LUYỆN TẬP NGỮ PHÁP TIẾNG ANH

Simple Past

Past Perfect

action in the past taking place once, never or
several times

action taking place before a certain time in the past

actions in the past taking place one after the
other

sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive

action in the past taking place in the middle of
another action

puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course
of the action)

Questions in Past Perfect Simple
Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
1.

(what / Bob / do)

that he was kept in after school?

2.

(you / eat)

anything before you went to the theatre?

3.

(he / live)

in London before he moved to Glasgow?

4.

(she / find)

5.

(they / book)

6.

(how often / you / ring)

7.

(why / they / have)

8.

(Carly / wash)

9.

(you / read)

the contract before you signed it?

10.

(who / live)

in the house before we moved in?

a new job by that time?
a room before they went to Dublin?
the bell before he answered the door?
dinner before they came to the party?
the dishes when her mum came home?

11. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
12. He (not / be)

had built

.

to Cape Town before 1997.

13. When she went out to play, she (do / already)

her homework.

14. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make)

.

15. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on)
16. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order)
17. I could not remember the poem we (learn)

six weeks before.
.
the week before.


18. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall)
19. (he / phone)
20. She (not / ride)

from the tree.

Angie before he went to see her in London?
a horse before that day.

English Tenses – Graphic Comparison
Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand when to use
which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there are just a few rules to
keep in mind.
If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be
able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.
→ Legend

Legend



moment in time 

action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
actions that suddenly take place




period of time 

action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that
moment
actions taking place at the same time



Result




Course /
Duration



action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the result
action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action

English Tenses – Examples
Explanation

action that takes place
once, never or several
times

Past

Present

Future

Simple Past

Simple Present

Future I Simple

He played football every He plays football every
Tuesday.
Tuesday.

He will / is going to play

football every Tuesday.

actions that happen one He played football and
after another
then he went home.

He plays football and
then he goes home.

He will play football and
then he will go home.

state

He loves football.

He will love football.

He loved football.
Past Progressive

action going on at that
moment
actions taking place at
the same time

Present Progressive

He was playing football. He is playing football.

Future I Progressive
He will be playing
football.

He was playing football He is playing football and He will be playing
and she was watching.
she is watching.
football and she will be
watching.
Past Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Future II Simple

action taking place before He had won five matches He has won five matches He will have won five
a certain moment in time; until that day.
so far.
matches by then.
emphasises the result
Past Perfect
Progressive
action taking place before He had been playing
a certain moment in time football for ten years.
(and beyond), emphasises
the duration

Use

Present Perfect

Progressive
He has been playing
football for ten years.

Future II Progressive
He will have been playing
football for ten years.


Simple Past

Present Perfect

action in the past taking place once, never or several action that stopped recently or is still going on
times

actions in the past taking place one after the other

finished action that has an influence on the present

action in the past taking place in the middle of
another action

action that has taken place once, never or several times
before the moment of speaking

Use of Present Perfect


puts emphasis on the result

Example: She has written five letters.



action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.



action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.



finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.



action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect


already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

Exercise on Present Perfect Simple
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).
have not w orked

1.

I (not / work)

2.

We (buy)

3.

We (not / plan)

4.

Where (be / you)

5.

He (write)

today.

a new lamp.
our holiday yet.
?
five letters.


6.

She (not / see)

7.

(be / you)

8.

School (not / start)

9.

(speak / he)

10.

No, he (have / not)

him for a long time.
at school?
yet.
to his boss?
the time yet.

Write questions in present perfect simple.
1.

you / correct / my mistakes -

2.

you / practise / your English -

3.

she / tidy up / her room -

4.

the boss / sign / the letter -

5.

Mary / shut / the door Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.

1.

Tony has built a house. -

2.

Avril has crossed the street at the traffic lights. -

3.

They have never been to Australia. -

4.

Rupert has dialled the number. -

5.

Betty has spent 200 euros at the shopping mall. -

Test
Write the participle forms of the following verbs.
1.

shut →

2.

spend →

3.

give →

4.

teach →

5.

sell →
Complete the table in present perfect simple.

positive

We have chatted.

negative

question


The lesson has not started.

Have we won?

She has turned around.

They have not arrived.

Write sentences in present perfect simple.
1.

we / reach / our goal -

2.

our team / lose / the match -

3.

she / underline / the word -

4.

they / not / discover / the treasure -

5.

Ron / not / talk / about the problem Write questions in present perfect simple.

1.

you / knock / at the door -

2.

the teacher / mark / the tests -

3.

she / buy / a new computer -

4.

they / rescue / the girl -

5.

Brad / wear / a blue shirt Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.

1.

They have seen him at the library. -

2.

Robby Robber has robbed another bank. -

3.

Bill has ordered three desserts. -

4.

Clara has repeated the sentence five times. -

5.

