Underline the verbs in the text below:

John has always travelled a lot. In fact, he was only two years old when he first flew to the
US. His mother is Italian and his father is American. John was born in France, but his parents
had met in Cologne, Germany after they had been living there for five years. They met one
day while John's father was reading a book in the library and his mother sat down beside him.
Anyway, John travels a lot because his parents also travel a lot.
As a matter of fact, John is visiting his parents in France at the moment. He lives in New
York now, but has been visiting his parents for the past few weeks. He really enjoys living in
New York, but he also loves coming to visit his parents at least once a year.
This year he has flown over 50,000 miles for his job. He has been working for Jackson & Co.
for almost two years now. He's pretty sure that he'll be working for them next year as well.
His job requires a lot of travel. In fact, by the end of this year, he'll have traveled over
120,000 miles! His next journey will be to Australia. He really doesn't like going to Australia
because it is so far. This time he is going to fly from Paris after a meeting with the company's
French partner. He'll have been sitting for over 18 hours by the time he arrives!
John was talking with his parents earlier this evening when his girlfriend from New York
telephoned to let him know that Jackson & Co. had decided to merge with a company in
Australia. The two companies had been negotiating for the past month, so it really wasn't
much of a surprise. Of course, this means that John will have to catch the next plane back to
New York. He'll be meeting with his boss at this time tomorrow.

Complete the story putting the verbs into the correct tense:

John ________________ (always/travel) a lot. In fact, he _____ (be) only two years old when
he first _____ (fly) to the US. His mother ___ (be) Italian and his father ___ (be) American.
John ___ (be) born in France, but his parents ________ (meet) in Cologne, Germany after
they ________ (live) there for five years. They ______ (meet) one day while John's father
__________ (read) a book in the library and his mother ________ (sit down) beside him.
Anyway, John ________ (travel) a lot because his parents also __________ (travel) a lot.
As a matter of fact, John ____________ (visit) his parents in France at the moment. He
_______ (live) in New York now, but ______________ (visit) his parents for the past few
weeks. He really _______ (enjoy) living in New York, but he also _______ (love) coming to
visit his parents at least once a year.
This year he ___________ (fly) over 50,000 miles for his job. He _______________ (work)
for Jackson & Co. for almost two years now. He's pretty sure that he ____________ (work)
for them next year as well. His job __________ (require) a lot of travel. In fact, by the end of
this year, he ____________ (travel) over 120,000 miles! His next journey _______ (be) to
Australia. He really ________ (not like) going to Australia because it is so far. This time he
__________ (fly) from Paris after a meeting with the company's French partner. He
_______________ (sit) for over 18 hours by the time he ________ (arrive)!
John _____________ (talk) with his parents earlier this evening when his girlfriend from
New York _________ (telephone) to let him know that Jackson & Co. ___________ (decide)
to merge with a company in Australia. The two companies ______________ (negotiate) for
the past month, so it really _______ (not be) much of a surprise. Of course, this _______
(mean) that John _______ (have to catch) the next plane back to New York. He
______________ (meet) with his boss at this time tomorrow.

I.1. For each of these sentences choose the correct alternative, present simple or present
continuous:
1. About 1,000 people visit/ are visiting Machu Picchu every day.
2. The mountains in Peru are/ are being over 4,000 metres high.
3. I dont understand/ am not understanding why people like camping.
4. We spend/ are spending three days camping in the mountain next week.
5. The paths become/ are becoming worn away by tourists.
6. Do people drop/ Are people dropping litter in your street?
7. She studies/ is studying microbiology at university at the moment.
8. I think/ am thinking the sea is too dirty to swim in.
9. The river Amazon flows/ is flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
10. The number of tourists increases/ is increasing fast.
I. 2. What is the basic difference between the present simple and the present continuous?

II.1. Write the verbs in brackets in the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Past Tense):
1. A: ............................. (you/see) that new horror film?
B: Yes, I ...............
A: When ..................... (you/see) it?
B: I ........................ (see) it last weekend.
2. A: .................................... (your best friend/ phone) you today?
B: No, she .......................

3. A: When .................................. (you/ buy) that jacket?

B: I ................... (buy) it when I was on holiday last month.

II. 2. What is the main difference between the Present Perfect Simple and the Past Simple?
III. The following sentences misuse tenses. Rewrite them so they are correct:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Alan is in the kitchen. He makes lasagne.

Its raining non-stop for 12 hours and theres no sign of it stopping.
Mediterranean summers are being hot and dry.
The weather becomes increasingly wet in the north because of global warming.
Hes usually going to football on Sundays, but this week hes out of town.
A: Did you see Ben today?
3

B: Only 5 min ago. I think he goes next door to the accounts department.
7. The villain is trying to escape in a helicopter, but Superman is chasing him and
catching him.
+ ex. 1/ pg. 38 (Upstream Advanced)

IV. The irregular verbs below have been divided into 5 groups.
Swim
Drink
Ring

Break
Speak
Choose

Let
Set
cost

Grow
Fly
Throw

Bring
Fight
Catch

Why are they divided in this way? Add these words to the appropriate groups: steal,
hit, know, begin, and teach.
* Story chain (past simple practice)
* The robbery (Present perfect simple practice):
Imagine a room/ a house after a robbery. You are the police inspector at the crime
scene and you have to make a report on what you see.
V. Whats the difference?
A: The bomb exploded when the police arrived.
B: The bomb had exploded when the police had arrived.
Which one of these sentences follows logically?
1. The police looked for evidence.
2. The police were too late.
3. Two police officers were hurt.
4. The police didnt know there was a bomb there.
+ ex. 1, 5, 6 / pg. 64 (UA)
VI. Whats the difference in meaning between these 2 sentences:
1. I am going to leave this week.
2. Ill phone him now.
* + ex. 1/ pg. 110 (UA)
VII. Rewrite the following statements in reported speech. Do not use say or tell as
reporting verbs:
1. If you dont turn the music down, Ill call the police.
2. If you dont apply now, you could miss the deadline.
3. I think you should consider taking out a private pension fund.
4. You must quit the premises one month from today.
4

5. Jim has absolutely no intention of accepting her apology.

6. Ok. I did tell Angela about the surprise party, but it just slipped out.
7. On no accounts are you to enter this part of the building without authorization.
8. Do you think Mary would mind if I borrowed her camcorder?
+ex. 1, 2 / pg. 202 (UA)