't - Practice

Exercise. Click on the words in the correct order to make

positives, negatives and questions with should and shouldn't.
Tip! If you have no idea what word should go next, you can
click on all the words one by one.
1 up should I smoking. give

2 tell her Should or not? I

3 think it easy. you should take I

4 should time I What come?

5 shouldn't work so much. Jeff

6 don't accept I should job. Anita this think

7 We should our take umbrellas.

8 you do we should it? Are sure

9 go What home. do is you should

10 to I think police? you the Do should speak

Tip! We do not use shouldn't where there isn't any obligation at all.
Instead we use don't have to or don't need to.