Jane has asked a question. -

Simple Past (Past Simple)


Exercises on Simple Past
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used
for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Use of Simple Past


action in the past taking place once, never or several times
Example: He visited his parents every weekend.



actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.



action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.



if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Signal Words of Simple Past


yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday



If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)
Write the verbs in simple past.

1.

The first settlers (be)

2.

They (call)

the Potawatomi.
this place Checagou (wild onion) because it (smell)

like onions.
3.

Constructions on the Sears Tower (begin)

4.

Until 1997, the Sears Tower (be)

English pool of exercise

Exercise on Simple Present
Form positive sentences in Simple Present.
1.

Anna / the window / open
→

2.

I / bread / buy
→

3.

they / their pens / count
→

in 1970.
the highest building in the world.


4.

Christine / her home / decorate
→

5.

it / too much / weigh
→

6.

we / the game / lose
→

7.

the children / on the floor / sleep
→

8.

Benjamin / the rules / break
→

9.

you / the sentence / understand
→

10.

they / trees / plant
→

Exercise on Present Progressive
Form positive sentences in Present Progressive.
1.

we / in the mountains / walk
→

2.

I / a magazine / read
→

3.

we / her / an apple / give
→

4.

she / in a play / act
→

5.

the teacher / our homework / check
→

6.

my crush / at me / smile
→

7.

you / English / speak
→

8.

your father / a lorry / drive
→

9.

Jamie / the race / win
→

10.

the boss / the contracts / sign
→
Level 3 Form positive sentences in Present Progressive.

1.

you / a question / ask
→

2.

the dog / bark
→

3.

she / a bag / carry
→

4.

she / home / walk
→

5.

they / their mum / thank

→

6.

my crush / at me / smile
→

7.

we / tea / drink
→

8.

they / their furniture / sell
→

9.

Katy / a lot of money / spend
→

10.

the passengers / panic
→

Exercise on Simple Past
Form positive sentences in Simple Past.
1.

the dog / bark
→

2.

you / high / jump
→

3.

You / a song / sing
→

4.

Eric / his homework / forget
→


5.

he / cash / pay
→

6.

she / her room / tidy
→

7.

she / the chapter / copy
→

8.

we / the numbers / divide
→

9.

he / his girlfriend / marry
→

10.

she / the word / underline
→
Check answ ers

Level 4 Form positive sentences in Simple Past.
1.

you / high / jump
→

2.

Albert / squash / play

→

3.

you / thirsty / be
→

4.

he / to school / go
→

5.

they / their calculators / use
→

6.

she / my mistakes / correct
→

7.

I / my point of view / defend
→

8.

the snowman / in the sun / melt

→

9.

he / to our question / refer
→

10.

his nose / bleed
→


Exercise on Past Progressive
Form positive sentences in Past Progressive.
1.

you / a question / ask
→

2.

you / cards / play
→

3.

it /rain
→

4.

Betty / her best / do
→

5.

I / a magazine / read
→

6.

she / on a chair / sit
→

7.

your father / a lorry / drive
→

8.

he / a blue shirt / wear
→

9.

We / our holidays / enjoy
→

10.

the child / behind the tree / hide
→
Form positive sentences in Present Perfect Simple.

1.

Greg / the ball / kick
→

2.

you / in the garden / work
→

3.

you / thirsty / be
→

4.

we / fish / eat
→

5.

they / their calculators / use
→

6.

we / the game / lose
→

7.

he / his leg / hurt
→

8.

she / a friend / phone
→

9.

Harry / trouble / cause
→

10.

they / a new gadget / invent
→
Form positive sentences in Present Perfect Simple.

1.

they / us / call
→

2.

you / a box / carry
→

3.

you / cards / play
→

4.

you / the house / see
→

5.

she / on a chair / sit
→

6.

she / in a play / act
→

7.

Amelie / the door / close
→

8.

you / early / wake up
→

9.

she / poems / write
→

10.

he / his job / quit
→

Exercise on Past Perfect Simple
Form positive sentences in Past Perfect Simple.


1.

they / us / call
→

2.

we / her / an apple / give

→

3.

the dinner / a fortune / cost
→

4.

he / cash / pay
→

5.

Henry / houses / build
→

6.

we / the numbers / divide
→

7.

they / computers / order
→

8.

the secretary / the documents / print out

→

9.

he / his goals / reach
→

10.

they / to my question / react
→
Form positive sentences in Past Perfect Simple.

1.

John / money / collect
→

2.

we / the door / open
→

3.

she / in a play / act
→

4.

the policeman / the thief / arrest
→

5.

she / her teeth / brush
→

6.

it / too much / weigh
→

7.

she / in London / teach
→


8.

Jim / his head / cover
→

9.

the secretary / the documents / print out
→

10.

the girl / out of the house / creep
→